It appeared the setting would have prompted LeBron James to finally announce his free-agency destination. James sat on stage during the Fanatics Fest on Thursday when Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton asked what everyone wanted James to answer.
James respectfully stressed he has not yet finalized those options. At least one fan prompted James to spell out how he’s weighing his free-agency decision nearly two weeks after announcing he would end his eight-year stint with the Los Angeles Lakers.
“It’s a big decision for not only myself, but my family as well, where I want to spend the last few years, last year or last two years of my NBA career,” James said. “Wherever I go, I’m a natural-born leader. So I’ll try to fit into whatever team I’m going into and also give them all the tools and the knowledge that I’ve been able to grasp for the last 23 years.”
Mario Chalmers, who won two NBA titles with James with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013, spoke to Fadeaway World on where he thinks James will play and analyzed all of the potential options. Chalmers, who currently plays with the Big3’s Miami305, also talked about the Heat acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Editor’s note: The following one-on-one interview has been edited and condensed.
LeBron is part of this Fanatics event, so maybe he will share a decision soon. Where do you think he plays?
Chalmers: (laughs). “It’s hard to say. But I think it’s between Miami and Philly. Those are my two top choices.”
Why those two?
Chalmers: “I feel like both of those teams are in a good win-now situation. Miami has still added a couple of pieces. I feel like Golden State is a good option. But I just don’t see him staying in the West right now with the East wide open. That’s the only thing.”
This is so fluid. But you said in another interview you thought he would choose the Warriors. What do you think has changed that affected your outlook a bit?
Chalmers: “Honestly, I haven’t paid attention to it because I know how crazy and how much of a frenzy this could turn to after watching the first one when he made the first “Decision” to come to Miami. So this one is more, ‘I’m waiting to see.’ The whole world is anticipating. Whatever he wants to do is going to be a major move. It’s going to make that team that much better. It is an important decision.”
The circumstances have changed. But what do you think of the fact that this decision is still significant this late in his career?
Chalmers: “Once you get older and wiser, the decision is even more important. People are starting to see the writing on the wall and that things are coming to an end of his career. So they just want to see what kind of bang he’s going to make before he leaves.”
If he goes to Miami or Philly, what do you make of the dynamic and fit with each team?
Chalmers: “With Philly, I see him fitting perfectly with Jaylen Brown, [Tyrese] Maxey, and [Joel] Embiid. You have a ‘Big 4’ there. ‘Bron can play in that 3 or 4 position and also take Maxey off the ball. That will help him grow and become a better scorer, better player, and better playmaker.
With Miami, I see LeBron being a starting point guard with Bam and Giannis right there on the side. They just got to get a couple of more shooters. They did a good job of getting Tim [Hardaway Jr]. Bobby Portis was a good pickup. So I feel like Philly is a win-win right now. I think Miami is a win, if you add a couple of more pieces. Then everything else follows. You got to add more pieces to Golden State. You got to add more pieces to Cleveland. I feel like Philly has everything. Miami is the second-best choice.”
You said you think it’s Miami or Philly. But if LeBron chooses the Warriors, what do you think it would be like for LeBron to play with Steph and Draymond?
Chalmers: “I think it’ll be funny, just because I know they then would get more. I feel like ‘Bron goes to Golden State, then Klay [Thompson] goes back to Golden State. I feel like they would put the whole band back together.”
Why do you think they’d get Klay back?
Chalmers: “If ‘Bron goes, I just feel like I could see them trying to put a superstar team around them and let him go out in the dominant way that he’s supposed to go out. That’s how I’m looking at it. But I want him to go to Minnesota.”
Why do you want him to go to Minnesota?
Chalmers: “I think that would be exciting. I’m a big Anthony Edwards fan. I like LaMelo [Ball] as a point guard. I think LeBron could really help LaMelo to make him a really dominant point guard in the league.”
What do you think that fit would be like?
Chalmers: “I don’t think it’s a good fit, though, just because they are such a young team. They are still learning how to play seriously and learn what it takes to get to the Finals. I don’t think Bron has the time to teach and do all of that. He would have to exert a lot more energy in Minnesota compared to anywhere else to get to the Finals.”
Given LeBron’s history with Cleveland, why don’t you think he’d go back there?
Chalmers: “With LeBron going to Cleveland, you’d have to give up somebody. It would have to be Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, or James Harden. They would likely lose something if ‘Bron leaves to Cleveland.”
What was your reaction when the Heat got Giannis?
Chalmers: “I loved it. I’m ‘Heat Nation’ for life. So anytime they can make a splash, it’s going to happen. I was just down there a couple of days ago. I was at the arena doing some stuff with them. It was great to see them excited again. I’m excited to see what ‘Spo [Erik Spoelstra] is going to do with incorporating this new offense with Giannis and Bam [Adebayo]. It’s going to be very interesting. I think they’re going to be a really good team.”
We’ll see where LeBron goes. But as is, where do you see the Heat stack up in the East?
Chalmers: “I think it would be top three or four in the East. Defensively, I think they’re going to be one of the top one or two defensive teams in the league. Usually when you’re that high on defense, your offense is going to come with it. I said about their shooting earlier. That’s the biggest thing. That’s good that they picked up Timmy Jr., and Bobby can shoot the 3 a little bit. But they’re still missing one or two shooters. I think now would be a perfect time for a Duncan Robinson, Klay Thompson, or a real 3-point specialist. With the way the game of basketball is going, it’s easier to find a specialist than a star right now.”
You said you were down at the arena the other day. What was the stuff you did with them?
Chalmers: “I worked the Heat Jr. camp a couple of days ago. So it was just me being out in the community and doing a couple of things like that. It just started. Two days ago was my first one. It’s good to be back in the community, being part of ‘Heat Nation’ and winning two championships with them.’ It’s nice that the organization still thinks highly enough of me to still be around, do things, and represent them. It shows that I did a little something-something in my career.”
