LeBron James has yet to decide on his next move following his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 41-year-old probably has one final chapter in his NBA career before he retires, so he is taking his time to make the right decision.
ESPN’s Shams Charania explained on Wednesday that James has five teams on his free agency shortlist.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, and the Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly the top three contenders.
Meanwhile, James is also considering the Golden State Warriors and the Minnesota Timberwolves as unlikely options.
This means the four-time champion is no longer interested in joining Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray on the Denver Nuggets.
Here are three reasons James is making a big mistake by ruling out the Nuggets in free agency.
Why LeBron James should not have eliminated the Nuggets from his shortlist
Nikola Jokic
The Nuggets’ main selling point is Nikola Jokic. Jokic is arguably the best player in the world, and James would thoroughly enjoy playing with him.
James and Jokic are both elite playmakers with remarkable basketball IQ, making them a nightmare for opposition defenses.
The Nuggets center is also a quality three-point shooter, creating space for James to drive to the basket.
James would have an excellent chance of winning his fifth title alongside Jokic, while also remaining a key component of the Nuggets’ offense.
| Position | Starter | Bench |
| PG | Jamal Murray | Tyus Jones |
| SG | Cam Johnson | Bruce Brown |
| SF | LeBron James | Christian Braun |
| PF | Aaron Gordon | Spencer Jones |
| C | Nikola Jokic | Zeke Nnaji |
Spacing
Everyone knows that James needs to be surrounded by three-point shooters to make the most of his playmaking ability.
While this would be an issue with the Miami Heat or the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Nuggets’ roster would perfectly suit him.
Jamal Murray, Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon, and Jokic are all above-average three-point shooters.
With James on the roster, the Nuggets would have an excellent blend of inside and perimeter scoring, playmaking, and size.
Health
The 76ers would probably have the best starting five in the league if James joined them, but Joel Embiid is a huge injury risk.
Likewise, the Miami Heat’s Giannis Antetokounmpo played just 36 games last season, although the Bucks were tucking in some of those.
However, Jokic has played at least 69 games in every season since his draft, so he is as reliable as any superstar.
LeBron also has a near-perfect injury record, meaning the Nuggets would almost certainly have him and Jokic available in the playoffs.
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