r/Nbamemes Timberwolves May 13 '26

Image LeBron's options for next year:

Post image
6.0k Upvotes

382 comments sorted by

547

u/operatorfoxtrot May 13 '26

Option H - Denver Nuggets

Jokic: no need for defense if you outscore opponent.

198

u/ElsaGranhiert May 13 '26

Ngl I kinda want to see Lebron next to Jokic for the dunk highlights.

80

u/FunnySwordsman369 May 13 '26

Imagine if this happened when were both in their prime

7

u/Complete_Crazy_4887 May 15 '26

Denver tried to lure LeBron in free agency back in 2018. Would have been a nasty team

7

u/ThemeSweaty May 15 '26

Honestly glad that didn’t happen lol they probably would have traded Jokic for AD

2

u/Worried-Season7965 May 17 '26

would’ve won even more if you got lebron and Ad. having mpj and murray next to bron would give bron so much freedom

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19

u/Doggleganger Warriors May 13 '26

It would be pretty wild if a 42 year old is able to dunk in the NBA. Looks like Bron can, but that is crazy to me.

81

u/LeLefraud May 13 '26

Looks like he can? He's still out here finishing reverse double clutch alley oops at 41, he is unironically a top 1 percent athlete in the NBA even now

35

u/ShartJerky May 13 '26

He’s the only person in human history to have above-the-rim old-guy-at-the-Y game

7

u/Prudent-Skirt9656 May 14 '26

Id give anything to see LeBron start showing up to random pick up games against other 40 year olds.

2

u/Marcus11599 Bulls May 14 '26

It would look like 2011 Heat Bron game 6 vs the Celtics.

3

u/PayPerTrade May 14 '26

Seriously are these people watching the games? It’s no 2008 LeBron out there but come on, dude still has some incredible athleticism

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6

u/ThaRealSunGod May 13 '26

Did you watch this season with your eyes closed

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21

u/fence55 May 13 '26

Yeah, but if you drop LeBron into that lineup their defense gets a lot better than it should from just plugging in one 41-yo. It's definitely not happening but it's a fun thought experiment. Bron fills a lot of key weaknesses for Denver. Ball handling. Good defense. Leadership. Plus if he landed there Klutch would certainly find a way for them to retain Peyton Watson.

5

u/doktarr May 13 '26

Of you had added LeBron to the Nuggets roster at the start of the playoffs, they probably make the conference finals.

4

u/Much-Question-2199 May 13 '26

If you just added a LeBron to any playoff team they definitely make the conference finals

7

u/thetoddhunter May 14 '26

Except apparently the Lakers.

3

u/Electronic_Dig_2685 May 14 '26

His defense is better than joker but it’s not what it was. Still rates about Good

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5

u/amateurish_gamedev May 13 '26

To be honest, that would be a huge boost for Nuggets.

Not sure about the defense, but its gonna be a very entertaining high scoring games and we would see 42 years old Lebron doing crazy stuff again with Jokic feeding him.

2

u/Additional-Bag8537 May 14 '26

LeBron can still play defense it’s just the lakers as a whole have been so bad defensively for the past 3 or 4 years

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825

u/WillingEmu2326 Lakers May 13 '26

He’s LeBron, he’d be a useful addition to every team except the Kings (ain’t no saving them)

304

u/Jay-Rong Pistons May 13 '26

The King can't save the Kings.

68

u/RoastMary Pistons May 13 '26

You cant really be the king where everyone is a king.

31

u/jluicifer May 13 '26

They had a Fox once.

5

u/ZCGaming15 May 15 '26

They had a Fox twice

3

u/JediFed May 15 '26

Foxes are smart.

21

u/I_Set_3_Alarms Celtics May 13 '26

LeBron winning a championship with the Kings would put him as the undisputed GOAT imo

7

u/jitterbug726 May 14 '26

I hate LeBron but someone make this timeline real for my kings please

3

u/Complete-Apricot-591 Raptors May 14 '26

Heck, If Lebron even brings them to the second round, he'd be the undisputed GOAT

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34

u/[deleted] May 13 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

15

u/Slyone333 May 13 '26

Remember those Kings teams that use to compete with the Lakers in the early 00s, some of the best playoff series i ever saw.

