NBA Free Agency: Could LeBron be heading to Los Angeles?

Could LeBron James be heading to one of the two Los Angeles teams if he opts out in 2018? We’re a year away but it’s time to start talking about it.

We have now reached the point where we will exhaustively talk about LeBron James’ plans IF he decides to opt out at the end of next season.  We are only a few days removed from Golden State capturing the NBA title but yet we are already starting to have that discussion. You know the one we have all the time? Where is LeBron going to go?

During his recent podcast, Adrian Wojnarowski of “The Vertical” had this to say about “the kings” potential free agency plans.

"Not only is there no guarantee he’s coming back, I’m not sure there’s an expectation he’s re-signing there. I think they feel, I think within Cleveland and around the league, they feel that he’s very much in play to leave again and likely head out west to one of the two LA teams. The Lakers could very well be a target.The possibility of Miami again, based on how they, what that team looks like and where they are. Would Dwyane Wade go back there? But I think the focus, a lot of LeBron’s — his business interests, his Hollywood aspirations, his media ventures are based out there.And I wrote this last year and said it and believed it. The minute he won that championship in Cleveland he was liberated to leave again. Now, if he had not won a title in Cleveland and then left again, I think there would be tremendous backlash again. But the fact that he came back and did what he set out to do, which was to bring a title to Cleveland."

Could a stint as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers be in the cards for LeBron? Could LeBron really leave Cleveland again and risk falling out of favor once again?

It appears as if James is at a different time in his life where basketball isn’t the only thing that he needs to be concerned with. If you have been keeping up, LeBron’s kids (LeBron jr. and Bryce Maximus) are REALLY, REALLY good at basketball. So good, in fact that they have already been receiving “offers” from elite college programs.

He has his business ventures, such as his stake in “Blaze Pizza.” He has appeared or voiced in movies and TV shows, which will also add fuel to the Hollywood rumors. He signed a lifetime deal with Nike for what could be over a billion dollars.

The Cavaliers core group of Kevin Love and Kylie Irving are all locked into deals that will keep them in Cleveland for at least a few more seasons (barring trades). Factors such as bringing in more help or making a trade that will help them take down Golden State will also weigh heavily on LeBron’s decision. General manager David Griffin, a James’ favorite hasn’t been locked in to a new contract, another factor that could make a departure from Ohio a possibility if Dan Gilbert lets Griffin walk.

Without getting into the technical aspects of it, the Lakers can sign him next season if he does decide to move on and leave more than $35 million on the table from Cleveland in the final year of his current deal.

What about James signing with the OTHER Los Angeles team? Chris Paul, a close friend of James could potentially resign with the Clippers, especially with Jerry West recently taking an advisory role with the team. Could that be in the cards?

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Is he looking to build another “super team” once again?

One thing is for sure, it is very early. Very. Very. Early. But yet, this will surely be a hot topic between now and the summer of 2018. Get ready for some King chatter and plenty of it.