The Indiana Pacers have been named a 'sneaky landing spot' for LeBron James by NBA writer Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report. LeBron is an unrestricted free agent for the first time since the summer of 2018. He will not return to the Los Angeles Lakers, the team he's played for since the 2018-19 season.
What happened?
The Pacers have the depth, star power, defense, coaching and playoff experience to entice James. Greg Swartz thinks King James should consider joining Indiana. LeBron and Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton are close friends.
Why it matters for Indiana Pacers
They were teammates on Team USA in the summer of 2024, and Haliburton was on LeBron's podcast a few months ago. If LeBron signs with the Pacers, Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle can start Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, LeBron, Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac next season. That's a dangerous starting five on paper.
Recent form
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| 2026-04-12 | Indiana Pacers 121-133 Detroit Pistons |
The Pacers won only 19 games last season because Haliburton missed the entire campaign recovering from the Achilles tendon tear he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Recent form: 1W-0D-4L (LLLLW, most recent first); lost the last 4.
What comes next?
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, LeBron will be patient and open-minded in selecting his next destination. It will be fascinating to see if the Pacers reach out to the King and express interest in signing him. LeBron averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game for the Lakers last season. He's still an elite offensive player despite being the oldest active star in the league. The Pacers will be a playoff team again next season with Haliburton back in the lineup alongside Siakam and Zubac.
