LeBron James is still deciding where he wants to play an NBA-record-extending 24th season. The NBA community sure is having a lot of fun analyzing, predicting, and envisioning where the former Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar will take his talent next.
It might be South Beach again, or maybe it’s a reunion back home in Akron with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Nobody seems to know. It’s just a great big guessing game at this point.
LeBron James Using Teams As Leverage?
One NBA analyst, FS1’s Jason McIntyre, believes he knows what’s happening behind the scenes with James. Despite reports suggesting otherwise, McIntyre says James has made up his mind, and he’s heading back to Cleveland.
The other teams in pursuit are just being used as pawns for leverage.
“I think there’s absolutely no place he lands other than Cleveland,” McIntyre said. “Everything else is just a leverage play right now. Can he get James Harden out of Cleveland and get someone else in there?”
“I think there’s absolutely no place he lands other than Cleveland. Everything else is just a leverage play. Can he get James Harden out of Cleveland and get someone else in there?”@jasonrmcintyre weighs in on LeBron’s free agency pic.twitter.com/tHf8PumExJ
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) July 20, 2026
“Can Rich Paul work his magic and get Golden State to capitulate and say we’ll take Anthony Davis. We’ll offload future picks, we’ll take on Davis, and then pay him, and then LeBron will come.”
Meanwhile, Harden has said he’d like to play with James. That wouldn’t be fair to the 11-time All-Star, would it?
How would that make Harden feel if he were one of the things standing in James’ way? Or worse yet, if he was the piece that was viewed as expendable so the Cavs could better their championship odds by adding the four-time NBA champion?
Nevertheless, if that’s what James wants, the Cavaliers are likely to accommodate him. After all, he’s the greatest player in their franchise history, and may be the missing puzzle piece needed to get this current core back to the promised land once again.
Others have hinted that the Warriors are behind the proverbial 8-ball when it comes to roster talent or star power. If Golden State could acquire another one of James’ pals in Davis, maybe the pendulum could swing in their favor, if it isn’t already.
Ultimately, no one seems to know where James is leaning on his next team.
It could be Cleveland; it could be Golden State. Maybe even back to Miami. Or maybe the 41-year-old tries something new in Philadelphia or even Minnesota.
But until an announcement is made, all anyone can do is make educated guesses.
