ESPN’s Pelton: Suns adding Jones may open door for future LeBron meeting
Jul 21, 2017, 7:09 AM | Updated: 7:49 pm
(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Rumors.
Phoenix Suns fans are buying into them right now, especially when they involve a future marriage of LeBron James and their team.
The wild ideas have been spurned on by the Suns’ acquisition of James Jones — one of James’ longtime friends and teammates — into their basketball operations department.
Yes sir Champ!!! Congrats brother. Extremely happy for you man in your next journey!! My guy!! https://t.co/W5t39Utoqk
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 19, 2017
ESPN NBA Insider Kevin Pelton sells on the idea of James ever finding his way into a Suns uniform though, but does believe they might be in contention to get some face time if the 32-year-old decides to move on from Cleveland.
“I think that could be enough to get you a meeting, to get you in the door and that’s something that sometimes validates a young team as a free agent destination,” Pelton told Burns & Gambo on 98.7 FM, Arizona’s Sports Station. “I recall LeBron’s first free agency in the summer of 2010, it was a huge milestone for the Clippers to get a meeting with him because that was something they had never ever done before in the existence of the franchise. Obviously Phoenix has done it before, they were close to signing LaMarcus Aldridge just a few years ago when he was the top free agent in the market.”
Besides Jones, the Suns have been linked as a possible future destination for James because of his friendship with guard Eric Bledsoe. The two also share the same agent in Rich Paul.
The up-and-coming Suns looked, at least initially, into making a big free agent splash earlier in the offseason. They ultimately decided to go “all-in” on their youth.
Who knows where the team will be a year from now, but most figure they will be in a better spot based off of pure development.
With hints of doubt creeping in on James’ loyalty to the Cavaliers and a better team in the Valley down the road, maybe the Suns will have a shot at him in the future.
Pelton thinks the only time it may happen will much further down the line.
“In terms of LeBron actually coming there, unless it was the only way to get a Banana Boat-type team together with LeBron and Chris Paul, I mean, I think that’s the only scenario where he’s not going to go to a team that’s really not competitive right now, or go to L.A., basically,” Pelton said.
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