The Cleveland Cavaliers host LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers for their annual trip to Cleveland on Wednesday. These games are always spectacles, given the history between James and the organization.
This iteration will likely be no different, as the Cavs will be wearing the throwback jerseys James made famous during his first run in Cleveland.
There’s also an additional wrinkle to this season’s meeting.
James’s current contract with the Lakers runs out at the end of this season. And maybe for the first time in his career, James’s team might be okay with letting him walk in free agency so they can build around Luka Doncic. Recent reports of a rift between James’s camp and the Buss family could indicate that is the direction both parties go.
We don’t know what James will do at the end of the season. Retirement is also a possibility and something that James has floated in years past. But according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, a reunion with his former team is on the table for next season.
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.
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The Cavs would need to make multiple roster moves this summer to make a reunion happen, unless James is willing to play for a minimum contract, which doesn’t seem likely. Cleveland is currently the only team over the second apron. That makes reshaping the roster incredibly difficult. As such, they would likely need to get below the second apron before they could make a sign-and-trade or another type of deal with James that exceeds the minimum.
Still, the team’s reported willingness to welcome James back is noteworthy. Not everyone wants to be in the LeBron business at this stage of his career. His presence comes with an increased microscope and national expectations that this group currently doesn’t have. This time would be no different despite his age.
James — even at the 42 years old he would be next December — would help the Cavs in some of the areas they need assistance the most. His playmaking is still as good as it ever was, and his game has evolved well with his loss of athleticism.
This season, James is averaging 22.4 points, 6.7 assists, and six rebounds per game on .507/.328/.745 shooting splits.
We’ll see what direction James and the Cavs go this offseason. As of now, it seems that a reunion is on the table from at least one of the necessary parties.
