Former NBA champion Jeff Teague recently said that LeBron James should consider leaving the Los Angeles Lakers if the team is truly prioritizing Austin Reaves over him in free agency this offseason.
According to Los Angeles Lakers reporter Jovan Buha, the franchise will likely prioritize Reaves over James in certain contract scenarios, as the former fits better in Luka Doncic’s timeline, unlike James, who is approaching 42 this December.
“It’s time to go, Bron. N****s start putting Austin Reaves over you. And I like Austin Reaves, but y’all would never disrespect a GOAT like that,” Teague said on the Club 520 podcast. “Rip Hamilton wasn’t prioritized over Michael Jordan when Michael was 41. He was the owner. They told Jerry Stackhouse, ‘Get out the way. Mike’s back.’”
If James does leave the Los Angeles Lakers this summer, the four-time NBA champion will still garner suitors in the open market, and he’s been linked to a potential transfer to either the Golden State Warriors or Cleveland Cavaliers.
Los Angeles Lakers Rumors: LeBron James could join Western Conference rival by taking significant pay cut
As noted, the Golden State Warriors have been floated as a potential landing spot for LeBron James if he ultimately leaves the Los Angeles Lakers. However, according to Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard, the four-time league MVP would likely take a huge discount to make it happen.
“If they maneuver their roster and payroll just enough, the Warriors could offer LeBron the $15.1 million nontaxpayer midlevel exception, which is monumentally short of the $52.6 million he made this season but is more than some other possible teams could pay him,” Kawakami wrote.
“I think the Warriors would be a very live option. Check that: I think the process has already started and the Warriors are a live option,” he continued.