Six Teams Still In Mix For LeBron James?

“The Sixers, the Timberwolves, the Heat, your Nuggets — based on everything I’ve been told all weekend — they all still believe they’re in with a chance,” Stein told Mares of ALL City/DNVR Sports. “I think the Warriors were portrayed as an early favorite, not the early favorite … because they were the team we knew was determined to go after LeBron if he parted with the Lakers.

“… And then obviously you’ve got the hometown (Cavaliers). So those are the six teams that people are talking about. 

“But look, all of my reporting on this, I am taking my cues from the teams in the chasing pack,” Stein continued. “When it comes to LeBron, (agent) Rich Paul has done a lot of talking. … But the teams that are in this, they all still believe as we speak that they are still in this.”

Stein mentioned that LeBron hadn’t actually had any direct communication with any interested teams and those clubs were curious to learn if he would take meetings and listen to pitches. Evidently that isn’t in the cards, as Chris Haynes reported on NBA TV (Twitter video link).

“There will be no meetings, no pitches that will allow teams to sit down with LeBron,” Haynes said. “LeBron will make his decision based off the intel that he’s receiving from his agent, Rich Paul.”

Stein and his colleague Jake Fischer reported over the weekend that all the suitors who believe they have a realistic chance at landing James are “prepared to wait as long as it takes” to see where he’ll go. They also reported that while the race remains fluid, there’s “a growing belief” among the teams pursuing LeBron that the idea of finishing his career with the Cavs appears to be “the scenario to beat,” and Stein reiterated that point to Mares.

Brian Windhorst of ESPN confirmed that sentiment on Monday. On the network’s “Pardon My Take” show (Spotify link), Windhorst said nearly every source he’s spoken to around the league privately thinks James will finish out his career in Cleveland.

“I’ve talked to people in Philly, and I’m like, ‘What do you think?’” Windhorst said, per Kevin Topley of NBC Sports Bay Area. “‘We’re afraid it’s Cleveland.’ Everybody I talked to is like, ‘We’re afraid it’s Cleveland.’ Nobody seems like they have optimism.”

According to Topley, Windhorst was sure to clarify he wasn’t making his own prediction about what James might do, but the fact that so many of the teams pursing him are pessimistic about their chances is noteworthy.

On a related note, Anthony Slater of ESPN continues to hear Golden State holds a “low level of optimism” that LeBron will pick the Warriors as his next team. That said, Golden State intends to maintain its roster flexibility until James makes a decision, Slater confirms.

Paul told Mark Medina on Saturday that he didn’t expect James to make a decision “anytime soon.” Haynes reiterated that during his television spot.