​Nuggets suddenly have the best shot at landing LeBron James, a point that originated with The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a preferred source by clicking here. The Denver Nuggets are among the teams around the NBA that, in this offseason, have not quite done enough. For a franchise that can legitimately contend for a title every time it takes the floor because of Nikola Jokic, it feels like Denver should be making bigger moves.
Unfortunately, the cap situation and ownership’s reluctance to spend on certain players complicate improvements on both ends of the floor more than it might appear. When it comes to a potential LeBron James deal, the case for it seems strong. If Bronny decides to stay in Los Angeles with the Lakers, that could make the full pursuit even more appealing for James, who reportedly wants to keep his family in that area during this final stage of his career.
As one Athletic writer noted, proximity to Los Angeles and to Bronny could influence James’s free-agent choice. “James’ close friendship with Nuggets president and governor Josh Kroenke serves as a convenient and positive inroad for Denver in these discussions, but the chance to play alongside another all-time great in Jokic is seen internally as the most obvious recruiting pitch of them all. And, as I previously detailed, it doesn’t hurt that Denver is known for some of the country’s best golf courses—coupled with the short two-hour, 15-minute flight to Los Angeles, where James’ family is expected to remain,” wrote Sam Amick.
From a basketball perspective, bringing in a player of James’s caliber makes perfect sense. He has spent a career demonstrating that he is among the greatest players in NBA history. Yet landing him could be difficult, as he may prefer a warm-weather destination, something Denver does not offer.
In the broader landscape of LeBron James news, other headlines have included the Spurs’ potentially unpopular decision regarding James, the Spurs’ reported interest in a $28 million Lakers wing, and discussions around Klay Thompson’s trade price and its implications for the Warriors. There’s also chatter about how the Lakers might address defensive issues through a strategic acquisition of a premier defender, and how the Mavericks’ decisions around Kyrie Irving could unfold, even as discussions about players like Cooper Flagg enter the conversation for SEO purposes.