Rich Paul just plainly laid out Lebron’s options on his podcast
So Miami, Cleveland, Minnesota, Denver and Philly.
GSW on the upper left
Also Spurs, Celtics (Brad + Tatum?) and Knicks (NYK) that I can recognize.
Steph Dray
Dallas & Masai Oil, Golf, Macau, Africa
Brad, Tatum
Maxey Edgecombe Brown Embiid
Mitchell Wiggins Giannis Bam
Ant Melo McDaniels Gobert
Mitchell Harden Mobley Allen
Murray Johnson Gordon Jokic
Dan Gilbert (?) Koby (Altman) Weems No Garland (-)
Spurs
(Kroenke)
NYK
(edited Masai, Dan Gilbert, Macau and Africa)
The candidates for LeBron: Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, & New York Knicks. 10 Teams.
Theres no chance he ends his career in boston
The thought of Joe Mazulla coaching Lebron does seem hilarious tho
I thought the same thing about Shaq
it’s “Dallas & Masai”, “oil, golf, macau, africa”, the cavs stuff is dan + some front office people and it’s “no garland (-)” because lebron was close to garland personally
For the Cavs it’s “Dan + Grant + Koby” and Brandon Weems. Altman is the president of basketball ops obviously but Dan’s son Grant assumed a bigger role while he was going through his health issues. Weems is assistant GM and a very close friend of Brons
according to rich paul himself weems is like a brother to lebron
It’s Dallas & Masai
How could you forget to list the opportunity to play with D.Wade?
Why not the wizards
Dallas too which is surprising
Kyrie Cooper Klay
Klay is so ass
So injury, unproven year 2 player, old and injury. Mavs are out. They have zero chance to win a title next season.
the Moussa Cissé re-signing probably put us as front runners tbh
If we somehow get bron I’d be walking back so much shit talk lmao
Sure, but all the rest are on the far fringes and the inner 5 are supposed lineups. Seems like a pecking order, if it’s genuine.
The crashout would be so funny if JB is the tipping factor that gets him to Philly.
Then Brad Stevens will have taken one of the worst contracts in the league off of their rivals and in exchange given them their MVP candidate plus a GOAT on potentially a vet min. I’ve already been enjoying reading the Celtics sub these past couple days but this would be peak
potentially a vet min
Lebron’s not taking a vet min anywhere unless it’s to play with his future great grandson
Then Brad Stevens will have taken one of the worst contracts in the league off of their rivals and in exchange given them their MVP candidate plus a GOAT on potentially a vet min.
I read an article recently speculating that the reason they wanted PG was for the contract, so they can use him as salary matching next year to try and get a top FA through a sign and trade.
If Denver traded Murray for Brown, adding lebron would be perfect solving the ball handling issue
Not at all. They need multiple ball handlers. Trade one and getting another wouldn’t work.
lmao him to this new wolves roster would be crazy entertainment
Ant and LaMelo could use a father figure.
“I’ve told you a million times to not drive and use your phone! And you, stop fathering children left and right!”
“What type of parental role does Lebron play for you two?”
The difference between the kyrie situation and those two is those two could actually use some parenting
Yeah Bron is actually old enough to be their dads lmao
Kyrie could’ve used more of it too lol.
Are we forgetting nets era kyrie
I would die laughing the first time a reporter asked that in the first postgame presser they did together
Ant would go off on old jokes 😂
locker room fights on day 1 because bron took the keys for Lamelo’s safety
Day 1
Bron: “You get them back when you’ve shown me you’re responsible.”
Lamelo: “Ight.”
Day 2
Bron: “Well?”
Melo: “Keep it. I bought a tank.”
Bron is Melo father
Carmelo felt a disturbance in the Force.
This one is car melo
That reporter who asked Kyrie that question can ask it with these two guys and it wont be awkward
Literally the most perfect fit ever, gobert and mcdaniels are there for defense, lamelo ant and mcdaniels and maybe bron can shoot, and they need a 4. not to mention he can mentor ant while bringing ring 5
He would go down as the GOAT no doubt if he brought MN their first Men’s professional championship since 1991.
