LeBron James’ next step has turned into one of the stranger storylines of the offseason, and Brian Windhorst isn’t hiding how little sense it’s making right now.
With free agency set to begin on June 30, James still has not met with the Lakers about a new deal, even though he has been linked to a return to Los Angeles. Windhorst said on Get Up that he does not know why that meeting has not happened.
“I don’t know why LeBron has not been available. He has not been available for the meeting and obviously free agency begins tomorrow.
So, I am not assuming that LeBron is playing for sure next year. I am assuming that there is a reason why he has not met with them yet.
Yesterday, I believe he played golf in Akron, Ohio. It was a lovely day in Ohio yesterday, I was there,” Windhorst said.
That uncertainty has only added more fuel to the speculation surrounding James, whose future has been discussed in all directions. Retirement has been floated.
A new deal with the Lakers has been floated. Even a move to the Golden State Warriors has been part of the conversation.
Other teams, including the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers, have also come up as possible landing spots.
James was originally reported to be interested in re-signing with the Lakers, and the team has been viewed as open to a team-friendly deal as it keeps working toward building a long-term contender around Luka Doncic.
Still, the Warriors angle keeps hanging around. Windhorst noted that Draymond Green is close to the end of his $27 million player-option for the 2026-27 season. If Green opts out, Golden State would then have the ability to offer a free agent a deal worth about $15 million for next season.
Windhorst stopped short of drawing a direct line between James and the Warriors, saying there was no indication that James had skipped the Lakers meeting because he was waiting on Golden State. But he also would not rule it out.
"If Draymond opts out of that contract, it opens the window for [the Warriors] ... to offer a free agent. Maybe it's LeBron."@WindhorstESPN on the potential for LeBron James to join the Warriors 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ik6oALIArQ
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) June 29, 2026
The Warriors, meanwhile, have been tied to several major possibilities in recent days, including rumors that they could consider a Jimmy Butler package for Anthony Davis.
For now, though, the picture remains unsettled. James’ next move is still unclear, and the only certainty is that the drama around it is not going away.
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