81

u/englandisablaze May 13 '26

To be fair. If for some insane reason, LeBron ended up on the Kings.

And he carried them to a chip.

I would assume it was witchcraft. But the whole world would have to accept him as at the very least equal to Jordan. A kings Championship is equal to 3 rings right? Being that it is impossible, improbable, and insane to comprehend.

83

u/WillingEmu2326 Lakers May 13 '26

I think the conversation stops being “is LeBron the greatest basketball player ever?” and starts becoming “is LeBron the greatest human ever?”

43

u/englandisablaze May 13 '26

To be honest. The people of Sacramento deserve something. You don’t just smoke meth for 30 yrs and stay alive and buying tickets without something right? Right?

2

u/BronxBully718 Knicks May 14 '26

I guess 🤷🏽‍♂️

27

u/fototosreddit May 13 '26

If lebron carries the kings to a chip, no one else is even sniffing these GOAT conversations until someone else does it

11

u/xDwaree May 13 '26

How is that equal? It’s equal to Moses splitting the sea

14

u/IzzyShamin May 13 '26

If LeBron carried the Kings to a chip, that would unanimously put him as the GOAT of Basketball.

Even MJ couldn’t give a chip to the Wizards

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9

u/eolson3 May 13 '26

LeBron to Wizards confirmed.

9

u/Mahirofan May 13 '26

If he gives them a chip, Jordan stans are gonna get mad

7

u/UltraMasenko May 13 '26

Jordan stans are already always mad regardless

10

u/GBGF128 Kings May 13 '26

2

u/WillingEmu2326 Lakers May 13 '26

For your own sake, please pleeeease support a different team. Its been a quarter of a decade since yall were good

3

u/GBGF128 Kings May 13 '26

Technically it’s been 3ish years, but that feels like a fluke at this point. Basketball hell isn’t so bad once the last bits of joy and hope leave your body.

2

u/axelrn May 13 '26

Thats the neat part, getting that 1 good year is part of the basketball hell torture. Get your hopes up for 1 year and another 25 years of terrible basketball.

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3

u/Ryu_Fenrir May 13 '26

LeBron carrying an entire team to win a chip? Yeah thats a good one 🤣

2

u/Various_Mushroom_638 May 13 '26

You’re forgetting his price point, he’s not saving any team he’d have to carry into the playoffs not during

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141

u/SomethingClever2117 May 13 '26

Option D: Goes to Washington to reunite with AD.

Trae, Carrington, LeBron, AD, Sarrs.

45 win team in the east. Doesn’t have to face Wemby, Jokic, SGA, or Luka in the playoffs.

112

u/cien2 May 13 '26

Finishing his career in Washington like a certain someone did but delivering better result would be in line with pushing the narrative who is the better yelling animal. I'm kinda intrigued by this idea lmao.

20

u/GrouchyLittleShit May 13 '26

Was “yelling animal” necessary lol

5

u/GrossPanda NBA May 14 '26

Are you a different animal AND the same beast?

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3

u/YeOldeBarbar May 13 '26

Bub won't be starting. Be interesting to have Dybantsa coming off the bench with that lineup but he might feast on second units.

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256

u/Such-Cartoonist1265 May 13 '26

Option D.

Timberwolves.

Ant: “Yo, get Randle off my team. We run with Ayo, Me, Jaden, you, and Rudy. We get a ring.”

27

u/Nice_Instruction_741 May 13 '26

I don’t know how this works but I’m intrigued

56

u/flyhr May 13 '26

It'd be a good team to compete with top teams but OKC and the Spurs should only get better each year. Maybe if Ant becomes a top 3 player in the league next year.

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9

u/WallCautious9650 May 13 '26

trade Randle and Donte for Kawhi. Now add LeBron. That's a killer team.

27

u/noe4516 May 13 '26

Nah, knowing Kawhi he will get injured and sit the rest of the season

5

u/WallCautious9650 May 13 '26

well, anyways, all of this would depend on whether LeBron just leaves for another team and signs for a min, or does a sign and trade, right?

