LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts throughout the fourth quarter of an NBA game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on January 28, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Getty Images via AFP)
Paul said he has fielded quite a lot of calls from NBA teams, telling James they were a tribute to his profession and expected skill at 41.
“These calls I’m getting are a real testament to how you’ve gotten respect on this game,” Paul said he told James in an edition of the agent’s “Game Over” podcast released on Friday.
A big whiteboard showed teams Paul said could be a logical fit for James, including the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves.
In hyping the case for his client, Paul also mentioned Dallas, Boston, San Antonio and Recent York, saying James could be sure for the Knicks had they not won the NBA title last month.
“If the Knicks hadn’t have won, there wouldn’t even be no board. He could be going to the Knicks,” Paul said.
Philadelphia made a robust case by landing Jaylen Brown from Boston in a reported deal that can’t be signed or confirmed until next week under NBA free agency rules.
Adding James to a starting squad of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Brown would create a formidable lineup, Paul notes.
“How couldn’t have (his) attention when you’ve gotten Maxey, Edgecombe, Brown and Embiid?” Paul said, adding that James “unlocks every little thing there” and “every little thing modified” when Brown went there.
Paul also checked out the Miami Heat, who added Giannis Antetokounmpo to Bam Adebayo, Davion Mitchell and Andrew Wiggins, in addition to Denver and Minnesota.
Asked about among the longshot mentions reminiscent of San Antonio or Boston, Paul said if a club wasn’t in consideration, “they wouldn’t be on the board.”
Golden State, represented on the board by Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, was tucked away in a distant corner quite than listed among the many contenders with double the variety of reasons for James to land there.
“Think what you wish,” Paul said. “That is just my board.”
More years for James?
On the subject of the longer term of James, who turns 42 in December, Paul also teased one other tidbit.
“Who says that is going to be his last yr?” Paul said.
Muliple moves were reported by ESPN on Friday with the Lakers trading Deandre Ayton to Washington for Jaden Hardy and two future second-round NBA Draft picks.
Hardy signed an $8.1 million player option for next season last week however the Lakers obtained Walker Kessler from Utah in a four-year sign and trade deal value $130 million to fill their needs at center.