LeBron James’ NBA free agency decision still is not here — but the picture around it just got a lot more specific, and the news is not entirely good for the Warriors.
ESPN’s Shams Charania provided an update on “NBA Today” Tuesday, revisiting a report he first delivered weeks ago that identified the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Warriors as the three leaders in James’ decision to leave the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons. Those three teams still are in it. But the landscape around them has shifted — and Golden State’s position within it has changed.
“Those three teams are still in it,” Charania said. “The Sixers have since acquired Jaylen Brown. Minnesota already got LaMelo Ball. They are also two of the teams that are involved.”
Philadelphia landed Brown in a blockbuster trade with Boston on July 2, sending Paul George and four draft picks back to the Celtics. Minnesota, meanwhile, added Ball around the same time of the offseason. Both moves inserted their franchises into James’ decision.
That widened the field to five teams. But Charania drew a clear distinction between which five are still involved and which three still are the real focus.
“My understanding is, right now as we speak, LeBron James has the information that’s needed to make a decision,” Charania said. “The feel is that those five teams remain in the mix, but a focus on Cleveland, Miami and Philadelphia.”
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Golden State and Minnesota, in other words, are technically alive — but no longer appear to be where James’ attention is concentrated. That is a meaningful shift for a Warriors fan base that has spent weeks watching Draymond Green opt out of his contract and reportedly spend time with James personally, all in pursuit of pairing him with Steph Curry for one final championship run.
There is also a layer of irony in the current focus group. Two of the three teams James is reportedly zeroed in on — Cleveland and Miami — are franchises where he has already won championships and spent significant portions of his career. Whatever “new team environment and culture” James is searching for, according to Charania, it may end up looking a lot like somewhere he has already been.
Charania was also clear about what is not driving the decision.
“This is not a money-driven decision,” he said. “So you have teams that are offering him minimum deals, exceptions, some salary cap space as well. He’s able to take his time and sift through this.”
Team presidents and general managers still are in contact with James’ agent, Rich Paul, this week, and James has reportedly listened to voice notes from multiple team owners delivered through Paul. Charania said a decision “could be really any day, any week now.”
During the Warriors’ NBA Summer League game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday in Las Vegas, Golden State GM Mike Dunleavy said the team’s roster is close to being finalized.
For the Warriors, that means their recruiting pitch still has a pulse — but as of this week, it is no longer one of the three pitches getting the most attention.
