LeBron James is still one of the top players in the world right now, even at 38 years old. The way the man takes care of himself is surreal, and there hasn’t been a player as great as him as longevity is concerned. Whether he is the GOAT or not is an entirely different story, but breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record is excellent for The King’s career. As the 2023 season ends, there is a ton of speculation about James’ career and how he will decide to play out his final years.
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Remember, James has made it clear that he wants to play with his oldest son, Bronny James. Bronny is apparently a top-10 draft pick, according to early listings. That is a good sign for the young man because his hard work and mentorship from his father have clearly panned out so far. It is clear that Bronny will be an NBA player in due time, but where will he end up? Specifically, where will LeBron James end up if he tends to play with his son? It is being projected that Bronny James will end up with the Orlando Magic, a team that LeBron James has made clear he would never play for. In fact, The King even said he would retire before considering joining them!
Is that really true? Perhaps not, because the desire to step on the same team as his son would be too strong to resist. James seems settled with his 4 NBA titles, 4 Finals MVPs, 4 MVPs, and the all-time scoring record, so seeing another season out with the Lakers before joining the team of his choice in the 2025 season makes a ton of sense. James is not hard-pressed for money at all, as he is the first player to earn over $500 million in NBA salary alone. James is projected to make over $44 million next year and over $46 million a year later. James has a player option of over $50 million in 2025, but would he be willing to waive that and join the team that has his son? Absolutely.
Here are the likely destinations that LeBron James and Bronny James will end up with. The King has stated that his goal is to play with his son, and these 5 destinations could end up being where the talented players end up together.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Credit: Fadeaway World
The Oklahoma City Thunder have one of the most intriguing and talented core of players in the NBA. Chet Holmgren was taken No. 1 overall, and he has yet to play an NBA game. At 7’0” and 195 lbs, Chet is extremely long and has offensive skills, which include a three-point shot, and defensive skills, including elite shot-blocking. Josh Giddey was taken No. 6 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft and has proven to be a very talented point guard at 6’8”. Giddey is posting 16.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 5.9 APG as one of the most unique all-around point guards in recent memory. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a first-time All-Star in 2023, is currently the best player on the team.
Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 30.8 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 5.7 APG while showing his elite athleticism and killer instinct all season long. Clearly, this core is built for the future, and the trio could be scary together. However, it will take a few years before the Thunder is actually a competitive team, so they have a great chance to draft Bronny James. That means LeBron James can decline his option with the Lakers and join the Thunder on a team-friendly deal to play alongside Bronny. How does a starting lineup of Giddey, Gilgeous-Alexander, Bronny, LeBron, and Holmgren sound? Absolutely scary for the opposition.
The Thunder will have Gilgeous-Alexander with a few more years under his belt, Holmgren healthy (hopefully), Giddey more confident with the ball, and a veteran LeBron James to lead the squad every night. They could not win a championship with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden, but they can absolutely win with LeBron, Bronny, Giddey, Holmgren, and Gilgeous-Alexander.
Orlando Magic
Credit: Fadeaway World
If Bronny is selected to Orlando, as most sports sites are predicting, it could be very interesting to see LeBron James going against his previous words and signing for them in free agency. Is there a guarantee that the Magic will win with LeBron and Bronny in Orlando? Not quite, because only No. 1 overall pick and current Rookie of the Year favorite Paolo Banchero is considered untouchable on the roster. Unless Jonathan Isaac can somehow stay healthy and show he can be an All-Star defensive wing, the Magic is many years away from competing.
Paolo Banchero is a legitimate star in the making, as he is posting 19.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 3.6 APG, and 0.9 SPG on 41.9% FG, 28.1% 3-PT FG, and 75.3% FT. His shooting percentages are not great, but that is expected from a 20-year-old rookie who is still learning the ropes of being a go-to player for a team. So far, Banchero has been the most impressive rookie as a 6’10” powerhouse with solid scoring skills. With Banchero on the roster, Bronny can start alongside him as a shooting guard to form a dynamic offensive duo. Of course, Isaac’s defensive skills can be another solid starter.
LeBron could make this team more deadly on the court because he can bring his leadership and playmaking to improve the youngsters. Bronny will not learn more from anybody else than his own father, who is still the best passer in the NBA and an all-time great leader. The King will also alleviate Banchero’s scoring load and make him a more efficient offensive player. LeBron might not like the idea of playing in Orlando, but it might have to be something The King must live with if he wants to play with Bronny if predictions come true.
