Rich Paul Says 10–12 NBA Teams Have Inquired About LeBron James
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Agent Rich Paul told The Pat McAfee Show on Friday that between 10 and 12 NBA franchises have already contacted him about the possibility of signing LeBron James if the forward leaves the Los Angeles Lakers before free agency opens on June 30.
“There have been incoming calls from every team with the excitement of possibly him playing for them,” Paul said in a televised interview. “At 41 years of age, going on 42, that’s something to be extremely proud about.” Paul did not identify any of the interested clubs.
Among rumored destinations, league observers have frequently pointed to the Golden State Warriors, where James could reunite with Stephen Curry after their 2024 Olympic gold-medal run under coach Steve Kerr. Golden State, however, would be limited to offering roughly $15 million via the mid-level exception unless a sign-and-trade or major roster shake-up occurs. A return to the Cleveland Cavaliers—the team that drafted James first overall in 2003 and won a championship with him in 2016—has also been floated, though Cleveland could likely extend only a veteran-minimum contract.
James is coming off his 22nd consecutive All-Star selection. In 60 regular-season games he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists, helping Los Angeles secure the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. The Lakers defeated Houston in the first round despite injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves before falling to Oklahoma City. James was ineligible for All-NBA consideration after failing to meet the league’s new 65-game threshold.
With free agency roughly two weeks away, speculation about James’s next move has accelerated. Paul, speaking later on his Game Over podcast, dismissed the current rumors. “Nobody knows anything that pertains to LeBron,” he said, adding that no negotiations will begin until he consults directly with his client.
Source: Hoops Rumors
