Here’s what LeBron James’ free-agency means for Houston

ESPN reported Thursday that the Lakers believed trading for Leonard would give them a strong chance of landing James in free agency.

Cleveland can still offer James the largest contract at five years and over $200 million, while the most another team can put on the table is a four-year deal worth $152 million. He will now speak to other teams.

But there are other teams in the mix for the 33-year-old – and the Los Angeles Lakers appear to be at the top of the list. Of course, it is perfectly plausible one of the feasible teams was his preferred choice all along.

“Sources close to LeBron: He didn’t text KD and his going to the Lakers would not be sealed (or doomed) by whether or not they trade for Kawhi”, Vardon wrote on Twitter. The ESPN reporter clarified that any reference to a “decision cave” is nothing more than a joke used by LeBron and his camp.

The summer of superstars is nearly upon us, and the Los Angeles Lakers are poised to be big players during 2018 National Basketball Association free agency. That presumably would include Brandon Ingram, the No. 2 pick in the 2016 draft and the Lakers’ most promising young player, plus a combination of future first-round picks and other young talent, such as Lonzo Ball, the second overall pick a year ago, Kyle Kuzma and/or Josh Hart.

However, at least one of the three-possibly more-would have to be included in any trade package the Lakers will offer to San Antonio in a bid to convince them to trade Kawhi Leonard. Between its young stars (Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons) and its cap space, the 76ers are in good position to make a run at the two stars.

The 76ers won 52 games last season.

Well, apparently, Windhorst saw enough tweets or blogs or something that showed people believed James was huddling with his friends in a real cave and felt compelled to explain exactly what “The Decision Cave” is…

“I think the Lakers are the leaders for LeBron James”, Windhorst concluded. Will the two be teammates in Philly next season?

The fact that he didn’t pick up his option could be good news for anxious Cavs fans, who fear James may leave them for the second time in his career. But before you start going insane and reconstructing each team’s roster in the hopes of adding James, let’s just examine the realistic options.

But that was before the Akron native led the Cavs to four straight Finals and won Cleveland’s first professional sports title since 1964.