LeBron James' Potential Free Agent Destinations & Predictions

But we do have arguably the best or second best player in the history of the NBA. For me, it's the second best, by the way. I still have Michael Jordan number one. But LeBron James says he's going to play next year, Tom, and he's going to play somewhere to be determined. He was at the Fanatics Fest over the weekend, did not give any indication as to which way it would go. Pat Riley was on Dan Lebitard's show today and said that he's waiting for a decision like everybody else. He's not asking his agent, Rich Paul, or anything. He's just waiting. There are as many opposite reports. It almost feels like the first decision that LeBron made when he shocked everybody and went to Miami, which is some people think Miami. The prediction markets say Miami, by the way. You know, there are others that say Cleveland. There are others that say Golden State. And by the way, somehow Philadelphia is in the mix here. You know what, Tom, that's probably where he's going to go, Philadelphia, because it's the one team that is really focused in on. But it does seem it's either Miami, Golden State, Cleveland, Philadelphia. Am I missing a team, guys, or are those the four teams being discussed? I would say that's what it is. You know, he did allude to the 76ers over the weekend and, you know, Fanatics Fest, as you mentioned, he did use the phrase trust the process. If everyone saw that clip, but obviously, you know, gets people excited, especially Philly fans after they move off of the Paul George contract. They bring in Jalen Brown. This is, as you've also mentioned, this is this is holding up the NBA schedule because regardless of where he goes, regardless of, you know, people think, oh, he's obviously not just a back nine, but the last few holes of his career. This impacts viewership for opening night, for Christmas Day, for all these things that Adam Silver alluded to. So ultimately, I think he's going to go end up in Miami. That's my just personal gut instinct on the same rumors that everyone else is saying. I think he's going to end up in Miami. Yeah, I mean, we're following, you know, these breadcrumbs that don't really add up. I'm not sure because. Look, the last time LeBron did this, Tom, I don't know how close you were to following it, but I was working for a local radio station in Miami at the time and I was in I was on the radio for the decision and we all were in Miami thinking it was not going to be Miami. None of us did. Everyone thought it was going to be Cleveland or he when he left Cleveland. We thought I don't you know, I don't remember where we thought it was going to be, but we definitely did not think that it was going to be the heat. And then they had this huge press conference. It was like WWF style. I went to that broadcast live from that where they introduced him and Chris Bosch and Dwayne Wade had returned and it was the big three. And it was shocking. And I think equally shocking, Tom, when LeBron left Miami to go back to Cleveland and then he won a championship there. So I guess the point that I would make is what am I rooting for? Of course, I'm rooting for Miami. The best scenario. I want more sports here, better things here where I live. You see Lone Depot Park behind me. Well, the other side behind me and then the arena is right over here. I don't I don't mind that at all, but I just I kind of feel like we're going to get surprised by him. You know, like I don't think it's going to be Sacramento, Tom. I'm not saying that or Utah. I'm just saying that with this particular individual, he surprised us so many different times. I wonder if he's got one more up his sleeve this time, too. Yeah. The quotes that we've seen from him or we've heard from him, what he said specifically to quote, I want to compete at a high level. I want to join a franchise that shares the same models as myself. And that's like practicing, practicing championship habits every day. So, you know, that could allude to a number of different things. And whether it's the heats, because we have seen them, you know, compete in the championship just a few years ago, whether it's the Golden State Warriors, as we have seen them constantly in the postseason outside of this most recent year, but they have obviously championship pedigree. I don't know. I would say it's the heat. Then it's the Cavaliers for me as the top two. I think those would be the number one, number two. And then I think Golden State would be three.