NBA Rumors: Would LeBron James Want To Play For The Lakers Or Clippers?

Speculation surrounding LeBron James potentially moving on from the Cleveland Cavaliers as a free agent next season has dominated headlines since the conclusion of the NBA Finals. After falling to the Golden State Warriors in five games, reports began surfacing that James could once again bolt from Cleveland for a warm-weather city to be part of a "super team."

This time around, Los Angeles is the potential destination for James, as both the Clippers and Lakers may be part of the 13-time All-Star's plan to move out west. Reports have stated James and his family have an affinity for Southern California, with his wife Savannah Brinson claiming she’d like to live there full-time. James also has a production company in Los Angeles and owns a home in Brentwood.

However, sources told ESPN's Mike Wise that James has no intentions of playing for the Clippers on the "Freddie and Fitz" radio show Tuesday.

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"I got from a very good authority, a very good authority -- that LeBron James will never be a Clipper," said Wise. "I can't tell you who, but I'm going to tell you it's somebody that knows, and LeBron James will never be a Clipper. I don't know if that's because he remembers what the Clippers used to be, or he just doesn't want to put his lot in there, or he thinks [Clippers owner] Steve Ballmer is just too animated on the sideline."

NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski suggested that James could play in Los Angeles as a Laker. There have been widespread rumors that the Lakers cleared cap room to add perhaps two or more superstars next summer.

"Not only is there no guarantee he’s coming back, I’m not sure there’s an expectation he’s re-signing there," Wojnarowski said during a June 14 podcast. "I think they feel, I think within Cleveland and around the league, they feel that he’s very much in play to leave again and likely head out West to one of the two L.A. teams. The Lakers could very well be a target."

The Clippers may have looked like an attractive option for James. On June 19, the Clippers hired Jerry West, an NBA great who helped construct championship teams with the Lakers and Warriors. There also was the possibility that James could team up with his friend Chris Paul, who has been with the Clippers since 2011.

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Paul, however, could be interested in leaving the Clippers as a free agent. Moreover, the veteran might be considered a step down at the point guard position for James, who plays alongside 25-year-old Kyrie Irving in Cleveland.

If James wants to position himself around youth in Los Angeles, he may consider joining the Lakers. Luke Walton is among the youngest coaches in the NBA, and the Lakers have players like Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle on the roster to go along with salary-cap space to potentially sign veterans Paul George and Russell Westbrook in 2018.