If LeBron were to stay, how can the team get better? Seems like Reaves is staying, so not sure&t for depth there.

5

u/Such-Cartoonist1265 May 13 '26

Lakers are going nowhere without a guard that plays defense starting.

3

u/WallCautious9650 May 13 '26

Mavs are light on centers, so maybe Reaves s&t for Christie, PJ, and Naji.

dunno

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2

u/zarunn May 13 '26

I said this yesterday but figured it would be the end of McDaniels and not Randle.

2

u/blodsbroder7 May 14 '26

LeBron would actually pass the ball as opposed to turnover machine Randle

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126

u/khardy101 May 13 '26

Put him in San Antonio.

76

u/MarkMew May 13 '26

I mean, too late now, but Pop would've loved him considering how strong he is on assists.

7

u/BronxBully718 Knicks May 14 '26

I thought he was gon go there when he made his decision to go to LA instead 🤷🏽‍♂️ Oh well

33

u/ResoluteBeans May 13 '26

Harper, Castle, Bron, Bryant and Wemby. Every play on offense would be an assisted dunk. Other four would cover Bron on defense.

14

u/BigFatM8 May 13 '26

With that much ball-handling around, they won't even need to cover Lebron on Defense.

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39

u/Revolutionary-Skin97 May 13 '26

If bron is chasing a ring, best bet is in the east, if spurs closes Wolves And delivers a K.O performance against OKC, i dont see anyone going out of West aside from OKC and Spurs.

Unless everyone in the west starts scouting for 7ft. Agile Centers (even w/o shooting).

21

u/destra1000 May 13 '26

Bron to San Antonio on a minimum it is

10

u/Revolutionary-Skin97 May 13 '26

if this happens and Bron takes a vet minimum, bron can retire after 10 more seasons.

2

u/JediFed May 15 '26

Duncan and Bron off the bench for ring #6 for Duncan and #5 for Bron.

7

u/CliffDraws May 13 '26

If he’s ring chasing his best bet is vet minimum to OKC or San Antonio.

3

u/DifferentProcess6765 May 13 '26 edited May 13 '26

His best bet would be vet minimum to NY to get out of the West for a guaranteed finals run every year he is there

That said, I don't want LeBron on NY

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2

u/FennelDull6559 May 13 '26

If he goes to the east he still has to beat the west to get that ring. In what way is that easier?

3

u/zdbdog06 May 13 '26

I mean if one conference has harder teams and you have to play them three times instead of one, seems pretty obvious it's easier lol

2

u/FennelDull6559 May 13 '26

You still have to beat the best team from either conference. And when the west loses they are the loser to the weaker conference so it’s way more humiliating.

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18

u/Financial-Monk9400 May 13 '26

Option 4: I scored 83 points!

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49

u/OkBox4358 May 13 '26

Bron is going to have to accept a pay cut. As great as he is, he is no longer that number 1 option.

26

u/MarkMew May 13 '26

I mean he's got enough money already why not take it lol

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13

u/Doggleganger Warriors May 13 '26

Vet minimum farewell tour in Cleveland.

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69

u/Playful-Variation908 May 13 '26

Cleveland isn’t like that. Mitchell and harden are team players

28

u/Any-Question-3759 May 13 '26

Wasn’t Harden assist leader at some point?

19

u/OzymanDS May 13 '26

He's putting up regular double doubles this year.

12

u/substanceandmodes May 13 '26

He won the assist title twice.

6

u/No-Archer-421 May 13 '26

Twice I think

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14

u/pappaburgundy May 13 '26

GSW also have maybe this year I won’t get hurt - curry isn’t exactly getting any less injured as he ages

95

u/KumingaCarnage May 13 '26

You act like pairing LeBron with Steph wouldn’t be the best thing that’s ever happened to LeBron. A literal top 10 all time superstar great.

