LeBron James is no longer a member of the Los Angeles Lakers and will be a free agent starting at 6 PM Eastern tonight. There’s been a lot of speculation about him joining forces with Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. But don’t count out a reunion with the Cleveland Cavaliers just yet.
Veteran NBA insider for NBA on Prime and former beat reporter in Cleveland during the 2014-15, Chris Haynes, reported that the Cavs are indeed interested in adding James to the roster.
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It’s easy to see the appeal of a third tour of duty in Cleveland for both sides.
The Cavs are a good team, but are a playmaking wing away from being true championship contenders, as the New York Knicks showed them in their four-game sweep in the Eastern Conference Finals. Adding James would give this roster the versatility needed to possibly get over the hump in the postseason.
Being on a title team again is reportedly LeBron’s goal. James’s agent, Rich Paul, told The Athletic’s Dan Woike that his client “wants to compete for championships.” From that perspective, their goals align.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said that James is prioritizing “happiness, not money” next season. What that means is anyone’s guess. No one besides LeBron truly knows what he’s looking for in terms of happiness.
This is where playing for the Warriors could interfere with a reunion in Cleveland. Even though there are questions about whether an older core featuring Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler could compete for a championship, James might not see it that way. And the appeal of teaming up with friends while staying in California may be too much for him to ignore.
There’s also the question about how much the Cavs could afford to play LeBron.
The Cavs’ roster currently has some flexibility. James Harden declining his player option for next season has the Cavs $42.1 million under the second apron. Harden is expected to re-sign, but the annual value could help the Cavs open up room for the taxpayer mid-level exception.
Additional moves would be needed if the Cavs were going to open up the full mid-level exception of $15 million. The Cavs are reportedly looking for suitors for players like Dennis Schroder, which could give them more cap flexibility. Additionally, a sign-and-trade with the Lakers could still be an option if the deal were to bring Cleveland below the first apron.
At this point, it’s anyone’s guess how this will play out or what James truly values. What we do know at this time is that the Cavs are interested in a LeBron reunion and have a roster that would allow him to compete for a championship next season. And they’re also close to some golf clubs he just joined.
We’ll see if that’s enough to secure his services for one last run.
