CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 23: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts to a call in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the 2017 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on May 23, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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NBA executives believe LeBron James is coming home.
They “think” the Cleveland Cavaliers are the most “compelling” situation for the 41-year-old legend after he reportedly narrowed his list to three teams: the Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers. James recently informed the L.A. Lakers that he will be moving on from that franchise beginning next season.
“The league really thinks that Cleveland is a compelling offer to him because none of the other options have really stepped forward and truly changed their situation,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on ESPN.
“The last move that really changed on the LeBron front has been the Sixers going out and getting Jaylen Brown, which they didn’t do to draw LeBron as much as they did to improve their overall team. In the days since, we have not really seen a team do anything that changes their situation, and LeBron is not giving information back to these teams. These are all really mostly one-way conversations and so really when you talk to teams in the league, they’re looking for a reason why it won’t be Cleveland even though the Cavs’ moves have really just been retaining their core players so this is one of the more fascinating NBA free agencies we’ve ever seen because LeBron’s asking price is so low and his impact could be so high, which enables so many different teams to give themselves a chance.”
Most notably, the Cavaliers signed superstar Donovan Mitchell to a four-year, $273 million max deal extension.
The Cavaliers reportedly have no money available in direct cap space and project to be about $211,000 over the second apron. They would need to dump players like Max Strus or Dennis Schroder to create room.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – NOVEMBER 25: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers wait for a free throw during the first quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on November 25, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
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ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday that James, who turns 42 in December, is now considering three teams. Surprisingly, the Golden State Warriors are not among that group.
Charania reported that James has spent time in his hometown of Akron, Ohio in recent weeks and has specifically spent time with his childhood friend Brandon Weems, the assistant general manager for the Cavaliers. James has also spent time with free agent Draymond Green, who declined his player option with the Warriors.
“There is no timetable, LeBron does not appear to be in a rush,” Charania said of James.
James, of course, was drafted No. 1 overall by the Cavaliers in 2003 and played there until 2010 before making “The Decision” to join the Heat. After winning two NBA titles in Miami, he returned to Cleveland from 2014-18, leading the franchise to its first and only NBA title in 2016.
In June, James enjoyed a reunion of the 2016 team alongside Kevin Love, J.R. Smith, Richard Jefferson, Tristan Thompson and Channing Frye in Great Britain. The group posed for photos near Tower Bridge in London and played golf at Loch Lomond Golf Club in Scotland,
Now it looks like he could be coming home yet again.
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