No, it's not April Fool's Day yet. And no, you don't need to pinch yourself. The headline is real. The Nuggets could have a legitimate path emerge this summer in the free agency window that could land LeBron James in Denver to play alongside Nikola Jokic.
A new story from Dave McMenamin and Tim Bontemps details the likely scenarios for LeBron James in his impending free agency, whether he wants to retire, return with the Lakers, or sign elsewhere. But one little golden nugget for the Nuggets was also mentioned in the piece, and it's the most unlikely scenario, but also one that makes complete sense for James at this stage of his basketball career.
The Denver idea was "floated to ESPN by multiple sources." The Nuggets have shown interest in LeBron when he was a free agent in 2018, but with the Nuggets' salary cap issues and struggle to just re-sign Peyton Watson, it seemed like bringing James in to join them would be nearly impossible. And to be honest, not even something most fans probably even thought about.
How the Nuggets would be able to bring LeBron to Denver
However, the Nuggets are already projected to be dangerously close to the second apron tax, well past the NBA's luxury tax threshold.
The Nuggets would have to complete a sign-and-trade deal with the Lakers to make it happen. They would have to clear cap space by trading someone like Cameron Johnson, who's owed $23 million next year. Or they could re-sign Watson and send him to the Lakers in exchange for LeBron, along with likely some other stipulations. Aaron Gordon means too much to the Nuggets, and it seems unlikely they'd be willing to let him go.
Of course, LeBron would have to want to come to Denver in the first place, but I think the Nuggets could offer him some appealing reasons why he should consider it.
LeBron and Jokic on the same team would be legendary
Two greats on one team would be legendary. LeBron will be 42 years old next season, and he's still playing basketball at an All-Star level. He's averaging 20.9 points, 7.0 assists, and 6.0 rebounds per game.
James would be joining Jokic, who just won the NBA Player of the Week Award after a stunningly good week, and Jamal Murray, who's elevated his game to career levels. Murray made his first All-Star team this year. LeBron would give the Nuggets a "big three."
It would be a wild scenario to add James to the Nuggets. He still has that fire to win, and maybe that fire rubs off on the Joker, who just needs to find his inner bad guy to take the next leadership step. Sure, it's just speculation, of course, but it's fun to imagine what the Nuggets would be like with LeBron.