He can’t make a better legacy finishing his career anywhere else.
The lineup would he insane.
idk, I think an even better legacy to finish his career would be defeating something that nobody else has beaten before: Father Time.
And that’s why Lebron should go to the Warriors.
The lineup would be insane^ly ^old ^and ^frequently ^injured.
I can understand why you’d want that but let’s be real. Warriors don’t offer a better roster than the wolves.
If he wants to win a championship like he said he would do it elsewhere.
Still think in my opinion it would be a greater achievement in Minnesota.
Something that has never happened will always be better than then something that has already.
Yup, not to mention his first option doesn’t miss time to injuries and also that the wolves are good enough to be able to win but not too good to where its shameless to join like okc or sas
I mean, Cleveland if he somehow won them a second ring would be an even bigger boost to his legacy. It’s also less likely to result in a ring.
2nd ring isn’t as valuable as a franchises first ring… he’s been to Cleveland and done that. Doing something no one has done in my opinion means more.
interesting perspective, Wolvesin6-92
As an unbiased third party, I think he’s totally correct, though.
No skin in this game but totally agree.
If it was Miami I would agree but Cleveland for LeBron is different and is connected to his legacy far differently. It would matter a hell of a lot.
Exactly. Winning a ring on a 4th team puts him in his own tier.
How would that make him the GOAT when he is joining a stack team already? Isn’t that like the opposite.
Basketball fit I’ll also throw in the 76’rs. They need a secondary playmaker, have shooting at every position and VJ & JB can take on the hardest defensive matchups on the wings.
Basketball fit he could do quite literally whatever role he wanted on the Knicks. He’s got good coverage on offense and defense
Yeah I’m surprised more people haven’t mentioned this. If he’s supposedly doing a doco then NYK would be a great place for exposure. Imagine them winning might have made this less appealing oddly.
If the Knicks lost, LeBron would have already signed there. Now that they won he will never go there. Best spot for him period is San Antonio. Low minutes, plays whatever style he wants, young athletic guards, chance to unlock new parts of Wemby’s game. Also that documentary thing was all bullshit unless they plan on filming two years. LeBron isnt retiring in year 24, he is playing 25 years flat, which would be one more year. Only way i see him hanging it up after this upcoming season if he wins a championship. Do you actually think LeBron James of all players would join a team that just won their first title in 53 years to end his career? That’s a more pathetic storyline than KD in his prime joining a team that he just lost to up 3-1. At least that Warriors team lost the championship and needed him. Knicks just won they dont need LeBron and Id argue Brunson doesnt want him around
Melo throwing up lobs to both Ant and LeBron would be pure entertainment
Just that one pesky factor of moving from LA to Minnesota
They gonna sign Bron to make sure that Ant has a role mode on how to be a good father and to stop LaMelo doing stupid shit.
LeBabysitter
Bron dealt with Lonzo for 2 years and had him traded for AD. He already knows that whole family is dumb as hell.
I can’t wait to talk about if Sota LeBron or Wizards Mike was better in ten years.
Rich Paul dresses like it’s still 2005 and I love that
Baggy is back in tbf. As a 37 year old, I can’t get away with what I was wearing in 2007 but the high schoolers I coach ball are all wearing the shit I was back then.
As a larger guy I love the baggy movement, never liked the skinny jeans/pants trend of the late 2000s/ early 2010s
I was wearing baggy true religion jeans and cargo pants in high school and it was looked at as weird lol
As a small guy. I hated the baggy era. I always looked like I was drowning in my parents clothes. Now that it’s back, I’m so worried. I’m 40. I can’t be drowning in my own clothes again
If you’re 40 you’re better off wearing what looks good on you than what teenagers are wearing lol
The looseness is not what makes this 2005 in the slightest. That is straight cut.
