Every summer LeBron James becomes a free agent, the league turns into one giant group chat of speculation. This year is no different, and it got a real push this week when Pardon My Take brought on ESPN's Brian Windhorst to break down exactly where LeBron might land.
Pardon My Take brought on Brian Windhorst to talk through LeBron's free agency options.
That segment clearly got people thinking, because Steven Cheah dropped his own theory not long after, and it's a bold one: Denver. Not Cleveland, the sentimental pick. Not the Warriors or 76ers, the star-chasing picks. The Nuggets, because of one guy standing in the middle of the floor.
Steven Cheah laid out why he thinks Denver, not the obvious contenders, gives LeBron his best shot at a ring.
Cheah's logic is pretty simple once you hear it. Nikola Jokic is arguably the best player alive right now, LeBron reportedly has a real relationship with Nuggets governor Josh Kroenke, and Denver's already operating on the tier of the Spurs and Thunder. Add a 4-time MVP's sidekick with championship pedigree and you're not hoping to sneak into the mix, you're pushing a top-tier roster over the top.
He didn't just leave it as a vibes-based take either. Cheah followed up acknowledging the ugly part: Denver would be staring down a massive repeater tax bill if they re-sign Peyton Watson, and this isn't historically a front office that likes writing those checks. But his stance held anyway, he just doesn't buy Cleveland as the best fit, home team or not, and he's not buying Golden State or Philly as the answer either. For him it's Denver or bust, tax be damned.