LeBron James and Tyrese Haliburton will share the stage Thursday at Fanatics Fest in New York, but Indiana Pacers officials do not intend to use the moment to recruit the four-time NBA champion, according to multiple league and team sources cited by ScoopB.com.
Haliburton is scheduled to replace Steve Nash as James’s co-host for a live taping of the “Mind the Game” podcast at 1:15 p.m. ET. Despite the high-profile pairing, sources told reporter Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson that Indiana has made no push to pursue James in free agency.
“Would it be great if we had LeBron? Yeah, it would,” a Pacers source said to Robinson. “But we don’t need LeBron James. We don’t need him with the youth we have on the roster. We are trying to make a name for ourselves.”
One source added that Haliburton would participate in a recruitment effort if asked, yet the organization currently has no such plan. President of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard remains focused on developing a young core built around Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and 2023 lottery pick Jarace Walker.
Robinson also reported that James is weighing several free-agent scenarios. The Cleveland Cavaliers are viewed by league insiders as the frontrunner, while the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers are considered serious contenders. James is said to harbor concerns about Joel Embiid’s long-term health as he evaluates Philadelphia’s situation.
The Pacers, meanwhile, appear committed to internal growth rather than adding a 20-year veteran, even as Haliburton briefly shares the spotlight with James in New York.
Source: Hoops Wire
