​Why LeBron James fans think they’ve identified his ‘dark horse’ team originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The clock is ticking for LeBron James to make a decision about which franchise he’ll end up playing for in the final days of his remarkable career. Will he head to the Golden State Warriors? Or, will he go back to the Cleveland Cavaliers where he started it all? Other teams that are getting mentioned a bunch include the Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAll of these teams have something in common: They each believe that they have the pitch that can lure James to their franchise. But, what if there’s a team out there doing the bidding that’s totally off the radar?Now, one “dark horse” team is getting some love as the NBA awaits James’ decision.James is being linked to the Indiana Pacers for an interesting reason. The NBA star is appearing at Fanatics Fest for his Mind the Game podcast, and at the event, Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton will be there and serve as LeBron’s special guest co-host filling in for Steve Nash. James will also appear at the CNBC Sport x Boardroom’s Game Plan Summit at Fanatics Fest during the festival.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement”While there has been no credible reporting linking LeBron to Indiana, Haliburton’s involvement has naturally sparked the conversation among fans about where the Pacers could somehow emerge as a surprise destination,” Alex Golden of On SI notes, adding that the Pacers could be a “dark horse” team for him.Golden also says that if Indiana acquires Bronny from the Lakers in exchange for Quenton Jackson, that would make for around $288,000 in added apron space.”Added to Indiana’s existing $2.24 million of breathing room, the Pacers would have roughly $2.52 million below the first apron — enough to legally sign LeBron to the veteran minimum while remaining roughly $70,000 below the apron,” he says.It would take a lot for this to happen. It’s a stretch, to say the least. But, everything is on the table until we hear otherwise.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSpurs’ Victor Wembanyama creates ‘problem’ for NBPA after shocking supermax decisionBucks’ Tyler Herro opens up about physical altercation with Bam AdebayoViral Bronny James video has Lakers fans saying the same thing