LeBron James’ free agency has reached the point where even a day without an announcement becomes a headline of its own. Five teams remain in the conversation, but Stephen A. Smith believes the suspense has lasted for longer than it needed to. For the veteran analyst, the wait isn’t about making the right basketball decision. It’s about keeping the spotlight. 

“Let me say this. I’m sick of this damn story,” Smith said, speaking on The Stephen A. Smith Show. But he quickly clarified he wasn’t tired of LeBron himself. “I didn’t say I was sick of him.” The process LeBron has taken bothered him.

“Don’t tell me that this brother doesn’t like drama; don’t tell me he doesn’t like suspense; don’t tell me that he ain’t about marketing. It ain’t that damn hard to make a decision.”

To SAS, LeBron James isn’t still weighing his options. He’s simply controlling the timing. Building on that, he added, “You know exactly where the hell you going, LeBron James. You know exactly where the hell you’re going.”

The comments came after reports narrowed James’ list to five teams: The Cavaliers, Heat, Warriors, Sixers, and Timberwolves. However, Smith wasted no time filtering out the options himself.

Minnesota was the first to get cut off.

Stephen A. laughed off the idea of King James choosing one of the coldest cities in the NBA after spending 7 seasons in LA.

“If LeBron James got a deal with cold weather again, it damn sure ain’t gonna be in Minnesota. It ain’t gonna happen. Let’s stop it. Let’s stop it. That winter there is different.”

Smith also questioned the roster fit, arguing James wouldn’t risk his final leg teaming up with Rudy Gobert and LaMelo Ball. And to him, the Wolves never felt like a realistic destination.

At the same time, the Warriors weren’t making the cut either.

“LeBron with Steph, that would be special,” the veteran analyst admitted. However, citing the Warriors’ struggles over the past four seasons, he dropped a reality check.

To champion the Western Conference, Smith stated that the Bron-Steph duo had to face Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-led OKC, Nikola Jokić-led Nuggets, and Victor Wembanyama-led Spurs.

Moreover, Smith even included Kevin Durant’s Rockets in the mix, hinting at the return of Fred VanVleet. So, according to him, that version of the Dubs still wouldn’t survive the Western Conference. 

“You ain’t winning out West. Ain’t gonna happen. LeBron James is staying in the East,” Smith said. So, the remaining teams are the Sixers, Heat, and Cavs.

Also, Philadelphia raised a different problem.

Smith questioned how LeBron James would willingly arrive as the third option. With Joel Embiid dealing with health uncertainty every season, Tyrese Maxey has become the franchise cornerstone. And Jaylen Brown didn’t get there to fade into the background. 

So, there’s a hierarchy issue on the roster, as per Smith.

Basically, that leaves Bron with two realistic options. He can go back to where it all began and have a poetic ending to his career. Or go to South Beach, where he won two championships, and end his career on a high note alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Above all, Smith threw a disclaimer at the end, saying, “This is just me speculating. We got Shams Charania to find that out. I’m done doing that work.”

So, we are back to square one.