Miami Heat
Credit: Fadeaway World
Miami wants another star player, and they would gladly welcome LeBron James back. The King helped deliver two NBA titles to the franchise alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh under Eric Spoelstra, so he clearly has ties to South Beach. The Decision seems like such a long time ago, but it was a groundbreaking decision that effectively changed the NBA forever since players now take their careers into their own hands instead of keeping “loyalty.” In order to get LeBron James back, the Heat need to place themselves in a position to draft Bronny James.
LeBron and Bronny in South Beach would almost be too good to be true. The father and son duo would sell out every night, and they would certainly enjoy the Florida lifestyle together. It is very possible that Bam Adebayo will be on the roster, as he is only 25 years old and has at least 7 or 8 years left of his prime. Jimmy Butler is almost 34, so he might be an older player who will either be taking less money or possibly on his final legs. Tyler Herro is a current Miami Heat star at only 23 years old, so he could be another long-term piece.
With Bronny and LeBron joining Herro and Bam, Miami can look scary on the court. James clearly enjoyed playing for the Heat as he made four straight NBA Finals and won back-to-back NBA titles in 2012 and 2013. Will LeBron be in the best position to win it all in 2025? Probably not, but we won’t know how the Heat shapes up their roster and who they can acquire if they actually do end up drafting Bronny since LeBron will be right behind him on any deal the team will offer.
Los Angeles Lakers
Credit: Fadeaway World
The Los Angeles Lakers are in a unique position right now, as they have LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the roster, along with a few talented role players. Los Angeles wants to win now, but they are under .500 right now and look primed to miss the playoffs for the second straight season. Assuming Los Angeles can somehow gain a draft asset to draft Bronny in the 2024 NBA draft, it will work out perfectly for the team and LeBron James.
LeBron has a player option in the 2025 season worth over $50 million, so he can re-sign with the hopes of playing with his son and Anthony Davis. The Purple and Gold will have to bet on their team being uncompetitive over the next few years, even if they are trying to win right now. This could actually work in their favor. They can try to win now, and if they do, the plan will succeed. If they don’t win, they can engage in a quick rebuild by moving Anthony Davis for picks. If they can somehow keep Davis, they can move anyone else and include their 2029 first-round pick for a top-10 pick in 2025.
Whatever the packages may be, the Lakers and LeBron James will be hoping for Bronny James to enter the league on their side. LeBron can earn his $50 million, which will likely be his final NBA earnings, and can ride off into the sunset knowing he made a ton of money and also got to play with his eldest son. It would also benefit the Lakers organization knowing they can have LeBron James until 2025 and also his son alongside him, creating endless storylines and seats packed yet again.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Credit: Fadeaway World
No doubt, the fairytale destination is Cleveland. LeBron’s hometown, saying his final goodbyes while playing for the team that took him No. 1 overall in 2003, would be iconic. Having LeBron’s son beside him would be even more iconic, and it would be unbelievable to witness such a feat. LeBron was taken No. 1 overall in 2003 and would go on to win a championship with them 13 years later as a more experienced superstar player. James ended up leaving Cleveland twice, but returning one final time to make a push for another championship in 2025 would be absolutely crazy. Who knows, but perhaps a mix of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, or Jarrett Allen could be on the roster as well.
No matter what the Cleveland Cavaliers do with their roster, would they give up on the chance to draft Bronny James and acquire LeBron James in free agency? Possibly not, unless the team is truly competing for a championship and does not want to mess with chemistry. This season will tell a lot about Cleveland, along with the 2024 season, because the core of Garland, Mitchell, Mobley, and Allen has the talent to compete for a championship in the East. We won’t know for sure until this season is over, but the Cavs are a wait-and-see team at this moment. Regardless, LeBron playing out his final year with Cleveland would be iconic.
We have seen many great moments from players in their final seasons, including Kobe Bryant’s last year when he had a retirement tour and ended up scoring 60 points in his final game. LeBron could absolutely top that by playing with his eldest son, on his own accord due to free agency, in his final season at the age of 40 years old. The King has had unlimited memorable moments, but this one would stand out among the rest as the most heartwarming of his career.
Source: fadeawayworld
