LeBron James is once again the center of the NBA’s offseason conversation, but one thing is already off the table: he won’t be back with the Los Angeles Lakers next season.
That leaves the rest of the league sorting through the possibilities, with the San Antonio Spurs among the teams that had been floated as a landing spot. James has also been linked to the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers, and Denver has now entered the chase as well.
For San Antonio, the appeal was obvious. A recent report suggested James wants to join a good team rather than simply a fun one, and the Spurs have been viewed as one of the rising groups on the board. There was even a path where James could have made things interesting financially, since there are murmurs that he might be willing to take a minimum contract to chase a deep playoff run.
That possibility would have opened the door to some wild lineup ideas for the Spurs, including a starting five of James, Victor Wembanyama, Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle, and De'Aaron Fox.
But that scenario appears to be fading fast.
Multiple reports say San Antonio’s signing of Tobias Harris essentially ends the connection with James. The Spurs could have fit James on a mid-level deal, but they may not even need to think that far now.
James has long operated as a maximum-salary player, and teams have built their books around that reality in the past. This time, though, the market looks different. He will be 42 years old next season, and clubs are no longer eager to hand out max money at that stage of his career.
Golden State still comes with the lure of playing alongside Stephen Curry, but the fit is complicated. Even with everyone healthy, the Warriors’ age and thin roster make a title run difficult, and Jimmy Butler is still recovering from an ACL tear.
So while the Spurs once looked like a possible destination for one last big swing, that path now seems closed.
In Other News...
Spurs Suddenly Find Themselves In A Frustrating Knicks Free Agency Fight
The backup-center market is getting crowded in a hurry, and San Antonio is suddenly part of the conversation even though the issue is bigger in New York. Both teams need frontcourt depth for the coming season, but the Spurs are at least starting from a place of flexibility, with Luke Kornet in the picture and several recent draft picks who could grow into the job if the staff wants to stay internal.
New York, by contrast, looks far more exposed behind Karl-Anthony Towns, which is why this competition could turn frustrating for San Antonio if the same names start disappearing. The Spurs are weighing whether to upgrade the spot rather than settle, and that leaves them balancing immediate need against the possibility that one of their young bigs can eventually claim the role. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Still Have One Roster Problem Tobias Harris Didnt Solve
Tobias Harris gave the Spurs another layer of depth and versatility, but he did not answer every question on the roster. San Antonio still has a clear hole behind Victor Wembanyama, and the front office knows the backup center spot needs more than a stopgap if it wants to keep the rotation balanced over the long haul.
Luke Kornets postseason stint is part of why the issue remains unfinished, and the Spurs now have two open roster spots to work with as they look for a better fit. Whether that comes from a veteran, a younger big or some other avenue, the next move at center matters because Wembanyamas minutes will have to be managed carefully during the regular season. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Fans Are Going To Hate This New 2028 Pick Twist
The Celtics latest draft-pick haul in the Jaylen Brown trade is already drawing attention for its sheer volume, but the real intrigue is buried in the fine print around a 2028 first-rounder. Boston is also picking up a 2031 unprotected first and several second-rounders from Philadelphia, and the rest of the return is tangled up in a web of pick swaps involving the Clippers, Sixers, Celtics and Spurs. For San Antonio followers, the key piece is obvious: the Spurs own 2028 first-round slot is part of the machinery shaping how Bostons side of the deal could ultimately shake out.
What makes this even messier is that Bostons 2028 positioning may not stop with the picks already in the trade. There is reported language suggesting the Celtics could also swap into any additional 2028 first-round pick Philadelphia acquires later if that pick ends up more favorable, though it is still unclear how much of that wording will survive NBA review. For now, the structure leaves more questions than answers, and the Spurs connection to the whole thing is one more reason this deal may not be fully understood until the league signs off. [Read more 🡒]