LeBron Sweepstakes

[TheGrey08]

We're down to five teams including the Wolves, shams just reported that LeBron has crossed Denver off his list

He has to be loving all of this attention he's getting lol

Was that a literal report with reference to sources or more tea leaf reading, vibes & league chatter speculation? All I've seen the past few days is the latter.

[BloopOracle]

We're down to five teams including the Wolves, shams just reported that LeBron has crossed Denver off his list

He has to be loving all of this attention he's getting lol

Was that a literal report with reference to sources or more tea leaf reading, vibes & league chatter speculation? All I've seen the past few days is the latter.

It was legit, shams said it on ESPN

[Coolbreeze44]

One thing to consider, if Lebron goes to an Eastern Conference team, he only passes through LA one time. I'm not sure how many trips we make but it's more than one.

[Lipoli390]

Something I saw pointed out this week was that part of the reason Lebron left MIA was due to DWade's knee issues leading to a lot of uncertainty game to game. Embiid's uncertainty is even worse. So PHI may have the roster edge, but they also are the situation with the biggest downside and that's Embiid's health.

The Wolves have a health question mark as well with LaMelo, but it's not nearly as big as with Embiid, especially with Ayo who could start some games if needed.

The conference debate is too dismissive of the East lately. The West is tough, but in this discussion it's mostly the top 2 teams (SA/OKC) while the East has just as many good playoff teams.
NYC, BOS, DET, CLE, PHI, TOR, MIA, IND?, CHA?, ATL? ORL?

OKC, SA, MIN, DEN, HOU, LAL?, GS?, POR?

I too am FULLY prepared for the narrative to come out that the Wolves were an extremely close 2nd to whichever team he lands with. Still think they have a great shot though. We know they are VERY high on his list per reporting.

Some good points, Grey. If I’m LeBron, I don’t want to do something I’ve already done. He’s already gone back to Cleveland after leaving them for Miami. LeBron initially went to Miami for a better chance of winning and to play with core teammates he essentially selected. He didn’t let his heart strings keep him in Cleveland, choosing instead to do something different. He’s already played for Miami with a roster core that he essentially created. Going back to Miami again, this time with a roster created by someone else and handed to him just doesn’t’ make sense. Leaving Miami for the Lakers was another example of LeBron wanting to do something different - in that instance going to an iconic franchise, playing with his handpicked cohort, Anthony Davis, and have a better chance of winning.

He’s still the same LeBron except that he’s no longer at the peak of his powers physically. So I would expect that he’s driven by the same propensities, including the drive to do something different. Having crossed Denver off his list for obvious reasons, it would seem it is now between the Warriors, Sixers and Warriors. Those are the three choices among the five remaining that would be each be something new. If he prioritizes the comfort and the convenience of playing with his contemporaries and staying near his family who play to remain in California, then it will be the Warriors. But if winning another championship is a high priority, even if not his top one, then it has to be the Sixers or Wolves. I still think it will be the Sixers because they seem like a better bet than the Wolves to win a championship. There’s no getting around the fact that the East does not have the two huge hurdles to get over like the Spurs and OKC in the West. And even if Embiid struggles with his health, adding Jaylen Brown to Maxey and the others will give them an excellent chance of coming out of the East.

My sense is that LeBron will only choose the Wolves if there is something about the team or the idea of playing for the Wolves that excites him. Maybe it’s the idea of mentoring a cadre of young talent in Ant, Jaden, Melo, Ayo and Beringer. Maybe it’s playing for an ownership duo that includes A-Rod. Maybe it’s the idea of becoming the first player in NBA history to win titles with 4 different teams. Going to the Sixers would be a decision guided by LeBron’s brain. Going to the Wolves would not be a dumb decision at all, but I think it would largely be driven by LeBron’s gut.

[TheGrey08]

Was that a literal report with reference to sources or more tea leaf reading, vibes & league chatter speculation? All I've seen the past few days is the latter.

It was legit, shams said it on ESPN

I found the clip. He doesn't explicitly say DEN is out or that it's down to 5 teams. He simply left them out of this leading contenders list. Missing definitive context so it amounts to him just leaving them out during this chat.

"They're continuing to sift through the leading contenders, the different options, the different teams that have been pitching Rich Paul last week since Lebron informed the Lakers he's moving on elsewhere. That includes GS, CLE, MIA, PHI, MIN." - Shams

[TheGrey08]

Some good points, Grey. If I’m LeBron, I don’t want to do something I’ve already done. He’s already gone back to Cleveland after leaving them for Miami. LeBron initially went to Miami for a better chance of winning and to play with core teammates he essentially selected. He didn’t let his heart strings keep him in Cleveland, choosing instead to do something different. He’s already played for Miami with a roster core that he essentially created. Going back to Miami again, this time with a roster created by someone else and handed to him just doesn’t’ make sense. Leaving Miami for the Lakers was another example of LeBron wanting to do something different - in that instance going to an iconic franchise, playing with his handpicked cohort, Anthony Davis, and have a better chance of winning.

