Cavaliers, Warriors, 76ers, Heat, Timberwolves, Nuggets All Believe They Can Sign LeBron James

LeBron James still hasn’t picked his next team, but the field has narrowed enough that 6 franchises now believe they have a genuine chance to sign him for the 2026-27 season.

James informed the Los Angeles Lakers on June 30 that he intends to play elsewhere next season, ending an 8-year run in Los Angeles. His agent, Rich Paul, told ESPN he has spoken with 27 of the league’s other 29 teams about a potential fit.

According to Marc Stein, of that group, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets all believe they remain in real contention.

Rich Paul Lays Out the Board

Paul used a whiteboard during an appearance on his “Game Over” podcast to walk through 10 teams he considers plausible landing spots, though he told ESPN the actual number of interested franchises runs far larger than that.

Cleveland, Miami, Philadelphia, Minnesota and Denver made up what Paul described as the inner circle, while Golden State, along with the Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, sat further out on the board.

“Every day things change,” Paul said. He framed the decision around happiness rather than legacy, noting James has already won titles, been named Finals MVP 4 times, and set the NBA’s career scoring record, so validation isn’t driving this free agency the way it has in the past.

Cleveland and Golden State Long Considered the Frontrunners

The Cavaliers and Warriors were tied to James before he ever told the Lakers he was moving on, and both have realistic, if complicated, paths to offering him more than a minimum salary.

Cleveland is already over the cap and would need to shed money, possibly by moving a rotation piece, to create room for even a partial exception. A sign-and-trade built around a player such as Jarrett Allen remains on the table, though it would hard-cap the Cavaliers at the first apron.

Golden State’s path runs through its own subtractions. Draymond Green already turned down a $27.8 million player option, and the Warriors are exploring ways to clear enough room to offer James the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception, projected at roughly $15 million.

Stephen Curry and Green’s bond with James from the 2024 Paris Olympics has kept Golden State in the conversation even though the Warriors didn’t get top billing on Paul’s board.

Philadelphia, Miami, Minnesota and Denver Believe They’re Still in the Mix

The other 4 teams face a steeper climb financially and would likely have to sign James to the veteran minimum, worth close to $3.9 million for a player with his level of service time, unless something unexpected changes their cap sheets.

Philadelphia has 1 open roster spot after landing Jaylen Brown, and Paul pointed to a front office that includes Jameer Nelson and Mike Gansey, both of whom crossed paths with James earlier in his career, as a selling point. Miami’s pitch centers on Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra and the 2 championships James won there from 2010 to 2014, along with the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade the Heat is finalizing this month.

Minnesota is leaning on Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball and a core that has reached the Western Conference finals in each of the last 2 seasons. Denver’s appeal, per Paul, is rooted in his relationship with the Kroenke family more than the roster, since the Nuggets already project well above the second apron.

Where the Dallas Mavericks Fit

The Mavericks landed on Paul’s outer circle, though the pitch he described had little to do with basketball. Paul pointed to the business ties that come with new Dallas Mavericks president Masai Ujiri and the franchise’s ownership group, name-checking golf,

Macau and the Sands Group. It reads as a long shot next to the basketball-driven pitches from Cleveland, Miami, Minnesota and Denver, but it puts Dallas in the same breath as Boston, New York and San Antonio, all of which Paul mentioned only in passing.

What’s Next

Paul said he doesn’t expect James’ decision to come quickly, and that it likely won’t land in the next few days. That gives the 6 believers time to keep working the phones, and gives every other team still hoping for a surprise call a reason to keep dreaming, too.

More NBA Coverage on Dallas Hoops Journal

• LeBron James Has Been Contacted By Countless Players On The Teams Interested In Signing Him
• Rich Paul: LeBron James’ Decision Isn’t Coming ‘Anytime Soon’
• LeBron James Would’ve Signed With New York Knicks This Offseason If They Hadn’t Won Title
• Rich Paul’s ‘Oil, Golf, Macau And Africa’ Pitch For LeBron James To Join Dallas Mavericks
• Dallas Mavericks Make LeBron James’ Free Agency Board, But Rich Paul’s Pitch Skips The Roster