My son used to call 90s fashion “lookin like Ivereson.” That was the first year of middle school. Now that he is in 8th grade, he seems to have adopted that look heavily. I haven’t said a word. My dad fought me on a lot of my decisions coming up, but he never had much to say about my clothes. He encouraged me to be my own person.
He encouraged me to be my own person.
Which just means dressing like athletes or musicians instead of your dad.
So does Adele
Sounds like he’a from 2005 as well
That shit says oil under Dallas lol
LeLandman
I’ve abandoned my boy in Los Angeles
You made me spit out my coffee 😂
That tells me Dallas on the board is an absolute joke lmao
Which I’m 100% fine with.
Ngl I think a lot of this is just noise and it’s really just between Cleveland and GS, maybe Miami but they’re too constrained this year to do anything. The fit is also pretty problematic
Yeah wolves is on the list im praying he joins the Timberwolves 🙏🙏🙏
Fuck no, why would you want him in the west
He is torching you regardless, let him have fun with Ant and LaMelo. That’s must watch TV
Ant / Melo / Jaden / Rudy with Lebron looks unstoppable.
Exactly…. Like clear championship team right there and with the bench and ayo, Donte coming back in the playoffs…
I feel like it looks extremely stoppable
LaMelo’s injury history, do you trust it?
He played 72 games last season. Might take shit more seriously with a contender team too and work on his landing. Still cautiously optimistic though.
This is also extreme cope on my part but be could’ve played in more games with Charlotte than he did in past seasons but they probably held him out for longer because of tanking reasons
More than I’d trust Embiid’s if sixers are an option.
additional note. mayo clinic partnership with the team. best medical team
How would that team be defensively?
Rudy, Jaden, and Ant are all good to great defenders on any given night. LaMelo and LeBron would do fine. They would be top 10 in defense
The worst starting defender is LaMelo, and he’s oversized, they also got Donte coming back latet, thats good defense
Who is the backup center on wolves?
Beringer
Joan “untouchable” Beringer
Now the real question is did Rich Paul start his list from the top left or top right? Cause it looks like either Philly or Cleveland were the first option that came to his mind.
Good point. If he’s right handed left first would make sense so you don’t smudge the board.
Not just saying that bc I’m a Sixers fan of course
Breaking down stuff like this is a symptom of offseason brain (I have stage 4 and also thought about it). Can we get a plane tracker or something
He started from the bottom center for sure
I mean who wouldn’t. Front and center for the podcast obviously
Started with Miami then Philly then Cleveland
there’s also a star by maxey’s name
Klutch client
he started with PHL iirc
Minnesota right in the middle front and center he started there please I pray and beg so hard
It’s really The Decision 2.0
Surely LeBron has already made his mind up, why do we need to go through this whole thing?
He’s always loved being the center of attention
He definitely going to cavs for the storybook ending, perfect for all the narratives as well as his docu
LeBron going to the Wolves would be like a parent chaperoning their teenagers on spring break
Top left-hand corner Steph plus Dray, Dallas Miami oil,?,?, Brad+tatum Top right hand, ? ? ? No garland, Spurs, (Kryptonite)?, NYKs The five lineups are for the 76ers, Miami Heat, Timberwolves, Nuggets, And Cavaliers.
If anyone can make out some of the other handwriting that be great
Listened to the podcast and the stuff they listed under Dallas is wild
The words are “Oil, Golf, Macao, Africa”
Macao because the ownership group owns casinos in Macao. The continent of Africa because of Masai’s connection
Top right hand corner is Dan+Grant+Koby, Weems (all personnel in Cleveland’s front office)
Word that starts with K is Kroenke for Denver ownership group
Awesome, thank you.
I think that says Kroenke, owner of Nuggets
It’s Dallas & Masai, not Dallas Miami
Trust LeProcess
LeBron promised at least a third title with D.Wade…
I am begging our GM to figure something out bc we could be a top-3 seed in the west with Bron, and if there’s a move to make it happen, our GM will hopefully do it.
Timberwolves have like four players to sign with $8 million to spare. What is the realistic path to sign LeBron?
