LeBron James’ impending free agency in 2018 has become the most talked about story of the dog days of the 2017 offseason, as his future has become critical to the Cavaliers’ present as they look to move Kyrie Irving. The Cavs are preparing for a potential rebuild in case James bolts for a second time, as he’s been rumored to be considering.
Most have pegged the Lakers as the most likely destination for James, as he has an L.A. home and a budding entertainment company, which makes it sensible to want to be in Los Angeles. The Clippers seem like a long shot to land him now that his good buddy Chris Paul is in Houston, but as L.A.’s other team, they have to still feel like they could have a shot.
However, Blake Griffin, who just re-signed with the Clippers this summer, has a different feeling about James’ upcoming free agency decision. Griffin went on the Sklar Brothers podcast “View from the Cheap Seats” and explained his LeBron free agency theory, while also couching it hard by noting that no one, including himself, knows anything and it’s all just speculation. That said, his speculation is quite interesting.
Griffin was first asked about James joining the Clippers, to which he noted “it’d be insane, but I don’t see that happening,” and then he offered up his theory about what will happen next summer.
Honestly, I don’t see him coming to L.A. period. Listen, again, I have no idea [laughs]. I think something is brewing with him and his group of guys. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I think something’s brewing and they’re going to try to make that work.
Griffin is, of course, speaking of the famed banana boat crew of LeBron, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, and Dwyane Wade, who all can become free agents next summer and could work together to form aging star Voltron in some place that has lots of cap space. it’s not an unreasonable suggestion, as James has said on multiple occasions recently that family comes first for him and, should he get all Dom Toretto on us, he could consider his closest friends like family.
Griffin then gave an even more interesting thought, bringing the Knicks into the equation as a team he could see James choosing over Los Angeles.
I could see him going to New York before L.A. I still think, when you go to the Garden, it’s a completely different feeling. The energy, there seems like there’s just a consistent buzz the entire game. … Even last year when you go play them, it’s still there.
It’s hard to see the Knicks making a banana boat reunion happening, considering the one member they already have wants out, but on the off chance Anthony isn’t dealt to Houston or elsewhere this summer, maybe they could show him that the new-look front office is going to run things better and Melo could talk his buddies into joining him. It’s also interesting that Griffin told the Sklar brothers that even while the Knicks are very bad, the energy in Madison Square Garden is still like nothing else in the league and it still gives players a different energy.
Even so, it’s hard to imagine the Knicks turning around the culture there fast enough to make Anthony want to stay and tell his friends to join him, but I’m far more inclined to believe the theory that James’ squad will look to find a way to all team up next season. Griffin played with one of those guys for his whole career in Chris Paul and knows how tight that crew is. So, while he may not know anything and is just guessing, his hunch might not be too far off.
