НБА-гийн бүх цаг үеийн онооны рекорд эзэмшигч Леброн Жеймс карьерынхаа 24 дэх улирлыг эхлүүлэхийн өмнө аз жаргалыг хамгийн чухалд тооцож байна.
Лос-Анжелес Лэйкерс дэх улирал дууссаны дараа Леброн Жеймс багтаа үлдэх магадлал 80 хувьтай гэж үзэж байсан ч одоо чөлөөт агентийн хувьд шинэ сонголтуудыг судалж эхэлжээ. Түүний агент Рич Пол “Game Over” подкастад оролцохдоо Жеймс зөвхөн тоглохыг хүсэхээс гадна сэтгэл ханамжтай байхыг эрхэмлэж байгааг онцолсон байна. Одоогоор Филадельфи 76эрс, Клевлэнд Кавальерс, Майами Хит, Миннесота Тимберволвз, Денвер Наггетс зэрэг багууд түүнийг элсүүлэх боломжтой нэр дэвшигчдийн тоонд багтаж байна.
Рич Полын ярьснаар, хэрэв Нью-Йорк Никс түрүүлээгүй байсан бол Жеймс тэднийг сонгох өндөр магадлалтай байсан бөгөөд үүний тулд Жэйлен Брансон түүнийг багтаа урих нь хангалттай байх байв. Түүнчлэн Жеймс өөрийн төрөлх хотын баг Клевлэнд Кавальерст эргэн ирэх сонирхолтой байгаа бөгөөд тус байгууллагын удирдлага, ажилтнуудтай тогтоосон удаан хугацааны харилцаа нь үүнд эергээр нөлөөлж байна.
Тоглогчдын бүрэлдэхүүний хувьд Жеймс Филадельфи 76эрс багийн Тайриз Макси болон Кливлэнд Кавальерсын Дариус Гарланд нарын тоглолтыг өндрөөр үнэлдэг байна. Мөн Филадельфи 76эрс баг Жэйлен Брауныг эгнээндээ нэгтгэсэн нь тус багийг илүү сонирхолтой болгож байгаа бөгөөд Жеймс багийн удирдлагын гишүүдтэй хуучны танил юм. Одоогоор Жеймс ирэх улиралд аль багт тоглох талаар эцсийн шийдвэрээ хараахан гаргаагүй байна.
Дэлгэрэнгүй эх сурвалжийг харах
Эх сурвалжийг нээх ↓
For a few weeks after Season 23 ended, LeBron James was “80 percent sure” he would return to the Los Angeles Lakers, he told longtime friend and sports agent Rich Paul. Obviously that didn’t hold, and now the NBA’s all-time leading scorer is again the league’s most attractive and tantalizing free agent.
Speaking on his “Game Over” podcast with Max Kellerman, Paul said that when James was sure he wanted to continue playing but not with the Lakers, he challenged his most famous client with one question: What did he want most as he enteredhis 24th NBA season?
“The answer was happiness,” Paul said.
During the episode, Paul discussed several potential destinations for James on a whiteboard. The Philadelphia 76ers were prominently listed, as were the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets and a few other teams on the outer edges.
The next stop for LeBron should be…
David Aldridge, Joe Vardon and more
In a twist, Paul said if the Knicks hadn’t won the title, “there would be no board. He’d be going to the Knicks.” It’s unlikely James will sign with them, but Paul said the only thing that would need to happen is for Jalen Brunson to call.
“He would have to pick up the phone and say it’s no issue with me with you joining,” Paul said.
Paul also pointed to James’ hometown of Cleveland as a serious contender, citing familiarity with the organization, Gilbert family and team president Koby Altman, as well as long-standing relationships with people within the organization, such as assistant general manager Brandon Weems.
“Brandon Weems, who I call basically like LeBron’s brother, is a big feather in the Cavs’ cap,” the sports agent said.
From a roster perspective, while Paul said it’s “nothing against James Harden,” James would have loved to play with the Clippers’ Darius Garland, whose game he admires, similar to that of another player, the Sixers’ Tyrese Maxey.
“LeBron loves Maxey,” Paul said.
He added that the Sixers’ recent acquisition of Jaylen Brown makes them more attractive as a potential destination. James is also familiar with Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, whom he played high school basketball against, and Jameer Nelson, who is a new addition to Philadelphia’s front office. They also discussed how LeBron could help develop standout rookie VJ Edgecombe.
The Heat also remains in play due to James’ previous tenure with the team and familiarity with the organization. Another rarely discussed option would be the Timberwolves. Paul cited the ownership group, the possibility of playing with Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball and the defensive support of Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels.
Paul said that playing in Golden State with Steph Curry and Draymond Green, and the way the Lacob family has built a winning organization, stood out, too.
Throughout the podcast, Paul also said the Nuggets, Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs were part of broader league-wide discussions. With the Dallas Mavericks, Paul said many factors outside of basketball were part of the potential equation, in addition to roster evaluation.
Despite Paul’s comments on the podcast, no final decision had been made regarding James’ next team.
