NBA Free Agency: LeBron James’ 5 best destinations

The day we’ve all been waiting for has arrived. Per ESPN, LeBron James has decided to opt out of his deal with the Miami Heat and is now an unrestricted free agent. We’re not likely to see the public relations disaster that came along with his last free agency, but any time the best basketball player in the world is an unrestricted free agent, it’s a fascinating drama that will keep all of us glued to our sets. What are the five best destinations for LeBron?

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When I say “best in the world,” there’s simply no arguments that can be made. James is the catalyst for a franchise that’s fresh off of their fourth NBA Finals in as many years. Despite the physical style of play he employs and the insane amount of minutes he logs, LeBron continues to get better, continues to refine his game and continues to work his way up into the “best to ever play” conversation.

The “Mount Rushmore” conversation is old and extremely subjective, but there are some LeBron facts we can agree upon. He is a physical freak, listed at 6-foot-8 and a very sculpted 250 pounds. He’s faster than anyone his size, stronger than anyone at his position and more skilled handling the ball than anyone outside of the point guard position. Simply put, he’s gifted genetically and he’s got the coordination and general skill set to take advantage.

It’s easy to overlook LeBron’s numbers because we’re so used to them, but he had yet another terrific season in 2013-14. He averaged 27.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 56.7 percent from the field, 37.9 percent from three and 75.0 percent from the foul line. Despite playing on a team with two other stars, he was still able to keep his contributions up near his career averages, most of which were built without a strong supporting cast.

Now that James has the option to go wherever he chooses, he can ensure he finds a spot with a strong set of teammates in a city he wants to live in. He’s holding the golden ticket while 30 NBA teams hold their breath. Let’s look at five spots that make a lot of sense.