Cleveland Cavaliers ‘Would Gladly Welcome’ LeBron James Back This Offseason
The Cleveland Cavaliers “would gladly welcome” NBA legend LeBron James back this offseason, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
James becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason for the first time since 2018. The future Hall of Famer left the Cavaliers in the offseason of 2018 for the Los Angeles Lakers, who are now building around Luka Dončić.
“LeBron James is now in his eighth season with the Lakers — his longest uninterrupted stint with a team in his career — but his future in Los Angeles remains uncertain, with his contract set to expire at the end of the campaign and the franchise set to move forward with Dončić as its star of the present and the future,” McMenamin wrote. “Multiple team and league sources told ESPN the Cavaliers would gladly welcome James back this summer if he wanted to return to Cleveland for his 24th NBA season and third stint with the team.”
James has played for the Cavaliers twice. He’s the best player in franchise history and will get his No. 23 jersey retired by the organization one day.
James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love led Cleveland to its only NBA championship in 2016 against the 73-9 Golden State Warriors. The 2015-16 Cavaliers are the only team in NBA history to erase a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals.
The leading scorer of all time, James is 41 years old. He’s the oldest active player in the league. It’s unknown if the Akron native plans to play next season.
The Cavaliers are currently led by Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen. If James leaves Los Angeles for Cleveland this offseason, the Wine and Gold would have a lethal starting lineup of Garland, Mitchell, James, Mobley and Allen next season.
If James doesn’t retire this offseason, it will be fascinating to see where he’s playing next season. The four-time Finals MVP remains an elite offensive player despite his age. He’s averaging 22.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game for the Lakers this season.
Latest NBA News & Rumors
- NBA Rumors: Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets Interested In Trading For Chicago Bulls’ Coby White
- NBA Rumors: Dallas Mavericks Ownership ‘Doesn’t Feel Any Pressure’ To Trade Anthony Davis
- NBA Rumors: Golden State Warriors May Keep Jonathan Kuminga Now After Jimmy Butler Injury
- NBA News: Ja Morant Wants Memphis Grizzlies To Trade Him To Miami Heat
- NBA Rumors: Giannis Antetokounmpo ‘Ready’ For Trade As Milwaukee Bucks Begin Listening
