Richard Jefferson just dropped the biggest tease of the NBA offseason. With the basketball world waiting for LeBron James to make a decision, Jefferson claimed on the Road Tripping podcast that he knows exactly how everything is going to unfold. Whether he was joking or being genuine is anyone’s guess, but his comments have fueled even more speculation.
“Yeah, he told me, but I can’t tell anybody. He told me the date he was going to tell the Lakers he was moving on. Then he told me where he was going. He told me not to say anything. But I know the whole plan. Me, him, and Rich Paul have been talking. So I kind of know their entire strategy.”
“They’re waiting on a few other dominoes to fall to make sure everything is aligned. Notice how, once he told the Lakers he wasn’t coming back, they signed all those players the next day. So he’s just waiting on a couple more things. Me and him are going to stay in touch. We’ll probably chop it up today. We’ve really been game-planning how we want everything to unfold from here. Just waiting on a couple of dominoes.”
Jefferson could be entirely having fun here. Anyone familiar with his personality knows that he loves trolling fans and the media. But there is also a real possibility that he really knows what LeBron James is going to do next.
Jefferson and LeBron still remain extremely close. They won the 2016 NBA title together in Cleveland, and Jefferson has a strong relationship with Rich Paul as well. LeBron and Jefferson were also spotted on the Cavaliers’ 10-year reunion trip, and it is possible LeBron might have shared his plans.
His comments also line up with what several insiders have been reporting. Rich Paul has reportedly stated that LeBron isn’t expected to rush his decision yet. Brian Windhorst recently said that even though the Cavaliers appear to be the favorites, he also mentioned that belief around the league is still based on “vibes” rather than confirmed information.
Teams such as the Heat, Warriors, and Sixers continue to wait for James’ decision before making roster moves.
And that is why Jefferson’s reference to dominoes is so interesting. If LeBron has already decided where he wants to play, it could be possible that he’s just waiting for other deals to become official before announcing his decision.
We have already seen something similar with the Lakers. Shortly after LeBron informed the front office that he would not return, the Lakers made a flurry of moves in rapid succession as they reshaped the team around Luka Doncic.
The Cavaliers remain the most talked-about destination, while the Heat are waiting on LeBron before they complete their roster. The Warriors are looking to make aggressive moves to lure him, with the Sixers appearing to be waiting in a holding pattern after already making their blockbuster trade for Jaylen Brown.
Until LeBron James makes his announcement, nobody outside his inner circle knows what comes next. But Jefferson seems to be claiming he does. Whether it was genuine or simply engaging the fans, one thing might be clear from this: LeBron James has already picked a team. And the basketball world is waiting on him to choose how and when to tell everyone else.
