The ‘LeBron James might sign with the Lakers’ rumors, explained in 2 minutes

LeBron James is spending a weekend in Los Angeles for the All-Star Game, and it has reminded us of rumors that James might join the Lakers (or the Clippers!) this summer. Out of the loop? We got you.

James is a free agent in 2018, and because he’s the league’s biggest superstar and best player, there are already rumors about where he will go.

We thought James might finish his career in Cleveland when he returned there in 2014, but the situation has changed.

James and Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert reportedly don’t really speak anymore. Cleveland’s locker room was totally dysfunctional before the front office made several trade-deadline deals. While James appears much happier about his new teammates, much will depend on how they perform in the postseason.

James wasn’t happy when Gilbert didn’t bring back well-liked general manager David Griffin and was famously targeted after leaving in Gilbert’s infamous Comic Sans letter. Perhaps their relationship may have already reached a breaking point.

James has said that he won’t take less than a max contract this summer, as is his right, which limits his options. But the Lakers qualify, having cleared enough salary to sign two max-level players thanks to, ironically, a trade-deadline deal with Cleveland.

Last summer, Paul George reportedly was committed to joining the Lakers in 2018, his hometown team. James wants to contend wherever he goes, and he may think he, George, and the young Lakers core could do that. And the Lakers could use their space on another free agent besides George, although the 2018 free agency is rather bare beyond that.

In September, James visited Notre Dame High School in Los Angeles. James said it was only for a private workout, but TMZ reported his wife Savannah was checking out the campus, too. (James’ kids would need somewhere to attend school.) And in December, James purchased a $23 million mansion in Brentwood.

James and his family live in Los Angeles during the summer, but the visit could also be a sign that they’re contemplating a full-time move.

Los Angeles was fined $500,000 for tampering with George last summer, and their moves to clear cap space were very visible.

James has also increasingly invested in business ventures in the Los Angeles area. This is inevitable for a superstar athlete like himself, but residing there full time could be beneficial beyond basketball.

Then again, James’ longtime business partner, Maverick Carter, recently said that winning “matters most,” so this may not factor into James’ consideration at all.

Probably not. The Clippers traded away their biggest stars, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, over the past year. They could conceivably open up two max free agency spots, but they would need several players to decline player options who are unlikely to do so. James is unlikely to go there without any additional help from another max-type player.

It’s possible. But Cleveland, Houston, and likely several other teams are still in play, too. We won’t know until this summer.