Another reunion could be in store for LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers this offseason.
ESPN insider Shams Charania confirmed this Tuesday that James won't be returning to the Los Angeles Lakers next season. The 41-year-old forward came to this conclusion before the official start of free agency.
“After eight seasons with the Lakers, including leading the franchise to the 2020 NBA championship, James departs and enters free agency set to join a new team,” Charania said. “Lakers president Rob Pelinka and Rich Paul spoke a short time ago about the four-time champion’s plans, sources said. James chose to inform the Lakers well before start of free agency tonight out of courtesy and appreciation for their run together, and to allow LA to conduct its offseason business.”
So what's next for James? We're not entirely sure, but Chris Haynes is reporting that Cleveland will make a run at the four-time NBA champion.
"Cleveland Cavaliers have interest in a second reunion with LeBron James with the appeal of the franchise’s greatest player finishing his career where it all started," Haynes reported on social media Tuesday.
The Cavaliers made the Eastern Conference Finals this past season before getting swept by the New York Knicks. They certainly could use James, who averaged 23.2 points, 7.3 assists and 6.7 rebounds per game during the 2026 postseason.
© David Gonzales-Imagn Images.
Don't rule out the Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors seem to have serious interest in signing James this summer. For what it's worth, he has talked about wanting to be team up with Steph Curry.
"Steph Curry's the one that I wanna play with for sure, in today's game. … I love everything about that guy," James said in 2021. "Lethal. When he get out his car, you better guard him right from the moment he pulls up to the arena. … You might wanna guard him when he get out of the bed. Swear to god. He's serious."
Who knows? Maybe we'll see Curry and James join forces in the Bay Area.
