LeBron James’ former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Channing Frye has advised the 41-year-old to stay put in Los Angeles. James is an unrestricted free agent this offseason and could switch teams if he doesn’t retire. A Cavaliers homecoming is widely reported to be on the cards, while there are murmurs of the Miami Heat and the Golden State Warriors being other potential landing spots.
However, Frye thinks the “smartest” thing for his former championship-winning teammate is to stick with Los Angeles. Frye appeared on Thursday’s episode of “The Road Trippin’ Show,” days after completing a reunion with some of the 2016 Cavaliers championship roster.
“The smartest thing for him right now is to go to the Lakers,” Frye told co-hosts Allie Clifton and Richard Jefferson. “And here’s why … Cleveland got too many what-ifs now. After seeing what I saw, 52-year-old LeBron ain’t gonna solve their issues. They got soul issues. They got ‘I don’t like you issues. I don’t want to be here with you issues.'”
Channing Frye feels there are too many uncertainties around the Cavaliers. He added that Evan Mobley, their best young player, is involved in trade rumors. Meanwhile, Frye questioned whether LeBron James can mesh well with James Harden, who is only functional with the ball in his hands.
While a fairytale ending in Cleveland seems fitting, roster issues impact James’ chances of winning his fifth championship. He may have a better shot with the Lakers alongside a generational talent like Luka Doncic, or in Miami, who just landed perennial MVP contender Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Insider suggests only pathway for LeBron James to land with the Cavaliers
NBA insider Brian Windhorst believes there’s only one realistic pathway for the Cavaliers to land LeBron James. According to the ESPN analyst, the Cavaliers can only offer James $4 million. However, he doesn’t think the four-time NBA MVP will accept that. Windhorst believes James is still a max contract and a top-20 player.
To tackle that issue, he speculated that one way to get James the contract he deserves would be to trade Jarrett Allen to Los Angeles.
“The only real way I see that the Cavs could get LeBron money would be to do a trade with Jarrett Allen,” he said on Thursday on the Pat McAfee Show. “That’s something that the Lakers would do, but I don’t think that would improve the Cavs.”
Allen’s departure would leave a glaring hole in Cleveland’s frontcourt. He’s been a crucial presence down low as a lob threat and a screener on offense. Defensively, he’s a solid rebounder and shot blocker at the rim. As good as James can be on his day, his body at 41 is unlikely to absorb the toll as well as some of the other younger frontcourt players.
If Allen goes and James arrives, he will inevitably have to contribute more on the glass and with his post defense.
Read more:
- Wizards GM Addresses Anthony Davis’ Future After Trae Young Extension, AJ Dybantsa Addition
- NBA Fans Dish Hilarious Reactions as Lakers and Mavericks Complete Direct Trade For First Time Since Luka Doncic Deal
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