We’re three weeks into NBA free agency and LeBron James still hasn’t picked a team. The usual suspects are circling — Cleveland, Miami, Golden State, Philly, Minnesota — but nobody actually knows where they stand. That includes the people claiming they do.
Sean Deveney of Heavy.com wrote this week that the Cavs, Warriors and Heat remain the favorites, but only based on educated guesses around the league. He predicted a decision would come this week and unlock the rest of the market.
LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, had a different take. He went on the Nightcap show and Shannon Sharpe brought up Deveney’s report. Paul didn’t hold back.
“A pair of lips will say anything,” Paul said. “Don’t listen to that stuff, unc. If I don’t know, who knows?”
That’s about as clear a signal as you’re going to get. Paul basically told everyone to pump the brakes. So the idea that LeBron’s camp is about to drop an announcement this week? Probably not happening.
There’s been plenty of chatter about why each team makes sense. Cleveland because it’s home and the story writes itself. Miami as a redemption arc after the way he left. Golden State gives him a chance to play next to Steph Curry, which is obviously appealing. Philly and Minnesota might actually give him the best shot at winning right now.
But none of that matters if LeBron hasn’t decided yet. And according to his agent, he hasn’t. Paul is the guy who would know. If he’s saying don’t listen to the noise, there’s a good chance the noise is just noise.
So where does that leave everyone? Waiting. The rest of the league’s top free agents are stuck in a holding pattern until LeBron makes up his mind. That’s just how it works when a player of his caliber is on the market.
In the meantime, expect more reports, more guesses and more debates about which team makes the most sense. But Rich Paul made it pretty clear: don’t believe any of it until you hear it from him.
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