If you haven’t heard as of yet (and are living under a rock) LeBron James will enter free agency once again in 2018 and this time it feels like he will really go through the process once again as he did in 2010 and 2014 and possibly decide to leave the Cavaliers.
Rumors have been abound since about the end of the 2017 NBA Finals and at times people have even proclaimed that him joining the Los Angeles Lakers is a done deal because of his now multiple homes in LA and his interest in being involved with Hollywood and television production.
The 76ers have also been anointed in the rumor mill as potential suitors with their young talent (even though he and Ben Simmons on the court at the same time makes almost zero sense).
Hold on to your seats folks, we have another rumored suitor that feels they have a real shot at LeBron and this one may actually hold a little more weight… the Houston Rockets.
Here is an excerpt of an article from Sam Amick in USA Today:
“While James has made it clear that he won’t deliberate his uncertain future until the Cavs’ season is complete, there is strong belief in Rockets circles that they’ll have a legitimate shot at landing the four-time MVP this summer. Rival executives also believe the Rockets will have a real chance. And once you really look at it, when you get past all the noise about the Lakers and even the compelling case for the up-and-coming Philadelphia 76ers, it makes all sorts of sense.”
The Rockets have plenty of talent and are stocked with plenty of shooting and gritty defenders to surround LeBron and currently two of the 10 best players in the NBA in Chris Paul and James Harden. They make more sense than the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers because they have more veteran talent and the bones of a roster that is much more suited to LeBron James’s strengths, but there are two big problems with their case for LeBron’s signing there:(if they somehow find a way to afford Harden, Paul and LeBron)
No. 1: They are in the western conference
No.2: They already have two ball-dominate superstars who aren’t a natural fit around LeBron James.
Either way it will be drama at the highest to follow LeBron’s free agency in 2018 as it seems hard to imagine a destination that makes much sense for King James outside of his current situation in Cleveland.
Two destinations that would make sense to me: the Milwaukee Bucks if they can somehow find a way to clear max cap space by having a mini fire sale. Could you imagine LeBron and the Greek Freak together? Jesus. The other which is way under the radar is the Atlanta Hawks. They could find a way to clear enough space for almost three max contracts much like the Miami Heat in 2010 if LeBron would want to pick his own trio of a Chris Paul and Paul George or DeMarcus Cousins potentially.
