Former LeBron James teammate Iman Shumpert believes his time with the Los Angeles Lakers is over.
In a recent appearance on ESPN's The Pat McAfee Show, Shumpert said that he can't imagine James heading back to L.A.
"I can't imagine him going back to the Lakers," Shumpert said. "Because one, I think the cap space is off, and I don't think he needs to take a pay cut after proving to the rest of the world that age is nothing but a number, and he still could be one of the more efficient players in our game."
Shumpert went on to say the two twos he would love to see James with next season: the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors.
"I think that if you can figure it out with the payment plan in Cleveland, then why not?" Shumpert said. "If you can figure it out even more, go to Golden State and play with Steph Curry because I ain't going to lie, I can't act like I wouldn't wanna see him play with Steph Curry in Golden State."
LeBron James entering pivotal offseason decision
James' future with the Lakers is certainly hanging in the balance. There is a strong chance that the 41-year-old superstar returns for an unprecedented 24th season in the league; however, the chances of the team being the Lakers remain uncertain.
The 22-time All-Star completed his eighth season in Los Angeles, and while it's been a roller coaster, he's brought the Lakers back to relevancy.
However, the Lakers and James could be heading in opposite directions. James has never taken a pay cut in his career, and there's a good chance he won't start now. As for the Lakers, their goal is to get younger and add athletic pieces to the roster that better complement Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
As for the Warriors' perspective, they cannot afford James, given their cap situation and his apparent unwillingness to take a pay cut. Nonetheless, the mutual respect and admiration between James and Curry is undeniable, and the possibility of seeing the two share the floor during the final years of their careers would be something special.
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