LeBron to Cleveland Cavaliers Again? Sounds Right, So It Probably Won’t Happen

In life and in sports, if something makes too much sense, that means it’s probably not going to happen.

That’s exactly what LeBron James returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers is.

On Sunday morning, James opted into his $52.6 million player option to return to the NBA for the 2025–26 season, but is evaluating his future with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, ensured Charania included that their camp understands it’s difficult to compete for NBA championships while planning for the future.

“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” the ESPN report stated. “We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage of his life and career.”

The report also thanked owner Jeanie Buss and general manager Rob Pelinka for their “partnership” and noted that the Lakers have been a “critical part of his career.”

These quotes … surely do not sound like a guy who’s committed to staying with the Lakers. In fact, they sound like a guy who just picked up $52.6 million and already has one foot out the door.

James will turn 41 years old during the upcoming NBA season. He’s consistently hinted that the end of his professional career in basketball is nearing.

A farewell tour with any team other than the Cavaliers just wouldn’t feel right.

Next NBA Finals will be the 10-year anniversary of Cleveland’s 2016 classic comeback against the 73–9 Golden State Warriors, where James was able to break the city’s 52-year title drought. Not to mention, it’ll be James’ 23rd season — the jersey number that will undoubtedly be retired in Cleveland and Los Angeles.

James holds the cards in this scenario as well. He has a no-trade clause, meaning he could decide to stay with the Lakers if they have an impressive free agency period. Or he can force his way to a team of his choosing.

Due to second-apron restrictions in the NBA’s latest collective bargaining agreement, trading for a 40-year-old player on a $52 million contract will be difficult for contending teams like the Cavs. They’d have to find a way to work some financial gymnastics to get underneath that apron, as they would not be able to aggregate salaries for James — and likely wouldn’t want to trade Donovan Mitchell for him straight up.

But the Cavs have habitually had a difficult time getting past the second round since Mitchell arrived in town. They lost the first season in the first round against the New York Knicks, and then were bounced by the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals each of the last two seasons.

Publicly, Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman has endorsed the team’s young core. But just last week, reports circulated that All-Star point guard Darius Garland was the centerpiece of a package that would’ve landed Kevin Durant in Cleveland. Garland has been often injured throughout the playoffs, and Jarrett Allen has been a nonfactor every spring as well.

Next season, the Eastern Conference will be right there for the taking, as the Celtics will be retooling without Tatum and the Pacers will be without Haliburton. Even with their playoff struggles, the Cavs are the betting favorite to win the East. They have the second-best odds to win the title, behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.

But with James on their roster? It’s hard to imagine that a core of Mitchell, James and Evan Mobley wouldn’t run away with the Eastern Conference.

Hell, their odds would probably jump as title favorites, too.