Fansided

NBA Free Agency 2018: One reason LeBron James should sign with every team

By Ben Ladner

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts against the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts against the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
26 of 31
Next
Spurs
SAN ANTONIO, TX – MARCH 19: Head Coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs during the game against the Golden State Warriors on March 19, 2018 at the AT /

San Antonio Spurs

In many ways, San Antonio is the ideal destination for James, offering a chance to perennially contend for titles with one of the league’s five best players and perhaps the greatest coach in NBA history. LeBron would elevate the Spurs into the upper echelon of championship hopefuls; in return, he would also remain in the hunt for rings on a team that may be best equipped to maximize his skills.

While Cleveland lacked the discipline, habits and talent required to win a championship, the Spurs execute as sharply as any team in the NBA with a supporting cast far superior to Cleveland’s. The culture, structure, and system in San Antonio is such that the team has a baseline of 50 wins without its best players having to exert unsustainable amounts of energy every night; LeBron could act as a part of a system rather than the system itself. The Spurs have the defensive personnel to match up with Golden State or Houston in a theoretical playoff series, and another superstar in Kawhi Leonard — who lacks any major weaknesses — to alleviate LeBron’s offensive load (he’d also avoid having to go up against Leonard, one of the few defenders that can actually give LeBron trouble).

James’ long-standing respect for Gregg Popovich and the possibility of adding rings to his collection will at least be enough for the Spurs to earn a meeting in free agency, but it may be in LeBron’s best interest to commit to something more lasting.