20 things to look forward to this NBA offseason
1. Where does LeBron James go?
Whenever LeBron James becomes a free agent, the offseason revolves around him.
Such is life for the best player in the NBA.
On paper, James doesn’t appear to have any perfect options this summer. If he re-signs with the Cavaliers, he’s stuck on a defensively challenged club that barely escaped from the first round. The Rockets would need to work through a salary-cap American Ninja Warrior course to land him via an opt-in-and-trade. Even if the Lakers add both George and James, are they equipped to beat Golden State or Houston? Can James and Ben Simmons coexist in Philly?
LeBron has given no concrete clues about where he’s headed next, other than the comments he delivered after the Cavaliers’ demoralizing Game 3 loss to the Warriors in the NBA Finals.
“How do you put together a group of talent but also a group of minds to be able to compete with Golden State, to be able to compete for a championship?” he asked rhetorically. “That’s what GMs and presidents and certain players — it’s not every player. Every player does not want to — sad to say, but every player doesn’t want to compete for a championship and be in a position where every possession is pressure.”
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As James meets with suitors and prospective teammates this summer, it’s clear he’ll be dissecting their basketball IQ as much as he surveys their physical talent. After JR Smith’s devastating late-game gaffe in Game 1 of the Finals, LeBron seems to be angling for teammates who’ll be both physically and mentally locked in next June.
Buckle up for what promises to be an explosive summer.
Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Basketball Insiders.