As the sports and entertainment world turns its attention to Hollywood, LeBron James will be front and center.
By far the biggest NBA storyline at the All-Star break, and after, will be James — and what his future holds.
While he has yet to publicly state what his future will hold, many analysts and reporters around the league believe the 41-year-old James will return for his 24th NBA season — which would extend his NBA record.
The storyline concerning many isn’t so much about whether he will return next year, but rather, which uniform he will be wearing?
NBA Insider Jake Fischer said during a livestream a few weeks that, “the Lakers are ready to move on from LeBron James and I think LeBron James is ready to move on from the Lakers as well.”
ESPN insider Brian Windhorst added fuel to the fire when he stated on Wednesday’s The Rich Eisen Show that James would reportedly be interested in four teams if he and the Lakers parted ways: Warriors, Cavaliers, two undisclosed teams.
When broached with the subject of teaming up with James, Warriors star Draymond Green was candid in his response.
“I’ve always wanted to [play with him]” Green said in an exclusive interview with The California Post. “Saying I wanted to go to his team, that’s not the case. I’m very comfortable in my situation with 30 [Steph Curry] and what we’ve built and what we have. But I think him and Steph shared the want to take the court together, and they got the opportunity to do that in the Olympics in Paris. I’ve always wanted the opportunity. Just to experience it, to see how he thinks, to see, all right, what I could do to help him and his thinking. Or what can I learn and pick up about what he’s thinking.”
While his desire is to play with James, Green said, “I don’t see a path to it.”
The idea of teaming up with Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Green could be enticing to James, but that situation only works if James is willing to take a paycut around the veteran minimum.
Playing in Cleveland was considered a long shot until the Cavs made a deal at the trade deadline where they sent Darius Garland to the Clippers and brought back James Harden. Harden has a player option for $42.3 million next season, which makes his future and the Cavaliers cap space unknown for next year.
Similarly to Golden State, James ending up in either place would require him to take a pay cut.
As for the other two teams, that’s anyone’s guess.
James has kept his future close to the vest and when he’s ready, he’ll reveal it for all to know.