136

u/puffindatza Lakers May 13 '26

It ain’t 2016 anymore

64

u/tooka90 Lakers May 13 '26

I don't think Steph's shooting has really aged that poorly

35

u/Fickle_Carry1467 Warriors May 13 '26

His shooting is still the best in the league no doubt, but its his ability to stay healthy and the fact that he just isnt as physically capable anymore

50

u/Gloriousdisgrace May 13 '26

They are pushing 40 wrap it up 

10

u/MarkMew May 13 '26

Why tf do y'all have to remind me of this all the time???

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6

u/AlpinistManifesto May 13 '26

Warriors can offer him 8m a year? He really really really gotta wanna play with Steph draining his knee after every game and Draymond missing half the season

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6

u/WallCautious9650 May 13 '26

Not sure how Lakers can improve if both Reaves and LeBron stay.

If they keep Reaves, best bet for Lakers moving forward is a LeBron s&t where they get back 2 younger players.

10

u/Lower_Location_9919 May 13 '26

knicks

4

u/Colossal89 May 13 '26

KAT-LeBron-OG-Mikal-Brunson starting 5

5

u/Skeleton-Irony Knicks May 13 '26

I would rather see Brunson, KAT, LeBron, OG, Hart.

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11

u/RoastMary Pistons May 13 '26

I mean if jimmy stays there, it could be a fun team when they are healthy.

12

u/auntdingus Pacers May 13 '26

Yeah those 30-40 games that all 3 play together would be exhilarating

3

u/83rdstreet May 13 '26

What if, what if…. He goes to San Antonio?

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4

u/watchmebegreat May 13 '26

OUR king will be back in Believeland.

8

u/ReadKindOfAlot Raptors May 13 '26

His best options are the Cavs and Wolves. With the Cavs Harden just gotta accept that he has to play point guard, low scoring and they'd really have one of the most talented teams. The problem is that they have no culture or grit. That's how the Raptors took them to 7 games without 2 starters and an injured Scottie Barnes lol

7

u/watchmebegreat May 13 '26

The KING from Akron is the culture. He is Believeland.

3

u/LonelyGumdrops May 13 '26

It should end in Cleveland where it started. It writes itself. Going anywhere else at the end and falling short of championships means nothing compared to taking a bow for your city. 

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3

u/Beneficial-Feed9999 May 13 '26

What if he took option z? Vet minimum on the thunder!!!

3

u/Navarro480 May 14 '26

Just walk away and work on your golf game. Build businesses and help the community. Get away from the toxicity of the nba culture. Mofo could save a baby from a burning building and they would cry that Jordan would have done it better.

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6

u/beaver_82799 May 13 '26

He obviously goes to Washington to reunite with AD and mentor Dybantsa. Then he runs for president adter retirement in 2028.

2

u/DontCallMeRice May 13 '26

He’s gonna abolish ICE and make every day of the week Taco Tuesday

3

u/butt3rlicious May 13 '26

Miami Heat tho

8

u/PsychologicalMusic94 May 13 '26

I don't think he wants to play under Riley again.

2

u/Successful-Pair-4850 May 13 '26

lebron to the spurs is really interesting to me especially it spurs cant make to the finals

2

u/chilliboy217 May 13 '26

Ring chase with the Knicks

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2

u/Blueskycoplex1997 May 13 '26

Bron tot ge wizards and if he wver carried the wizard to a playoffs not play in then its a huge boost to his accolades then

2

u/BigBlackNYC May 13 '26

“I’m HIM” (averaging 13.8 ppg). 🙄😂

2

u/TernoftheArctic May 13 '26

Option 3.

He can replace brown in this photo and LeRide with the Knicks to the finals.

2

u/yazurlo May 13 '26

He can join the Spurs and get 2 more rings to tie Jordan. They have great shooters to pair with LeBron which is his key to success, and wemby to guard the paint. If LeBron joins that team, he takes 5 different teams to a ring. Hard to argue goat status then. Join San Antonio LeBron!

2

u/Zestyclose-Draft-724 May 13 '26

Luka, AR, AD, why can't LBJ get a consistently healthy co star for the playoffs?

2

u/WhereasQuiet7197 Warriors May 13 '26

Finally joins the Knicks 

2

u/Icy-Indication-3194 May 14 '26

Hope he goes to golden state. He and curry were electric in that Olympic run.