Couldn’t they say fuck it and go over the tax apron? I have no idea what I’m talking about so apologies if the question is dumb.
We can’t go past the 1st apron because of the Lamelo trade
I don’t know what I’m talking about fully either but I’m pretty sure you’re hard capped at the second apron. You guys don’t remember the Mavericks almost not having enough players to fill their roster and and potentially having to forfeit games.
Gotta move off DDV and Josh Green, which idk how we do that, but he has a super good GM, so if LeBron is like, “Hey, Minny is looking super good,” I’m sure we would find a way. I love me some Donte but it’s LeBron.
the way to move those guys is either find a team looking for expirings to make space or we sweeten the dump with Terence Shannon
Shannon would be a suddenly awkward fit anyway. Needs the ball in his hand to be effective but he’s like the fifth best on-ball creator on the team
Why ? We have our minimum
Two players
The path is that he said it’s not a financial decision. He’d have to take a league vet minimum. Sell the narrative that the lineup is the best fit with highest potential and if he likes it then he’s reportedly willing to sign for a min. Getting Lebron for a 2.5m cap hit would be nuts.
Probably still need to flip Green’s expiring for cap space or multiple players to finish the bench. If he wants us to trade for Bronny, so be it he can be one of the cheap bodies, Green for Bronny + Rui (s&t)
To be fair, I think most people would likely consider MN a top-3 (likely 3rd) seed in the West right now without LeBron
They should open up a milk company with the way they are squeezing this thing. Earlier in the day, Shams said there would be hints on his podcast. Everything is calculated. They already made the decision but this will drag on.
Yeah for sure. I feel like we won’t find out for weeks. Hope I’m wrong.
They are dropping clues every day. They love this shit. I bet the Swift wedding on Friday is making them sweat because that will take away some attention. Maybe drop the bomb at the start of the wedding?
Knowing Rich Paul that would not surprise me at all lmao
Yeah most of the teams listed are not real destinations and are only there to generate engagement and speculation. I mean fucking Dallas is listed on this lol
This dude is 41 and we’re still on LeBron watch
It’s oil, golf, Macau, and Africa
why i think they trolling
Lebron knows where hes going, they’re just milking it now
warriors didnt even make the white board.
They’re in the upper left corner but yea, easy to miss
Just say the cavs, its the perfect storybook ending
Story book ending would be a ring which isn’t likely in Cleveland
It kinda has to be GSW… doesn’t it?
Why is that? Just curious.
Because it was not mentioned.
You can see “Steph + Dray” in the upper left of the whiteboard so they are there but it seems they are getting less serious consideration than others
Veteran heavy core… his connection from the US team with Steph (not to mention the insane marketing potential)…. their outside shooting and ball movement creating space for him… certainly not favourites for a ring but I guess they are in with a chance.
The Bay Area lifestyle might suit him and his family too…
His family won’t move if he goes to Golden State, it’s a short flight
Bronny head of house now. Family stays in LA regardless.
Rich Paul said that he has the blessing from his wife & daughter to go anywhere
Curry / draymond connection, close to LA, great weather, big market team that could handle a LeBron fairwell tour.
It’s going to be Cleveland. Their title chances would be comparable and it is much better for LeBron’s legacy. Warriors would probably be the season he’d personally enjoy the most but he cares too much about his legacy to make a decision based on one season.
I’d the Draymond contract weren’t hanging out there I’d be 90% Cleveland. The draymond opt out is the one thing that causes confusion. He might be forcing one of them to trade for AD.
Do you not think the Cavs have a “been there done that, got the t shirt… twice…” feel about it?
Isn’t it the perfect symmetry. Start, middle, end. I think it is the option with the least risk. Nobody will expect them to title.
Warriors could completely change how his career is viewed.
GSW is probably the least likely thing to happen outside of like rogue shouts unless they get AD, he said he wants to be on a competitive team
Right the competitive point matters a lot bc if it’s your last year you don’t want to be on a very old team whose goal it is to try to make the playoffs. Go somewhere where you can have an actual title shot like Cleveland, Minnesota, Miami. GS I never actually thought would happen bc its sad to say but that’s not a competitive team and that’s just what it is. Also retiring a warrior? It would be a very awkward legacy moment.
