LeBron James informed the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday that he will play elsewhere during the 2026-27 season, ending his eight-season run in L.A. Where will the four-time MVP go now that he's an unrestricted free agent and the Lakers have moved on by filling out their roster with other free agents?
After he took his talents to South Beach in 2010, opted for a Cleveland Cavaliers homecoming in 2014 and headed to Hollywood in 2018, James must now weigh "The Decision 4.0." Let's break down the pros and cons of his most likely destinations.
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Golden State Warriors
Pros: The Warriors check a lot of boxes for James, who maintains strong relationships with Golden State stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. James and Curry, longtime rivals, teamed up to win gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics under Warriors coach Steve Kerr and share a desire to play "meaningful basketball" as they inch closer to retirement. By combining their powers, perhaps they could squeeze in one more deep postseason run: James hasn't been to the Western Conference finals since 2023, and Curry last reached that stage in 2022, when he led the Warriors to their fourth championship in eight seasons. James is reportedly prioritizing "happiness" this summer, which seemingly aligns with Kerr's belief in the power of "joy."