6 Teams that could steal LeBron James from the Lakers next summer

By Nick Halden | Aug 14, 2022

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 29: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the fourth quarter at Staples Center on October 29, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

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6. New York Knicks

Could there be a better final achievement for LeBron than joining the Knicks and pushing a long cursed franchise back into relevance? New York would love LeBron and he would give their beloved Knicks a chance at returning to the postseason. It would be an accomplishment for LeBron simply to help this team win a playoff series much less if he managed to win a ring.

The problem with this potential fit is the team has already paid Julias Randle, Jalen Brunson, and for some reason Evan Fournier. R.J. Barrett is due to be paid as well and is a player that is unlikely to escape the Knicks.

For a path to open for LeBron and the Knicks to join forces the team is going to have to be creative in finding a way to trade Evan and Randle opening up enough cap space to give James the offer he deserves. This would leave Brunson and Barrett (if re-signed) as the Knicks core. Bringing in defensive veteran pieces around them should be enough with James to give them a legitimate shot at contending in the East.

LeBron going to the Knicks would be enough to put the sports world in frenzy. Something he has a history of doing choosing Miami and Los Angeles in past free agency signings.

Next. Lakers could be open to trading AD. dark

Despite the hoops they would have to jump through to open the cap space the fit and potential accomplishment make far too much sense to ignore.