NBA Execs Split on Where LeBron James Will End Up

LAS VEGAS — Hold the preorders on any LeBron James Cavaliers jerseys.

While the NBA awaits his decision—again—the league’s power brokers and media are in Las Vegas for Summer League, and his destination is a hot topic.

Some executives are skeptical of the growing narrative that a third Cleveland stint is a certainty.

Multiple Western Conference executives told Front Office Sports they expect James to sign with the Warriors over the Cavaliers for his 24th NBA season. While Cleveland has been the favorite on prediction markets—and Bill Simmons said the move was a “done deal”—some executives believe Golden State is still a real player for James’s services. 

While another league source expects James to sign with the Cavaliers, the consensus among executives polled by FOS is that James will likely pick between the Warriors and Cavaliers.

“I would be stunned if he picked a team that wasn’t Golden State or Cleveland,” a Western Conference executive said. 

The executive cited the basketball fit alongside Stephen Curry compared to the Cavaliers, who have James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley. Another executive said the proximity to James’s family in Los Angeles is another reason why they expect it to be the Warriors.  

James is also reportedly considering the Heat, Sixers, Timberwolves, and Nuggets, along with the Warriors and Cavaliers. 

Both Curry and James have four championships, and Curry defeated James in three Finals. James famously rallied the Cavaliers from a 3–1 deficit in 2016 to defeat Curry’s Warriors, which is the only time in Finals history a team has successfully overcome the deficit. 

“You can’t call this ring-chasing,” one Western Conference executive said to FOS. “LeBron is 41 and Steph is 38. This is an attempt to see if the old guard can get one last title.”

A wrinkle discussed by multiple teams in the mix for him is his oldest son, Bronny. The 21-year-old just finished his second NBA season with the Lakers and had his $2.2 million salary guaranteed for next season on June 29, the day before his father’s split from the Lakers was announced by both parties.

Multiple front office sources from teams in the mix for James said they have discussed acquiring Bronny should his father pick their team. 

“We wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we didn’t discuss it,” one Western Conference executive told FOS. 

LeBron and Bronny became the first father-son teammate duo in NBA history when the Lakers drafted Bronny No. 55 overall in 2024. The executives said it’s unknown if the elder James would want his new team to trade for his son. 

All the executives agreed that Bronny improved during his second NBA season and that his status will be interesting as his father’s free agency unfolds. As the Lakers get younger, Bronny fits the team’s profile and his development and team-friendly contract give the Lakers motivation to keep him. 

But if James wants to continue to play with his son, it could make for a curious negotiation. 

“They shouldn’t give him away for nothing,” one executive said. “He held his own in the playoffs this year. But would you really haggle over him continuing to play with his dad?”