NBA Rumors: LeBron James ’Spending Time’ With 4-Time Champion As Free-Agency Recruiting Heats Up
The Golden State Warriors were among the early frontrunners for LeBron James after news broke that he would not return to the Los Angeles Lakers for another season.
Per the latest update, the Warriors have gained fresh hope in the race to sign the league’s all-time leading scorer, with Shams Charania reporting that James has been spending time with Draymond Green this week.
Draymond Green Meeting With LeBron James Fuels Warriors Buzz
James’ agent, Rich Paul, publicly stated that 10 teams were under consideration, with the primary board featuring the Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Philadelphia 76ers.
In recent days, the Warriors had seemingly fallen behind in the free agency race to sign James, with Cleveland, Miami, and most recently, Philadelphia being tipped as the top landing spots.
However, Charania’s update on Tuesday offered an encouraging sign for Golden State.
“And by the way, breaking news here, I don’t know if it is breaking news, LeBron James and Draymond Green are spending some time here together this week,” Charania said.
Stephen A. Smith quickly followed up by asking whether the two were in Akron playing golf or meeting somewhere else. However, Charania stayed tight-lipped about the question.
“Undisclosed location,” he said. “I don’t know if I can disclose the location. But that just goes to show, you know, last week he was spending time with friends, with family.”
James and Green have maintained a close friendship for years, regularly spending time together during the offseason. With the 22-time All-Star’s free agency continuing to generate buzz, this latest meeting can be more than just a routine reunion.
Green has long been the Warriors’ premier internal recruiter, reportedly calling Kevin Durant from the parking lot after the Warriors lost Game 7 of the NBA Finals in 2016.
“I mean, I was really just telling him about the fun we have together–the fun that this team has and how he would be welcome here with open arms,” Green told SI about recruiting Durant.
The effort ultimately paid off, with Durant signing in Golden State and remaining with the franchise through 2019.
James joining forces with Green and Stephen Curry remains a lucrative possibility.
Green is also navigating his own free agency after turning down his $27.7 million player option for the 2026-27 season, suggesting he did so to give Golden State more flexibility, especially in pursuing James.
Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor even reported that Green’s future could depend on James’ decision. If the 41-year-old ultimately signs elsewhere, the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year may continue his career with another team.
