The LeBron James sweepstakes is alive and well, as James' camp announced he will not be returning to the Los Angeles Lakers, the team with which he won the 2020 NBA Championship. Instead, James will play elsewhere next season.
The question remains whether he will return to one of his previous stops – the Cleveland Cavaliers or Miami Heat – or suit up for his fourth-ever franchise. With strong options like the Minnesota Timberwolves or even the rival Philadelphia 76ers, there's a lot of intrigue left in the storyline of the summer.
And that's where the Indiana Pacers come in.
Amazingly, to explain why, we need to talk about podcasts. Yes, in the landscape of basketball news, these are the important things we must keep track of.
From podcasts to playoffs
At this year's Fanatics Fest, LeBron James will host a live show for his podcast "Mind the Game." However, instead of his typical cohost, two-time MVP winner Steve Nash, he will be joined by your very own Tyrese Haliburton.
While Hali has never been one to shy away from promotional efforts, this does feel a little different. He has been a cohost on "Mind the Game" before, but so has JJ Redick, and LeBron just left him behind in LA.
No, this is the first time LeBron has been a free agent since the 2018-19 offseason, and Tyrese having the inside track seems like a great strength.
If the Pacers lose some picks for tampering efforts, so be it. They lost their pick to the LA Clippers despite a near-50 percent chance to keep it. That could've netted a good rookie. This could net the greatest player ever!
The on-court fit of the LePacers
Assuming LeBron James would slide in directly at the three, with Andrew Nembhard moving back to the bench when Haliburton is healthy, the Pacers could field a lineup with versatility, playmaking, and elite scoring all over the court.
Seriously, the top three of Hali, LeBron, and Pascal Siakam may be the single most willing-to-pass top-three the league has ever seen.
Flanking them would be Ivica Zubac, one of the league's most elite offensive rebounders and screen setters and one of LeBron's former teammates, and Andrew Nesmith, a great 3-and-D wing who can get hot at a moment's notice.
It would be funny for Pacers fans to think of LeBron as both the villain who prevented the Paul George era from ever getting deep into the playoffs and the hero who took his swan song in Indiana, becoming the franchise's biggest-ever free-agent signing.
If the priority is just to film a retirement documentary, the best spot to go is Cleveland. If it's to earn all the credit for taking one of the worst-ever franchises to the top, then it should be Minnesota. But, if the thing LeBron is searching for is the team that best optimizes his chance for success AND lovability, the answer is clear. LeBron James will be an Indiana Pacer.
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