LeBron James next team: Which landing spot would be the most entertaining? Experts make their picks
LeBron James' tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers came to an end Tuesday, hours before the start of free agency, when he told the team he would sign elsewhere this summer. James, who signed with the Lakers in 2018, spent eight seasons with the historic franchise -- longer than his first stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers -- and led them to the 2020 NBA title.
"LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history. We will always be thankful for his eight years with the Lakers -- including the title he led us to in 2020 under the toughest imaginable circumstances and the countless records he broke in purple and gold," Lakers governor Jeanie Buss said in a statement. "We wish him all the best in the future, both on the court and off. He will always be a cherished part of the Lakers family."
James, 41, will begin his historic 24th season in a different jersey, though perhaps not a new one. Both the Cavaliers and Miami Heat will be in the mix to sign James, as will the Golden State Warriors, who appear to be the favorites. Earlier this week, our experts predicted where James will play next season. But where do they want him to play?
As James prepares for his latest decision, here are the teams our experts think would be most fun as landing spots:
Favorite landing spots for LeBron James
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Denver Nuggets
Maloney: LeBron is not going to sign with the Nuggets, but this is not a predictions post. If I could place James anywhere, it would be Denver for the simple reason that I would love to see what it would look like with James and Nikola Jokić -- two of the smartest basketball players who have ever lived -- on the same team. It wouldn't be a perfect fit, in large part because they're both at their best when they're running the show, but that would only make it more interesting. How would two of the game's best problem solvers figure out how to play together? At the very least, some of the highlights we'd get from James cutting baseline or running in transition off Jokic's passes would be incredible. And best-case scenario, James would give the Nuggets a real chance to compete with the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference.
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Golden State Warriors
Gonzalez: LeBron and Steph Curry teaming up is the giant what-if basketball fans have been fantasizing about forever -- and now it's close to becoming a reality. We got a little taste of it during the Olympics, but that appetizer wasn't quite enough to satiate the hunger for more. LeBron will be 42 in December. Steph will turn 38 in March. I'd love for them to play well into their mid-to-late 40s and do the old-guys-at-the-Y routine, but that seems unlikely. Which is why we need this to happen sooner rather than later, because later is coming up at breakneck speed, and they'll both be gone before we know it. Before that happens, let's have one season of them joining forces -- at least.
Salerno: The duo of Curry and James would be box office. We saw how dynamic those players are together at the Olympics a few years ago. It would pair two of the most impactful players of this generation together. It's a rare opportunity any casual fan would want to see. Steph and LeBron deserve to end their respective careers on a high note. Now, are the Warriors title contenders with that duo? Maybe. They wouldn't be better than OKC or San Antonio, but having Steph and LeBron together and healthy would at least give you a chance in any playoff series.
San Antonio Spurs
Kalland: There is one person in the league who truly understands what Victor Wembanyama is going through right now: LeBron James. He could go to San Antonio and take on a mentorship role for the next face of the league while also contributing in a much-needed on-court role for a championship contender. Seeing LeBron and Wemby together wouldn't just be incredible to watch, but it would make the Spurs the outright title favorites next year. We saw this past postseason that the Spurs desperately need a steady-handed creator for late-game situations, and LeBron would fill that hole in their roster perfectly. James has reportedly said he'll make this decision based on happiness. That likely points him toward Cleveland or Golden State, but I'd argue that nothing has ever made LeBron James happier as a basketball player than winning. The best place to do that is in San Antonio, with the added bonus of getting access to Gregg Popovich's wine cellar.
Add CBS Sports on GoogleLabour blasted for 'prioritising' benefits over 'clear plan' on defence
Labour blasted for 'prioritising' benefits over 'clear plan' on defence
Sir Keir Starmer has been blasted by critics after his long-awaited defence investment plan failed to stump up the cash the military needs.
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Add us as preferred source Comments By Conor Wilson, News Reporter, Aaron Newbury, Political Correspondent 22:30, Tue, Jun 30, 2026 
Labour's unwillingness to cut welfare to fund defence has been blasted as a poison pill for the next decade of funding for the armed forces.
The accusation came last night after the release of Sir Keir Starmer's long-awaited funding package to re-arm and future-proof the military.