He’s still the same LeBron except that he’s no longer at the peak of his powers physically. So I would expect that he’s driven by the same propensities, including the drive to do something different. Having crossed Denver off his list for obvious reasons, it would seem it is now between the Warriors, Sixers and Warriors. Those are the three choices among the five remaining that would be each be something new. If he prioritizes the comfort and the convenience of playing with his contemporaries and staying near his family who play to remain in California, then it will be the Warriors. But if winning another championship is a high priority, even if not his top one, then it has to be the Sixers or Wolves. I still think it will be the Sixers because they seem like a better bet than the Wolves to win a championship. There’s no getting around the fact that the East does not have the two huge hurdles to get over like the Spurs and OKC in the West. And even if Embiid struggles with his health, adding Jaylen Brown to Maxey and the others will give them an excellent chance of coming out of the East.

My sense is that LeBron will only choose the Wolves if there is something about the team or the idea of playing for the Wolves that excites him. Maybe it’s the idea of mentoring a cadre of young talent in Ant, Jaden, Melo, Ayo and Beringer. Maybe it’s playing for an ownership duo that includes A-Rod. Maybe it’s the idea of becoming the first player in NBA history to win titles with 4 different teams. Going to the Sixers would be a decision guided by LeBron’s brain. Going to the Wolves would not be a dumb decision at all, but I think it would largely be driven by LeBron’s gut.

A lot of this is why I think he either goes back home to end his career, playing with friends in GS or a challenge like MIN/PHI and I think CLE leads the way b/c it's home (I exclude CLE from the been there done that for that reason). Basically another situation has to pull him away from CLE.

[Coolbreeze44]

I don't believe he will choose Golden State, I think that would take some of the documentary spotlight off Lebron and on a dying dynasty. I also don't believe he is going to do Cleveland III, been there done that. That leaves Miami, Philly, and Minny. And again, he's already been to Miami and won there and I'm not sure he's a great fit alongside Giannis. My conclusion is that it's a coin flip between Philly and Minnesota. I expect him to play in one of those two cold weather cities.

[Phenom]

I don't believe he will choose Golden State, I think that would take some of the documentary spotlight off Lebron and on a dying dynasty. I also don't believe he is going to do Cleveland III, been there done that. That leaves Miami, Philly, and Minny. And again, he's already been to Miami and won there and I'm not sure he's a great fit alongside Giannis. My conclusion is that it's a coin flip between Philly and Minnesota. I expect him to play in one of those two cold weather cities.

This makes the most sense. He can't make the Cleveland chapter any better. That has the fairytale ending. Miami would be a lot of pressure to avenge his previous finals loss there but he already did win there. The Warriors won't do better than the Wolves. Denver can't beat the Wolves. Sixers and Wolves. Does he want to hitch his wagon to Embiid or Gobert? He will need to be a better defender and shooter in Philly.

[Lipoli390]

I don't believe he will choose Golden State, I think that would take some of the documentary spotlight off Lebron and on a dying dynasty. I also don't believe he is going to do Cleveland III, been there done that. That leaves Miami, Philly, and Minny. And again, he's already been to Miami and won there and I'm not sure he's a great fit alongside Giannis. My conclusion is that it's a coin flip between Philly and Minnesota. I expect him to play in one of those two cold weather cities.

This makes the most sense. He can't make the Cleveland chapter any better. That has the fairytale ending. Miami would be a lot of pressure to avenge his previous finals loss there but he already did win there. The Warriors won't do better than the Wolves. Denver can't beat the Wolves. Sixers and Wolves. Does he want to hitch his wagon to Embiid or Gobert? He will need to be a better defender and shooter in Philly.

Looks like the three of us view it the same way. Of course, that just means he’ll end up in Cleveland. lol. Seriously, if our analysis is wrong and LeBron just wants to take the safe path that will avoid criticism and ensure a good-feeling end to his career, he’ll go to Cleveland. No one will criticize him for going back home to end his career. And that roster is, in my view, good enough to win the East. But going back to Miami would resurface the biggest blemish on his career — i.e., “The Decision” debacle. I also think LeBron understands that Giannis and Bam won’t be enough to put them ahead of the Knicks, Sixers and Cavs in the race to come out of the East and it’s even worse if Giannis’s body doesn’t hold up.

If LeBron isn’t set on taking the one path with no legacy risk, then I think we’re right that it comes down to a choice between the Sixers and Wolves. Embiid’s availability is a huge question mark there, but LaMelo’s availability is a significant question mark with the Wolves. I think Embiid is sort of a dick. And I have a feeling that Jaylen Brown isn’t the best teammate. I could be wrong, but if I’m right then LeBron would certainly know. Does he want to close out his career playing with guys he might not like playing with? The Wolves seem perfect for LeBron from a team chemistry standpoint in that no one on our roster will challenge LeBron’s status as the top dog even though he obviously won’t be the best player. Our 24 year old due of Ant and Melo won’t challenge him. To the contrary, they’ll borderline worship him. It seems clear to me that Jaylen Brown and Embiid won’t show the same level of deference or respect.

If I were LeBron, I’d sign with the Wolves. But I still think he’ll choose the Sixers because they’re in the East and have a roster that has obviously improved substantially from last season. While I believe the Wolves roster is materially better than last season, that conclusion is more open to debate because we lost two of our best, more productive players in the series of deals that landed LaMelo and Josh Green. So from a winning standpoint, Minnesota is riskier than the Sixers. But I also think playing for the Wolves would be more enjoyable and potential fulfilling for LeBron.

[Coolbreeze44]

Lip on the other side, Philly has a lot of mouths to feed already. I'm sure Lebron still wants to be a go-to player during his last year(s). We have a shot for sure.