Here is how the Atlanta Hawks can get LeBron James.
NBA icon LeBron James is an unrestricted free agent for the first time since the summer of 2018.
The future Hall of Famer told the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday that he will not return to the franchise, and according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, LeBron has instructed Rich Paul to talk to everyone around the league who is interested in him playing for them and come back to him with what the options are so he can make his decision."
In the wake of McMenamin's report, NBA analyst Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report published a column called "Every Team's Best Pitch to LeBron James In 2026 NBA Free Agency." The following is what Bailey wrote when the Atlanta Hawks came up:
"A chance to mentor his future self. Jalen Johnson isn't going to develop into LeBron James, but there are undoubtedly some similarities. He's huge, very athletic and now his team's primary playmaker. There's no one better to help him navigate this career path than LeBron. And the GOAT candidate could take a lot of pride in helping Johnson find his next level."
LeBron and Johnson have trained together in the past. It would certainly be fun to see them play together in Atlanta alongside CJ McCollum, Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Atlanta lost to the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2026 playoffs in six games. LeBron could be the missing piece the Hawks need to win a championship.
For the Lakers last season, LeBron averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game. If King James signs with the Hawks, Atlanta head coach Quin Snyder can start Alexander-Walker, McCollum, Johnson, LeBron and Onyeka Okongwu next season.
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, LeBron will be patient and open-minded in selecting his next destination, but the priority is having a realistic chance at competing for a championship. He remains committed to playing at the highest level.
The odds of LeBron signing with the Hawks are very, very low. However, nothing can be ruled out in today's NBA after the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Lakers during the 2024-25 season. Plus, Atlanta has great golf courses, and LeBron is a golf addict now.
A frequent expectation around the NBA is that James will land in Cleveland to end his NBA career with the Cavaliers, the franchise where it all began. The Cavaliers are coming off an Eastern Conference Finals appearance but have yet to get over the hump without James since the team won the championship in 2016.
