As the LeBron James saga plows forward like it’s an early 2010’s summer, the conclusion appears to be drawing near. And, like the early 2010’s, it’s ESPN’s Brian Windhorst leading the reporting.
On the Hoop Collective podcast, Windhorst said that James is contacting players on some of the interested teams. This, of course, then gets sent back to the respective team’s head coach and/or general manager.
“LeBron is reaching out and talking to players on some of these teams and they report back to their
GM or coach.”
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Windhorst did not indicate who these players were or even the exact teams that have been contacted, adding to the veiled maneuvering happening in the background.
The Cleveland Cavaliers appear to be the silent frontrunner, though the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, and Philadelphia 76ers are also reportedly on that list as well. All have compelling reasons to be interested in James’ services, but the Cavs offer the best option as the storybook ending.
The Cavs can also, in a way, corroborate this reporting from ESPN. Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson, while being interviewed at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, appeared to allude to Cleveland’s pursuit of James.
“You guys know there’s a little free agency thing on right now so…that could be our real jump and you know what I’m talking about,” Atkinson said during the Cavs’ Summer League matchup against the Detroit Pistons. “That’s exciting too.”
Then there is the Donovan Mitchell extension, which came a year sooner than many expected. Mitchell left a sizable amount of money on the table by signing this year as opposed to next summer, an act of good faith that may have been signed with the knowledge that something was coming to boost the Cavs’ championship outlook. Signing James would certainly be one of those achievable roster improvements.
