In 2024–2025, may the Phoenix Suns have a “Big 4”?

On Sunday, the NBA created a stir when NBA Insider Evan Sidery said that the team was trying to “lure” James to Phoenix so he could join Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal.

Sidery posted on X, saying, “Bronny James is a very serious draft option at No. 22 overall to potentially lure LeBron James in. The Suns are hoping to pursue him this offseason.” LeBron James seems to think Phoenix can persuade him to link up with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal to form a legendary superteam. If LeBron were to seriously consider signing a veteran’s minimum contract with the Suns, he would be forfeiting nearly $50 million for the upcoming campaign. Is the Suns’ massive plan to trade LeBron and Bronny actually in the works? That appears to be on the table, for sure.”

After Shams Charania of The Athletic revealed last week that Phoenix might try out LeBron James’ son, Bronny James, before the 2024 NBA Draft, rumors about LeBron James visiting the city began to circulate.

“The Phoenix Suns will conduct a workout with Bronny James ahead of the June NBA Draft, sources say,” Charania wrote on X on Friday morning. Phoenix is one of numerous players under consideration for the 22nd pick. Although Bronny has received over ten invitations to workout, it is anticipated that he will only visit the Lakers and Suns.”

As part of that conjecture, a number of NBA insiders and writers explained why LeBron James joining the Suns wasn’t all that unlikely. Phoenix’s close proximity to Los Angeles, LeBron James’s friendship with Kevin Durant, his past interactions with Suns general manager James Jones, and the NBA star’s potential willingness to accept a lower salary were all mentioned as reasons why the Suns might be able to sign LeBron James as a free agent, should they select Bronny James in the 2024 NBA Draft.

The only way Phoenix could potentially sign LeBron James would be if he chose to become a free agent after his contract expires in 2024–2025. The team’s financial options are severely limited because LeBron is well over the NBA pay ceiling.

LeBron James to Phoenix Suns rumors intensify following the article

LeBron James’ possible signing with the Suns on a veteran’s minimum contract, according to Sidery’s report, sparked fresh rumors about Phoenix on social media (see the comments to Sidery’s article) and in stories.

Jesse Cinquini of Ahnfiredigitial.com stated that a partnership between Durant and LeBron James would be “poetic”.

“Perhaps a playmaker of James’ caliber to complement their trio of elite scorers is what the Suns need in order to make a deep run in the 2025 NBA Playoffs,” the writer wrote. James, who trails only former Lakers floor general Magic Johnson in playoff assists, is one of the best passers in NBA history, ranking fourth in regular-season assists. In addition, James averaged a team-high 8.3 assists per game in his 71 games (all starts) with Los Angeles during the 2023–24 regular season. It would be romantic to see James and Durant, two of the greatest players of their generation, ultimately team up after so much time spent playing against one another.”

Son of LeBron, Bronny Druin, will be practicing with the Suns before to the 2024 NBA Draft, which starts on June 26. The USC guard has a player-option that he can reject with the Los Angeles Lakers this summer, but some in the NBA feel a team selecting him in the first round would do so in an attempt to acquire his father. The intrigue and storylines of the NBA offseason are always captivating, even if it’s obvious that the Suns have the potential to play very big this summer.”

Given LeBron’s ties to the Suns, Fansided’s Jonathan Lurensky stated that it was impossible to “rule out” the prospect of LeBron James joining Phoenix.

“Obviously, we have no idea what the outcome will be at the No. 22 pick right now and if the Suns would draft Bronny James with their only pick,” the writer said. “Given the inexperience and bold decision-making we’ve seen from Ishba to this point — and general manager James Jones’ connections to LeBron — however, it can’t be ruled out.”

Is it possible for the Suns to sign LeBron James during the NBA offseason? As the offseason rumors and conjecture in Phoenix heat up, it’s something to keep an eye on.