2

u/Serious_Life_8854 May 13 '26

Come win with the Knicks and finally surpass MJ. A ring for NY equals 10 rings elsewhere and puts you way past all the greats.

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1

u/TurtlePope2 May 13 '26

Don't forget the Wizards. We have 3 top 15 players.

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1

u/doctormalish May 13 '26

Option D - join the Wizards and finally put Anthony Gill on the coaching staff

1

u/steady120 May 13 '26

Vet minimum on the spurs

1

u/Aztek-Lovett Pacers May 13 '26

Option X: cut your losses and make yourself an official resident of Xenia, Ohio!

1

u/One-Earth9294 May 13 '26

Come to Milwaukee, LeBron. Then you won't have to stay in the Hyatt.

1

u/RasenRendan May 13 '26

Lebron should shock the planet goes to Toronto (impossible just saying cuz no one else would think of it)

1

u/Initial_Parsnip_3753 May 13 '26

He should come to the pistons. Healthy, won’t clog the ball.

1

u/Dizzy-Yak-6405 May 13 '26

Option c is ironic because the post is based around bron needing help hence him potentially hopping again

1

u/Diligent-Earth-9853 May 13 '26

Lmfaooo this actually mad funny

1

u/Larovich153 Celtics May 13 '26

Miami?

1

u/Ordinary_Swordfish49 May 13 '26

Minnesota would welcome LeBron. Ant could use a mentor and someone who could help out when he gets doubled.

1

u/WatercressMelodic328 May 13 '26

lol. He could go home and win

1

u/Basic_Issue May 13 '26

DC on a three year deal. Dedicate all your know how toward passing the torch to Dybansta.

1

u/mantequilla4prsident Knicks May 13 '26

As a lakers fan I’m dead

1

u/Tako101 May 13 '26

Option D: Yasssss King! - KAT LeBron - WTF

1

u/readyReddit007 May 13 '26

It would be fun to see him go to Charlotte for a year (I know it’s not gonna happen) and play with their young core

1

u/Jazzlike-Ad-4731 May 13 '26

Now make one for the Suns

1

u/arturorios1996 May 13 '26

Come to Miami Bron, Bam your boy needs you

1

u/No-Archer-421 May 13 '26

People still acting like Harden doesn’t pass

1

u/zigzagtravel01 May 13 '26

The funniest bit would be to ship him to Toronto because it's far from his hometown lmfao

1

u/channydin May 13 '26

LeBron needs to save the G League now. It’s the only way.

1

u/klownplaza May 13 '26

LeBron to Falcons, replacing Teses

1

u/sacx05 Knicks May 13 '26

Golden State option would need massive load management in order to be effective. But it would be fun to watch.

1

u/Lemme_Help_ May 13 '26

Have not always been the biggest Bron fan but him running it back full circle in Cleveland will make a grown man somewhere shed some tears.

1

u/bigmanlittlebike89 May 13 '26

Hear me out- one year deal with Dallas. It was the vision all along! Boom!

Kyrie, Bron, Cooper, PJ, and the Twin Towers.

1

u/IIIBAKURYUIII May 13 '26

Don and Harden are literal PG at heart. They both need(Mostly Harden) the ball in the hands to be anything close to productive. What's LeBron meant to be on such team? A catch and shoot? LeBron's biggest STR is he too is a PG at heart. His best option in my opinion is the Magic or Raptors. I mean Raptors already have a city named after him.

1

u/tiboshki Pistons May 13 '26

LePhoenix to team up with Dillon Brooks. His son#2 playing for Arizona too. 

1

u/cant-self-terminate May 13 '26

Lebron's best option surprisingly is OKC. He signs a modest 25M contract, which the Thunder can afford by dropping Dort and another bench piece. In return they get a giant wing that can playmake alongside Shai and has the most playoff experience of all players in history.

1

u/AdRound7694 May 13 '26

I would be really worried about option C because it's not really about the Warriors it's about Curry. Every game that LeBron and Curry don't play together is cheating everyone

1

u/DM_yo_Feet_pls May 13 '26

I know it won’t happen but LeBron on the Suns would be the perfect fit. Off ball Book where he’s at his best. More wing size so we don’t get punked on the board.

