LeBron James looks poised to stay in the Eastern Conference, and that should have the Orlando Magic paying close attention.
ESPN insider Shams Charania reported that the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers are the three leading teams in the LeBron sweepstakes for next season. If that holds, Orlando may end up seeing him on the other side in the playoffs.
“The Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and 76ers appear to be the top 3 teams in the LeBron sweepstakes, per @ShamsCharania “When the Sixers got Jaylen Brown I did some research and he (LeBron) is taking their pitch very seriously. When I talk to teams now I have a hierarchy of… https://t.co/8oRWqPV2Bb pic.twitter.com/zuAqeQdcVo”
Even at this stage of his career, LeBron still put up 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game with the Lakers last season. On any of the teams mentioned, he would likely slide into a second- or third-option role, but that kind of addition still changes the balance of the East in a hurry.
Philadelphia would become especially dangerous after adding Jaylen Brown to the No. 7 seed that knocked the Magic out in the play-in tournament. The Sixers were bounced in the second round last season, but pairing LeBron with Brown could push them into a much higher tier.
Miami is another obvious landing spot, and the idea of LeBron teaming with Giannis Antetokounmpo is clearly in play. If that pairing happens, the Heat would become a serious threat, particularly for an Orlando team that would have to deal with Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero on the other side of the matchup.
A return to Cleveland would bring LeBron back home and create a Big 3 with Donovan Mitchell and, presumably, James Harden, though Harden has not signed a new contract with them in free agency. After the Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference Finals in May, LeBron joining that group could give them the highest ceiling of any team directly in Orlando’s path.
The Magic are focused on their own offseason, starting with the hiring of Sean Sweeney as their next head coach. Orlando is hoping that move sparks enough internal growth to build on its 45-win season. Health was also a major issue, and the team believes a cleaner bill of health could move it closer to the top of the conference.
But with so many rivals around them making moves, standing still may not be enough. If the Magic don’t keep pace, they could find themselves slipping behind teams that are improving fast.
Orlando is banking on internal development to do the job. If that doesn’t happen, bigger changes could be waiting next summer.
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The pressure is immediate because his next step is not just about looking the part, but proving he can earn something more permanent. Orlando took him No. 51 overall and gave him a two-year, two-way contract, a setup that puts him on the fringe of the roster and leaves him with plenty to prove if he wants to turn this opportunity into a standard NBA deal. [Read more 🡒]