With Rich Paul letting it be known that Lakers star LeBron James has other suitors waiting, we try to decipher which NBA teams are dirty macking this summer.
It’s summer, and that means it’s time for LeBron and the Lakers to have another moment where they ask each other, “What are we?”
LeBron appeared to give his answer, opting into his contract, ensuring he will remain in Los Angeles…
Maybe.
James’ agent, CEO of Klutch Sports Group Rich Paul, has sent more mixed messages this summer than a guy trying to get his girlfriend to break up with him.
He certainly seemed to imply that the Lakers need to do more to contend when LeBron opted into his contract and people took that as a sign that LeBron might consider asking for a trade down the road.
Then Paul tried to clarify that wasn’t the case, but instead made it even worse. He said LeBron is committed to the Lakers while also saying that four teams have contacted him about the superstar.
This is elite gaslighting by Paul.
“I just said I’m with you. I only told you about the others so you knew I wasn’t trying to hide anything!”
Don’t call him out on it, because then you are the one being delusional and making a big deal about nothing. In Paul’s own words, the best thing to do is to enjoy the summer.
But Lakers fans can’t enjoy the summer. They want to see Paul’s phone, but he won’t give them the passcode. If Paul ever slips up and leaves his cell unlocked, what teams would be on his recent calls list?
Well, time for us to investigate.
Golden State Warriors
How much help does Steph Curry need? The answer is a lot. He required Kevin Durant to join his 73-win team to get over the juggernaut that is LeBron, so since he can’t beat him, why not convince James to join the Warriors?
A couple of years ago, the Warriors inquired about a deal for LeBron James at the trade deadline. Things haven’t exactly gotten better in San Francisco, as they realized life isn’t a Marvel movie and we don’t live in two timelines between here and Earth-616.
With Steph, like LeBron, also on the wrong side of 30, staring at his own basketball mortality, bringing James in could give them a shot at contention.
It certainly is a better scenario than the one they are in now, where Jimmy Butler is scamming people with mediocre coffee that, even for Northern California, is still a rip-off.
So, yes, they absolutely hit up Paul, and after some small talk, asked if LeBron and the Lakers were still together.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Ah, the first love. The Cavs and LeBron have a love arc that is perfect for a rom-com. They had the early good years, but then, when LeBron saw that a ring was never going to happen, he put himself first and left for Miami.
He found success, got his ring, and had plenty of affection, but true love is hard to find in South Beach. It could never truly compete with the loyalty the Midwest provides. So, he came back, completed his promise and gave Ohio its first major title in 52 years.
When he left again, for L.A., everyone seemed to be okay with it. But what a way for the tale to end if he finished his NBA senior years with his teenage sweetheart and rode off into the sunset, happily ever after.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers had shown interest in LeBron back in 2018, and they also expressed interest during the same trade deadline window when the Warriors were calling. So, yes, if you’re trying to figure out which teams are talking to Paul about James, Philly has to be on the short list of logical options.
Now, you might be thinking, why would the Sixers call asking about LeBron when they have no vision and are far from a championship? The real question is, why not? Similar to the Joker in The Dark Knight, Daryl Morey doesn’t have a plan.
Acquiring LeBron would be fun and send a message to the NBA world that the Sixers are still alive. Shooters shoot, and even if the attempt is laughable, Morey, like your friend who slides into the DMs of Instagram models, is unashamed. He can only win and never loses, so why not get rejected by LeBron’s camp for once again?
Dallas Mavericks
General Manager Nico Harrison is slowly but surely re-creating the Lakers in Dallas. He has traded for Anthony Davis and Max Christie, signed D’Angelo Russell, his head coach is Jason Kidd and one of the assistant coaches is Frank Vogel.
People have called Harrison a lot of names recently, but one thing no one would ever say is that he is shy. He was bold enough to trade Luka Dončić, so he is most definitely brave enough to ask Paul out for a coffee date to see how things are looking in Southern California.
It’s hard to imagine that call would last long, but if Harrison is a yapper, then maybe Paul put him on speaker while he explained how defense wins championships and how he has a vision for the team that definitely included lucking into the No. 1 pick.
All jokes aside, the reality is LeBron is signed to the Lakers and has had plenty of chances to leave Los Angeles and never has.
He could have opted out, but he didn’t. LeBron could ask for a trade whenever he wants to, but hasn’t. Ultimately, this is a ton of summer drama and if you roll around in this slop for long, you’ll get muddy really quickly.
So, my advice is to take this for what it is: a silly, fun, passive-aggressive drama that will likely amount to nothing.
When, or if, the moment comes that LeBron asks for a trade, then fans can deal with it then. Why suffer through speculation indefinitely, speculating for a moment that may never come? Paul is doing what all agents do: using whatever leverage they have for their client.
Everyone wants the same thing, and that’s for the Lakers to be better. LeBron’s camp just has an interesting way of expressing that.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.