The Lakers and the Spurs could appeal to James in 2018

The Los Angeles Lakers could appeal to LeBron James in 2018. So could the San Antonio Spurs, and even moreso.

LeBron James’ future in Cleveland has come into question once again, with The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Bobby Marks reporting that the Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t sure that he’ll re-sign.

{Quote transcribed by HoopsHype’s Bryan Kalbrowski}:

"“Within Cleveland and around the league, they feel he’s very much in play to leave again and likely head out to west to one of the two Los Angeles teams. The Lakers could very well be a target … his business interests, his Hollywood aspirations, his media ventures are based out there.”"

The speculation that James will join the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, when he can opt out of his current contract, is sensible. James has been linked to the Lakers since his 2010 free agency but although the Showtime Lakers were James’ favorite team growing up, and he has a summer home in Los Angeles, he has yet to sign with the Lakers.

James, who is more competitive than people give him credit for, could choose to opt out after next season because he’ll still be able to play at an otherwordly level at 33-years-old. People often joke about James being a “cyborg” since he’s never suffered a serious injury and while his burst and explosion have taken slight hits over the years, he’s still more athletic than most players in the league.

Perhaps James will join Paul George in 2018. According to Spotrac, the Los Angeles Lakers could have close to $40 million in cap space if they renounce all their cap holds and exceptions for the season. That number doesn’t take into account the amount they’d have to pay this year’s second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. However, it also doesn’t take into account the possibility that the Lakers will move Luol Deng ($18 million salary), Timofey Mozgov ($16 million salary) or Jordan Clarkson ($12 million salary) in a trade.

The easiest thing for the Lakers to do to sign George and James would be to renounce all of their cap holds and exceptions, trade Jordan Clarkson to a team with cap space (like the Denver Nuggets or Philadelphia 76ers) and decline D’Angelo Russell’s $7 million club option.

At that point, the Lakers will have close to $55 million in cap space, which should be enough to sign George and James to near-max contracts.

Still, it makes it hard to see James joining the Lakers because he’ll have to lead a team of neophytes to the NBA championship. As James said, he wants “to compete for championships every year“. For that reason, it’s easier to see him staying in Cleveland than joining the Lakers, to be frank.

Cleveland already has two All-Stars beside him, a championship team that fits each other on and off the court and the Cavs will be able to pay him far more than the Lakers could in 2018.

Yet, the 2018 offseason is the first time that James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony could all be free agents at the same time and with that said, James may not leave Cleveland for L.A. but he could leave for another warm city, San Antonio. The San Antonio Spurs will have Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich, MVP-candidate Kawhi Leonard and $47 million in cap space after renouncing all cap holds and exceptions.

With James telling Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck he would take a pay cut to play with the Banana Boat quartet, that may be just enough for the King to re-sign.

"“I really hope that, before our career is over, we can all play together,” James said. “At least one, maybe one or two seasons—me, Melo, D-Wade, CP—we can get a year in. I would actually take a pay cut to do that.”"

In a realistic sense, their salaries should come with a pecking order. James would get paid the most, Paul the second-most, Anthony the third-most, Wade the least. However, James, Paul and Anthony could take a $15 million salary while Wade signs using a mid-level exception. Imagine that the Spurs find takers for LaMarcus Aldridge’s $20 million salary. At that point, James, Paul and Anthony make $20 million each while Wade nears the $10 million range.

Looking at how their team fits on the court, Paul would likely start at point guard, Danny Green would start at shooting guard, Leonard and James would start at the forward spots. Dejounte Murray (who is signed with Klutch Sports, the sports agency James is also represented by) would backup Paul, Wade would be a very Manu Ginobli-like backup for Green, Anthony would backup Leonard or James.

If Aldridge is on the team, he’d be the starting center.

With the Spurs’ ability to fill their bench with solid players, they’ll have a great chance to compete with the Golden State Warriors for championships for the next few years considering the overall talent on the roster and the age of Leonard (he’ll be 27-years-old at the start of the 2018-2019 season).

In conclusion, while I would never say that James doesn’t want to play with the Lakers, I will say that his best chance to keep competing for championships would come in Cleveland or San Antonio. If he wants to play beside his best friends in the NBA, one of the best young players in the NBA and a coach he considers the greatest coach of all-time, he’ll go to San Antonio.