Revisiting LeBron James' 2018 free agency: Was there a better choice out there?

LeBron James was rumored to be joining the Los Angeles Lakers for more than a year before officially signing with them. This move was a little unusual compared to James’ previous free agency decisions since he was not joining an instant contender. His move to Los Angeles was more than a basketball decision, but of course, the basketball mattered.

While the Lakers weren’t competitive enough to compete for a championship in James’ first season there, they did have enough trade assets with their many talented prospects and first-round picks to offer. They eventually parlayed their assets into Anthony Davis and built a juggernaut that would win the 2020 championship.

Fast forward to 2023 and it’s safe to say James’ tenure in Los Angeles has been more mixed than anyone anticipated. It has been a success with the title, but it also has featured two seasons out of the playoffs and possibly a third if they don’t turn things around this year. There have been plenty of discussions recently on how the Lakers are wasting the remainder of James’ prime and the situation in L.A. probably isn’t getting better any time soon. He is under contract with the Lakers for two more years, including a player option for 2024-25.

While James joining the Lakers was seemingly set in stone, he did have several other good options in 2018 free agency. If his decision prioritized being in the best basketball situation, it’s possible he could’ve found that on a different team. Here are some of James’ rumored suitors in 2018 and an analysis of how things could’ve played out.