With LeBron James presumably set to become a free agent this summer, the Los Angeles Lakers have 5/2 odds to sign him, per SportsBook. That trails only the Houston Rockets, who are the favorite with 9/5 odds.
The Philadelphia 76ers (5/2 odds), Cleveland Cavaliers (7/1) and Boston Celtics (20/1) round out the top five. The Lakers are on track to begin free agency with the most salary cap space available.
In addition to James, they’ve been heavily linked to Paul George as well. So too have the 76ers and Rockets, though only the Lakers are in position to sign both superstars to max-contracts.
After the Cavaliers were swept in the NBA Finals by the Golden State Warriors, James said he remained focus on winning championships and isn’t keen on joining a roster that would need to be built from scratch.
The Lakers and 76ers fit that description, though for L.A., signing George as well would accelerate their rebuild. Meanwhile, the 76ers, although young, boast one of the game’s better young cores that gained valuable experience by making the playoffs this season.
Where James will ultimately sign is anyone’s guess, even more so than in your typical free agent scenario. There were conflicting reports throughout the past season and the trend figures to only continue.
Most recently, the notion that James had a list of teams he intended to speak with was refuted. No matter how the situation unfolds, the Lakers figure to be involved and will receive at least some consideration.
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