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The Golden State Warriors were hoping LeBron James would come to Northern California to help coach Steve Kerr, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green chase another championship in their final years together.
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Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul said on his podcast that the Warriors were one of four finalists along with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers. After weeks of speculation, James made his decision Friday, agreeing to sign with the 76ers on a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option in the second year.
James, 41, is a four-time NBA champion, a four-time MVP and the league’s all-time leading scorer with 43,440 points as he enters his record 24th season in the NBA. He became an unrestricted free agent after spending the past eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers.
What will the Warriors do now that James is leaving the Golden State for The Keystone State? Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. will shift his focus to other possible roster addition in hopes of improving the team after going 37-45 to finish 10th in the Western Conference last season.
The Warriors are expected to re-sign Green, who recently declined his $27.7 million player option for next season as a strategic move to give Golden State financial flexibility for roster upgrades. They can also finalize their contract with De’Anthony Melton, who agreed to return on a two-year, $11 million deal.
The Warriors are already over the $165 million salary cap, but they are currently about $20.7 million under the luxury tax, which gives them access to the $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception. With Green and Melton, the Warriors will have 12 players under contract, leaving three roster spots for Dunleavy to fill, probably with veteran-minimum contracts.
One possibility, if he will agree to a minimum deal, is DeMar DeRozan, a six-time All-Star who spent the past two seasons with the Sacramento Kings.
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The 76ers are expected to challenge the defending NBA champion New York Knicks for Eastern Conference supremacy after adding James, the league’s all-time scoring leader, to a roster that already featured Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid. In the hours after James’ decision was announced, Philadelphia’s odds of winning the NBA title surged from 20-1 to 10-1, giving the 76ers the fourth-best odds behind the Knicks, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Warriors are in the middle of the pack at 60-1.
James took to social media Friday to explain his decision. He mentioned Los Angeles, Cleveland, Miami and Philadelphia, but there was no mention of Golden State.
“I thought I was done when the season ended,” James tweeted. “I wasn’t ready to announce it, and I knew I needed some time to really decide, but I was pretty sure I played my last game. I was honest at that last press conference when I said I need to look at myself and decide if I still love this game. I still truly love this game, and I have more to give.
“The last few weeks have really been special. I’ve never been able to have no clue what to do and take real time to just think. I’ve had an incredible few months with all the people I love trying to figure it all out. This is my last decision. I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point? I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship.
“I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time. Thank you LA. Miami I’ll forever love and Northeast Ohio will always (be) home!”
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