Where should LeBron James sign?

I am not sure if you have heard this but LeBron James is a free agent. This time around doesn’t have the fanfare as the previous 3 times did but James remains the biggest domino to fall this summer (unless the Kawhi trade falls apart). It seems as if the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers are the front runners to sign James but where should LeBron James sign?

It seems like James is going to sign for the league minimum. Having waited this long leaves teams cap space and salary exceptions mostly all taken up. That means James can sign with pretty much any team he wants because I find it hard to believe that a team is not going to sign LeBron James, even at age 41. He remains one of the top 25 players in the NBA and found a good role as the third banana for the Lakers last year before Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves got hurt.

No, LeBron isn’t the player he used to be, which makes sense considering he is a top 2 player of all time, but he can still play at a very high level. Last season, he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting 52% from the field. His three ball wasn’t great, his 32% was down from 38% and 41% in the previous 2 seasons, but I don’t think it is an unfair bet to say James can get back to around 36% or 37% from deep next season. LeBron is one of the most ball dominant players in NBA history and it makes sense because he is one of the greatest ballhandlers and passers of all time. You want the ball in the hands of someone who is that great all the time. However, off of the ball, James has always been a great cutter and screener and showed he can be a good screener over the years. I think that LeBron has shown that he has the ability to fit in with any team nicely, with all of his skill sets, every team in the NBA should want to sign him.

There are a lot of great fits around the league for LeBron. In my opinion, the best is the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Wolves traded away both Julius Randle and Naz Ried this offseason in the LaMelo Ball trade and have a hole at the 4. I think James could fill that role nicely as a screener and outlet for Anthony Edwards and Ball to play off of. He would slide into the Wolves starting 5 very well and would make the Wolves a threat in the Western Conference. Before they signed Tobias Harris, I thought the Spurs were the perfect LeBron team. They badly needed a big wing and though James didn’t shoot the three that well last year, his screening, cutting and ball handling would have been a great fit with the Spurs to relieve some pressure off of their guards and Victor Wembanyama. I still think he would be awesome there but it doesn’t seem like the Spurs are all that interested. We have to mention Golden State. The Warriors seemed like the favorite to sign LeBron when this whole ordeal started but over the past few weeks it has seemed unlikely that James is going to end up in The Bay. The fit with Curry is awesome and Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford as floor spacing centers would help as well any potential spacing issues James and Draymond Green would have. However, I don’t think that James makes the Warriors a title contender and that he has lost interet in Golden State.

What does a trio of LeBron James, Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo look like? Obviously all three players are great and they could figure it out but the fit on offense seems a bit clunky, especially with Davion Mitchell as their point guard. Yes, LeBron makes the Heat better and I am sure they would figure it out but on paper the fit seems weird. The Sixers fit also feels clunky with LeBron, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid all doing their best work inside the arc. However, like Miami, I am sure they’d figure it out and have a great team. A lineup of Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James and Joel Embiid would be as deadly as they come. Lastly, the basketball fit in Cleveland is good. Like Miami and Philly, the spacing seems clunky but the spacing in Cleveland is always a bit clunky with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. He slides into the 3 spot for the Cavs and could play off of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden really well. I don’t want him back in Cleveland because we have seen it enough and his final Cavs memories in the jerseys they currently wear isn’t something anyone should want.

I think LeBron should sign with the Spurs. It gives him the best chance to contribute to a championship team and though it could be awkward depending on who comes off the bench with Harris already in the mix, a 5th ring in a 4th city would only add to James’ legacy. LeBron would instantly make the Spurs the favorites to win the title. I also think the fit would be good, his screening and cutting would make him look good off of the ball and the Spurs could make teams pay in numerous ways if teams put their centers on LeBron. With that said, I think he ends up with the Cavaliers which I really do not want to happen.