Latest on LeBron James: Five teams in mix; former teammate weighs in

LeBron James still hasn’t made his decision, with the list of reported contenders the same as ever, and the recruiting efforts matching on.

Here’s where things stand.

Five teams still in mix

ESPN’s Shams Charania reiterated Tuesday that the Cavaliers, Heat, 76ers, Warriors and Timberwolves remain the five teams in contention for James.

“The feel is that those five teams remain in the mix, but a focus on Cleveland, Miami and Philadelphia,” Charania said.

Charania added that James’ decision could come “any day, any week now.”

League sources continue to tell Hoops Wire that the Cavaliers are viewed as frontrunners, though Golden State continues to push hard and Philadelphia and Miami have not backed off.

Players remain involved

James isn’t just hearing from front offices.

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the four-time MVP has been reaching out to players on interested teams, with those conversations eventually making their way back to coaches and executives.

Hoops Wire has also been told Cavaliers guard James Harden has made contact with James during Cleveland’s recruiting efforts.

Meanwhile, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that 76ers stars Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown have all been involved in Philadelphia’s pitch, with Maxey taking the lead.

Shumpert offers advice

Former Cavs teammate Iman Shumpert believes James’ best destination depends on what he’s hoping to accomplish.

“If this is about a ring, Philly,” Shumpert said on his podcast. “If this is about selling tickets, Miami. If this is about ending your career the way it should go, go to Cleveland.”

Shumpert, however, questioned whether the Cavs are currently built to win a championship.

“I’ve been on a team when LeBron was frustrated,” he said. “He’s going to start shipping stuff out of there.”

Shumpert and James were teammates from 2015-18, helping Cleveland capture the 2016 NBA title.

Social media stirs speculation

James also generated some buzz Tuesday after sharing a clip from The Rich Eisen Show on social media, adding a string of laughing emojis over comments suggesting he’d be a “non-factor” if he signed with the Heat.

Whether James was laughing at the criticism, the overall discussion or something else entirely wasn’t clear.

Either way, it quickly reignited speculation about Miami, which remains one of the teams most frequently linked to the four-time MVP after acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier this offseason.

Decision still expected soon

James is scheduled to appear at Fanatics Fest in New York on Thursday and Friday, leading to continued speculation that his decision could come before or during the event.

But as it stands, well, it’s just more of the same. Waiting.

The only certainty is that whenever James finally announces his choice, the NBA offseason’s biggest storyline will finally have its answer.