The Denver Nuggets have formally reached out to LeBron James after the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player informed the Los Angeles Lakers he intends to sign elsewhere next season, according to Bennett Durando of The Denver Post.
Denver joins a rapidly growing list of teams expressing interest in the 39-year-old superstar. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat remain the franchises most often linked to James, while the Minnesota Timberwolves have also surfaced as a possibility. Agent Rich Paul recently told reporters that nearly half of the league made inquiries once free agency opened.
Whether the reigning Western Conference champions can assemble a competitive offer is unclear. The Nuggets are currently projected to exceed the NBA’s second tax apron, limiting them to proposing only a minimum contract unless they clear additional salary.
Several reports indicate James is prioritizing immediate title contention and personal satisfaction over securing the richest deal. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst labeled Denver an unexpected—but intriguing—suitor, citing James’s admiration for three-time MVP Nikola Jokić, his long-standing friendship with Nuggets governor Josh Kroenke and his ties to Klutch Sports, which also represents multiple Denver players.
The Nuggets previously attempted to lure James during his 2018 free agency, when Kroenke sent him a retro Denver jersey as part of the team’s recruitment effort.
Source: Hoops Wire