Depending how much money he’s tryna to get, it could be literally anybody.
This shit is embarrassing.
Bro if you want the best documentary possible it’s either back home in Cleveland or the ultimate team up with Steph.
Or somewhere he can win a championship
Or somewhere with a connection to oil, golf, Macau, and Africa
I want a “Decision: pt. 2”
Lebron to Spurs
Bron loves attention
Seems like he doesn’t have much of a choice in the matter.
Rich Paul is insufferable.
They really want to do The Decision Part III huh. Why not just make the decision privately like everyone else?
FR, they want to make it the decision part 3, but they wanna make sure they own the whole NBA’s attention and favor by the end of it.
You have to realize that LeBron owns a significant piece of rich Paul’s sports agency. It’s also their vehicle for how he stays a power player with espn, the ringer, and how they can remain the face of the NBA at large.
Phi-LeDelphia
Man just pick a fucking team
Why does this guy have to turn everything into some Korean drama type shit
My bro just pick a team already so we can all move on
Like other teams haven’t done much because they are waiting on him to make a decision still
I want Bron on the spurs, for once just be on a well run team.
They’re gona milk the shit out of this.. for clicks and views. .. wonder how long it will take until he makes decision.
I mean maybe this is bad faith but this is all just part of lebrons “last dance” documentary right? Like it’s pretty clear this is gonna be like a first episode “the decision 2.0”?
He’s making content for his own show lol
I love Bron but I can’t wait for him to retire becuase the way he moves with Rich Paul and Klutch is so exhausting and has been for years
Why does every mofo have a podcast, and why does r/nba find these podcasts so mesmerizing and newsworthy? It’s usually speculation, unconfirmed rumors, lazy opinions, or just dudes rambling.
We love the drama. It’s the NBAs of our lives as some dude mentioned
Lmao, why is “Oil” one of the pro’s underneath the Dallas header
LeBron without Rich Paul would be more likeable.
But this is just 10 seconds. What did he say?
I mean it’s a full podcast where they discuss each option I can’t post the whole 40 minutes lol, here’s the link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4xIBj7CikeMQybKNp1XFfI
Can you give us a list 🤞
Best we can do is a 10 second looped clip of chicken scratch on a whiteboard
I cannot for the life of me read some of that writing ngl
God can he get this shit over with. He’s going to Cleveland on a ST that will give the Lakers space to sign Rui.
Im more than old enough to remember “The decision”, this is basically “The decision 2” just narrated by Rich because LeBron knows how freaking cringey all of that was years ago smh.
I’m bored already.
of course you are, you’re a bot
fuck this dude sucks
If he wants a chance to win a ring spurs is top 1 and also play with wemby
I think the fact that they were in the finals kind of makes it harder. It’s the same reason you wouldn’t have him go to OKC. You need a little bit of a challenge to make the story work so I think it has to be one of the playoff teams that got knocked out a bit earlier.
They’re still a very young team and nobody has made it back to the finals yet this decade
Yeah but I just think from a story perspective it’s not as compelling as like going to Minnesota and succeeding or like Golden State. And the age thing makes the fit a little weirder because the team is LeBron and a bunch of 22 year olds.
Wolves would be the most complete team and seamless fit. Difficult to imagine LeBron choosing Minnesota though.
Max was annoying in this. He kept interrupting and derailing and his takes on which teams LeBron should go to were horrible. Rich was literally letting us into LeBron and his teams train of thought on each team that has a chance to land him and Max kept interrupting to say some foolishness.
Philly it is
Clips that end too quickly
they should eliminate one team with every podcast, with a rep from each team sitting there with puppy eyes
Wow. Much cringe
I cannot imagine, in what could be his final season, he wants to deal with the immaturity we’re all going to inevitably witness in Minnesota.