[Krawczynski] I highly, highly doubt LeBron would want to finish out his playing days in Minnesota, but let me assure him that we have better hotels here than they have in Memphis…c’mon, Bron; pull a couple of those Cleveland coats out of storage and give yourself one more real chance in Minnesota
• My heart wants James to end his career in Cleveland. The story writes itself: The game’s greatest player, arguably, keeps returning to his Midwest home. James and Ohio are synonymous with each other. That’s where he lived up to the expectations as an all-time great. That’s where it started. I’d love for that to be where it ends.
My head tells me that James will stay in California but go to the Golden State Warriors. It just feels like James and Stephen Curry have always wanted to play together. But it’s not my preference. — James Edwards III
• Whenever the Lakers have come to town the past couple years, I’ve tried to remind myself: You’re watching one of the great athletes of all time. Enjoy this. Don’t take it for granted. But I admit: Watching LeBron ride it out for another season on a team that has no chance of winning a title (as long as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama stay healthy) does not excite me.
Cleveland is the better option. Sports are great with opening chapters (promise!) and middle chapters (rings!), but they stink at closing chapters (retire!). Superstars can reach unimagined heights, but they never know when to hop off the escalator before it breaks down. Or in this case, where. Cleveland is the obvious move. No one would appreciate a LeBron farewell tour more than those who were there when it started. A perfect ending to a brilliant career. — Doug Haller
• While there are many places where James’ career *could* end, there is only one place where it *should* end: Cleveland. As fun as it might be to imagine, say, him and Curry taking one more shot at glory together by teaming up in Golden State, or him trying to drag the Grizzlies to the playoffs while renting a penthouse in the Memphis Hyatt Centric, or him joining up with a power team like the New York Knicks or Boston Celtics to snag another ring, the narrative is the same: LeBron would merely be a mercenary in that setup, in a city where he has no connection. He can stay in Los Angeles for that.
James finishing things off in Cleveland, however? That would have *meaning.* Playing for a real contender, in the city where it all started and in the region where he was born and raised, would be the perfect finishing touch, the cherry on the sundae that is among sports’ all-time great careers. Virtually any other landing spot would feel hollow, if not downright weird, in comparison. — John Hollinger
• I highly, highly doubt LeBron would want to finish out his playing days in Minnesota, but let me assure him that we have better hotels here than they have in Memphis.
Other than the weather, the basketball situation makes a ton of sense. He could play with a young star in Anthony Edwards, whom he really enjoys, and would be surrounded by great defenders who could take the pressure off him on that end. Meanwhile, he would immediately address one of the biggest weaknesses the Timberwolves have by installing one of the smartest players to ever play with a group that often struggles with decision-making. Plus, the traffic is *so* much lighter in the Twin Cities than in L.A. or the Bay Area!
So c’mon, Bron; pull a couple of those Cleveland coats out of storage and give yourself one more real chance in Minnesota. — Jon Krawczynski