LeBron James enters free agency this summer as the most talked-about name on the market, but the financial reality surrounding him is far less glamorous than the speculation suggests.
With the 41-year-old finishing the final year of his $52.6 million deal in Los Angeles, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has pumped the brakes on the idea that a bidding war is coming. And his reasoning is hard to argue with.
Brian Windhorst Makes Bold Prediction On LeBron James’ Future
“Knowing that there’s no teams with cap space out there… there’s no team out there that’s going to clear 35 million or $40 million out and say, ‘LeBron, come to us,'” Windhorst said on Hoops Tonight.
Windhorst has consistently narrowed James’ realistic options down to two destinations: the Lakers or the Cleveland Cavaliers. The latter, meanwhile, carries over $220 million on their books for next season, meaning any homecoming there would likely require a near-minimum deal.
James’ potential return to the Cavaliers would mark a major turning point in his career. The 4-time champ has mentioned previously that his most special title win was in Cleveland. James claimed that he had to officially close a chapter there in Cleveland after leaving his home.
The Golden State Warriors have also been floated as a potential landing spot, but the same cap constraints apply there, making Windhorst’s take the most realistic amid all recent rumors.
There have been other rumors linking James to the Cavs, Warriors, and even Knicks at some point, but James faces a certain problem. He would have to take a significant paycut in order to join any team at this point, and that’s where the salary cap problem comes in.
But one fact that must be mentioned is that James’ agent, Rich Paul, has firmly denied all rumors of James’ exit from the Lakers. He said recently, “There’s no truth to any of it. First of all, I don’t know what’s happening. He don’t know either! We don’t even talk about it.”
The Lakers were dubbed to be one of the contenders this year after going on a phenomenal run late in the season, including a nine-game winning-streak. But all hopes of a title-winning season came crashing down when both Dončić and Reaves sustained serious injuries in the same game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
There is a chance that James takes a paycut to remain with the Lakers, to have a go at the title one last time with the other two guards. But it would all depend on how the Lakers fare in the postseason this year, as they are all set to face a fiery Houston Rockets team without two of their leading scorers.
