LeBron James: where will the Cleveland star play next season?

The NBA’s free agency market opens on 1
July and ‘King James’ is being linked with both the Lakers and the
76ers

One-Minute Read

USA Today reports that James is expected to
spark a huge scramble for his signature by opting out of the final
year of his contract at the Cleveland Cavaliers and becoming a free
agent. 

The NBA’s free agency market officially opens on 1 July
and three-time championship winner James, 33, must decide by 29
June if he will stay at the Cavs or sign with another
franchise.

After the Cavs lost 4-0 in the NBA Finals against the
Golden State Warriors, James said he had “no idea at this point”
where he would play next.

USA Today says that Cleveland can offer James a $209m
(£157.3m) deal over five years and there are others teams who can
offer a four-year contract worth $150m (£112.9m).

It’s likely that the NBA star’s options are to stay
with Cleveland or go to the Philadelphia 76ers or Los Angeles
Lakers – the three teams with “realistic salary cap space” to sign
James in free agency.

Will James head west to LA?

In its “NBA Rumours” section, NJ.com reports that “all signs are pointing
west” and James will head to Los Angeles to join the Lakers. NJ.com
writer Joe Giglio says the Los Angeles Lakers “seem to fit the
bill” and are the bookies’ favourites to land James ahead of the
76ers and Houston Rockets. 

With LA “in the picture” CBS Philly asks why James would come to the
Sixers. Joseph Santoliquito writes: “The reality that needs to be
stated is that James is not coming to Philadelphia. Not with the
Los Angeles Lakers in the picture, Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics
and now the San Antonio Spurs.” 

Meanwhile, NBA Hall of Famer and former 76ers star Charles
Barkley agrees that “King James” won’t be heading to his former
team. Barkley told The Mike Missanelli Show: “He’s not coming to
the Sixers.” 

‘Honour James with a statue’

Even if James leaves Cleveland he should be honoured with
a statue for the impact he’s had on the city. That’s the view of
Reverend Dr Larry Macon of Mount Zion Church in Oakwood
Village.

Rev Macon told Fox 8: “We, the clergy of Greater Cleveland,
are calling for a life-sized statue of LeBron James to be erected
in this city, and a street named in his honour. And let me be clear
this doesn’t have to do with whether he continues to play in this
city or not.”

According to ESPN, James is the “most valuable free
agent in the history of sports”. His true value to Cleveland – the
city not just the NBA team – is in the “hundreds of millions of
dollars”. 

Cavs
fans, businesses and the clergy will no doubt be praying for their
king to stay and reign over the city of Cleveland.