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But defence insiders warned that the cash was still below 2.68%, prompting two of his own defence ministers to quit in protest earlier this month.
It also creates an almighty headache for potential incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham, after a nearly £5billion black hole was exposed in the scheme - meaning he'd have to cut budgets or slam up taxes.
Speaking to the Express, the Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge agreed that Mr Burnham was the wrong Prime Minister for an uncertain world.
He warned that Mr Burnham had made a huge speech about the rewiring of the country, but Mr Cartlidge asked: "What about the rewiring of defence?"
"Where is the defence of the realm, which is the number one responsibility of any government? Where was that in his speech?" he blasted.
In a warning shot to the PM-to-be, he added: "If the government doesn't have a plan to cut welfare and fund defence [...] they are not going to be successful."
Even the former Defence Secretary John Healey said: “More needs to be done in the months ahead”.
But he warned that the country needed to "develop a clear, credible funding plan" that would mean the UK could hit its NATO spending commitment of 3.5% by 2035?"
The long delayed defence investment plan (DIP), due last autumn, provides the Ministry of Defence (MoD) with an additional £15bn but falls short of the £28bn required to achieve the recommendations accepted by the government in last year’s Strategic Defence Review.
The uplift sees additional money allocated for drone production, unmanned navy vessels and the nuclear deterrent, but has been accused of not modernising and equipping the military quickly enough.
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The plan has been the subject of significant “wrangling” between the Treasury and MoD, with former Defence Secretary John Healey resigning last month after learning that the military would be given an uplift of just £13.5bn.
The plan will see defence spending rise to 2.68% of GDP by 2030, falling significantly short of that spent by key NATO allies and the 5% demanded by US President Donald Trump.
Mr Healey responded to the release on X, expressing concern that the UK would be spending just 2.7% of GDP in 2030, the year NATO has warned Russia could attack.
He said: “European security is at stake. The PM has said today that 3% must be the number 1 priority for the next spending review.
Defence Select Committee member Mike Martin MP believes that the level of funding outlined by the Prime Minister leaves the UK vulnerable.
He told the Daily Express: “The main point is two weeks ago John Healey resigned and said the amount offered in the DIP left us unsafe. We have seen a small increase since, but does that make us safe? I don’t think so.
“Look at what is happening in Ukrainian cities or happened to our allies in the Middle East where they faced a barrage of drones and missiles - we have no defence against that.”
There will also be funding for a “hybrid” Royal Navy, with smaller, autonomous vessels working alongside crewed ships, coming at the expense of Type 45 Destroyers.
Martin added: “We now see our only protection from ballistic missiles in Type 45 Destroyers being ditched for uncrewed vessels, which are nothing more than a PowerPoint slide.”
Some £64 billion is due to be spent on nuclear weapons, fuel and technology.
The uplift will also see the MoD adopt novel technologies as it evolves from a military of rifles and fully-crewed vehicles to meet the demands of the modern battlefield.
The Government has pledged more than £5 billion of spending over the next four years to fund a “drone transformation” for the armed forces, learning the lessons from Ukraine, where drones account for around 90% of enemy kills.
Alexander Fitzgerald, CEO and Founder of Isembard, urged the Government to concentrate on investing in an industrial base that is able to scale production of drones and other vital equipment and pace and scale.
He said: “Factories win wars. And high rates of production build factories. So let’s stop agonising about this plan and commit to increasing production today. Drones, rockets and satellites will not build themselves.
“Every hour we wait sends a shiver down my spine”.
Sir Keir said he would not cut day-to-day spending on frontline services to fund the DIP, but had scrapped some capital projects that were not “immediately vital”.
These included some roads and energy projects, he said.
The release of the plan despite the Prime Minister’s resignation is seen by many as an attempt to firm up his legacy on defence before he leaves office.
Officials told this paper that the Government’s commitment to defence was absolute, promising that it would be the priority in the next spending review.
This comes despite uncertainty over who will be the occupants of 10 and 11 Downing Street at that time.
Andy Burnham, the favourite to be the next occupant of No. 10, is believed to see the DIP as "settled".
Sources close to the potential next Prime Minister told the Daily Express: "It’s important for confidence in the defence industry and preparedness that the investments are delivered."