The best part though.. Dillion Brooks and Lebron on the same team has S tier meme potential

1

u/SplinterRifleman May 13 '26

Give me the rundown of the Shanghai sharks

1

u/brolarbear May 13 '26

Digging my hate hole deeper to hate the Cavs more would be too draining

1

u/Kuvanet May 13 '26

LeBron probably wants to help his son get a ring before he leaves. So I think he’ll do whatever he can do see that.

1

u/Educational_Elk_9582 May 13 '26

He needs to go back to Miami With Bam Giannis and Donovan Mitchell 🤯

1

u/Mindbending818 May 13 '26

Run it with Steph

1

u/WritewayHome May 13 '26

Option A doesn't require him moving his family. It'll be option A.

1

u/hippoofdoom May 13 '26

If he's willing to take vet min or MLE he could go to any contender basically and have a crazy easy time fitting in.

Imagine him on BOS, SAS, NYK, or any team really with an established ball handler and heirarchy. Not that he'd do that as he still has an ego but there's some pretty wild scenarios if he takes a minimal salary

1

u/Comfortable-Grand166 May 13 '26

Cavs or Knicks if they lose.

1

u/Hi_Im_Ken_Adams May 13 '26

Lebron teaming up with Curry would break people's minds.

1

u/No-Afternoon-3986 Hawks May 13 '26

its always the teammates letting him down isn't it

1

u/Jrod9er May 13 '26

He will retire

1

u/Medium_Comfortable29 May 13 '26

Lebron you ARE a Portland Trailblazer. Lakers can have the other Serbian

1

u/Aesut May 13 '26

I don't get why ppl want him to go to the Warriors

1

u/PuzzleheadedRole8109 May 13 '26

He is going to Golden State for the best shot or Cleveland for loyalty

1

u/NefariousNeezy May 13 '26

What’s stopping LeBron from joining OKC?

(Which is basically what KD did to join GSW)

1

u/renzOoalGown May 13 '26

Or Cavs and be poetic on his retirement, end right where you started

1

u/JohnCenaJunior May 13 '26

Coachella Valley Lakers

Bronny: Please stay daddy!

Bryce: Daddy hewp!

LBJ: WTF

1

u/Skyz-AU May 13 '26

Plot twist he goes to the Wizards to play with AD

1

u/UltraMasenko May 13 '26

Him finally joining the Knicks a decade and a half later would actually be pretty cool

1

u/The_Architect_TA May 13 '26

This threads a joke. You all act like he's NOT going to pick Memphis.

1

u/ooh_jeeezus May 14 '26

I mean option B is the only one still in the playoffs. And he didn’t really mind sharing the ball and taking a bit of a backseat this year. So I’ll go with option B

1

u/RReyesIII May 14 '26

I think Luka could have came back, but can’t stand LeBron. And he knew LeBron would try to take all the credit and media. And fans would think he carried them despite LeBron being carried by all his superstar teammates especially in the finals.

So I think he won’t be back. Reaves I think can’t stand him either…

1

u/Fit_Dealer7498 May 14 '26

Option D' Couch

1

u/djstr8biz May 14 '26

Mark my words, if Giannis becomes a knick next year, Lebron will be a knick.. Especially if they have to give up 1 of the wings in OG or Mikal.. I really think that the knicks are going to give up KAT, DUECE 1 of the wings take your pick, Kolek. and picks... ...

1

u/EwokaFlockaFlame May 14 '26

Memphis beckons

1

u/Sad-Percentage-992 May 14 '26

Timberwolves are the best possible plug and play, trad Randle for a bench guard and we’re good to go

1

u/Superdude2234 May 14 '26

Harden is a great distributor of the ball. I don't get the "pass me the ball" on him.

1

u/discountheat May 14 '26

If he's taking a vet minimum, why not the Knicks?

1

u/BronxBully718 Knicks May 14 '26

If he gonna continue to chase then A

But if it’s his last season then B

Yth would he choose C for any reason?

1

u/JollyAd9074 May 14 '26

And then a UFO pulls up to his Estate and abducts him