LeBron James will become a free agent on July 1. James’ agent revealed that he will opt out of his final two years of his contract with the Miami Heat and explore the potential to sign with another team.
Here are four teams King James should consider as a free agent.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls will have to make a few trades to clear cap space for James if he doesn’t agree to a pay cut. A healthy Derrick Rose, LeBron James and Joakim Noah could be the new version of the “Big 3.” However, Rose’s health is still a big issue and the Bulls currently lack a sufficient bench. Also, the shadow of Michael Jordan would increase as James would often be compared to the Bulls legend.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks are building a respectable foundation with their Spurs-like brand of basketball. They have a nucleus of Jeff Teague, Al Horford and Paul Milsap. With the addition of James, they could compete with any team in the league. They also have the cash to sign James. The city of Atlanta also offers a vibrant scene for young black millionaires and has a great cost of living. But for some reason, the Hawks just aren’t a sexy franchise and many top free agents never consider the team.
L.A. Clippers
James loves playing with his friends and Chris Paul has been his buddy since high school. The Clippers will have a difficult time getting cap space for James, but there is a slight chance that they could pull it off. The trio of LeBron James, Chris Paul, and Blake Griffin would be a formidable challenge for the Spurs.
Miami Heat
The Heat are still favored to win the Eastern Conference if the Big 3 returns. If they are able to sign Carmelo Anthony, things could get interesting in South Florida. However, Bosh’s inconsistency and Wade’s questionable health could cause James to seriously rethink returning.
