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LeBron James Agent Says He Informed Lakers of Departure and Listed 10 Teams
Rich Paul said on July 3 that LeBron James informed the Lakers three days earlier he will play elsewhere. Paul named 10 teams and noted he has spoken with 27 franchises total.
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LeBron James informed the Los Angeles Lakers three days before July 3 that he will continue his career elsewhere, his agent Rich Paul said during an episode of his "Game Over" podcast released that day. Paul used a whiteboard to list 10 teams under consideration: the Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs.
Paul told ESPN he has now spoken to 27 teams about James.
He said the Philadelphia 76ers' trade for Jaylen Brown altered the landscape and placed the 76ers at the top of the discussion. Paul noted that James loves Tyrese Maxey, has worked out with him in recent summers, won a 2024 Olympic gold medal alongside Joel Embiid, and endorsed Brown for MVP last season.
Paul highlighted 76ers executives Jameer Nelson and Mike Gansey as personal connections to James and said he and James "love" the team's ownership group led by Josh Harris and featuring Bob Myers.
He described the New York Knicks as a difficult destination because James would not want to disrupt an established situation. Paul said James has fulfilled his promise to win in Los Angeles and called the current decision "pressure-free," centered on happiness, basketball, living conditions, camaraderie and competition.
On an earlier appearance on ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show," Paul had said 10 to 12 teams had already contacted him.
