LeBron James has officially become the biggest name in the market. As the NBA’s free agency window opened, James informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he would not be returning for a ninth season with the franchise.
His departure ends an eight-year run in Los Angeles that brought several championships and milestones.
LeBron acknowledged his time with the Lakers in a message posted on social media.
“It’s definitely an honor to wear (the purple and gold) while trying to continue the greatness and legacies that came before me! I hope I made a few proud during my time,” James said.
The four-time MVP helped deliver the Lakers’ 17 championships in the 2020 season and later became the NBA’s leading scorer while wearing the purple and gold. The organization also made several moves during his tenure, including drafting Bronny James and hiring JJ Redick as head coach.
Attention now turns to where James will play next season.
James instructed Rich Paul to gauge the market before making a decision, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
James reportedly wants his agent to “talk to teams around the league and learn what everyone’s interests are so he can make an informed decision,” according to McMenamin.
The Golden State Warriors remain one of the most talked about prospects. The organization has reportedly explored situations involving both James and Anthony Davis, although ESPN’s Marc J. Spears reported that Washington is not interested in moving Davis.
If Davis is unavailable, Golden State could still pursue James and Stephen Curry and Draymond Green while waiting for Jimmy Butler to recover from a torn ACL.
Another possible destination is Cleveland. LeBron began his career with the Cavaliers after being selected first overall in the 2003 NBA Draft and later returned to deliver the franchise’s first championship in 2016. Cleveland reached the Eastern Conference Finals this season and already has Donovan Mitchell while also planning to keep James Harden.
Miami has also emerged as a possible destination. LeBron won two championships during his four-year tenure with the Heat and is likely to face a rival built around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
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