The idea of LeBron James returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers for one last run is kind of poetic. The veteran superstar began his career with the franchise. He then returned to help raise a banner in the Rocket Arena.
Now, with his career winding down and his current position within the Los Angeles Lakers earning questioning glances, the idea of him returning home and potentially retiring with the Cavaliers in the future has begun to be discussed by fans around the world.
In a recent article for Bleacher Report, Greg Swartz proposed a 3-team trade that would send LeBron back home. Furthermore, the deal would also see Bronny James continue to reside on the same team as his dad.
The proposed deal looks like this:
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: LeBron James and Bronny James
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Darius Garland, De’Andre Hunter and Max Strus
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent and a 2031 first-round pick (via Los Angeles Lakers)
“The Cavs get both LeBron and Bronny James, with the latter attractive to Cleveland given his affordable $1.9 million salary,” Swartz wrote. “That’s less than paying a veteran minimum contract to a player with even one year of service…The Cavs would get under the second apron and be left with $5.6 million to sign two players to get to the required 14. They would be hard-capped at the second apron in all of these trade scenarios because they aggregated player salaries.”
The proposed trade would see LeBron team up with Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen for the foreseeable future. That quarter of stars could potentially be enough to get the Cavaliers over the hump and position them as championship favorites. In turn, potentially giving LeBron the additional championship ring(s) he covets.
Cavaliers Have a Five-Year Plan
One reason why the Cavaliers may not hold interest in bringing LeBron back to franchise, is because they’re currently constructed to be a contender for the next five years or more.
During a recent appearance on ESPN Cleveland, NBA Insider Brian Windhorst noted how the Cavaliers are aiming for a half-decade contention window.
“The Cavs are making maneuvers to open up a five-year run here,” Windhorst said. “Don’t hold me to five, but they’re trying to make a run with this group… They believe this is a championship roster. I believe this team has the core of a championship roster. There’s a few things they need to improve on, but I think what they’re doing is they’re trying to set a four or five-year window here where they can go for it”
Windhorst continued.
“… The hard part now for [Koby Altman] is going to be keeping this team together and making the fine-tuning moves to win the whole thing.”
If the Cavaliers are pushing for a sustained period of success, trading for a soon-to-be 41-year-old isn’t the right way to go about things. However, LeBron would likely help the franchise get over the hump to win a championship, and that could be an enticing notion for Koby Altman and Cleveland’s front office.
LeBron Not Expected to Land in Cleveland
According to an anonymous scout who spoke with Sam Amico of HoopsWire, it’s unlikely that Cleveland finds a way to acquire LeBron.
“I keep hearing their interest is minimal, if they have any at all,” The scout told Amico. “So I’m not even sure where that report originated. Who’s the source on it? Rich Paul’s cleaning lady?… I don’t think 40-year-old LeBron is the target. He’s still very good most nights, at least offensively, but it doesn’t work for about a thousand reasons. And you can start with the fact he’s under contract for like 53 million bucks.”
The scout continued.
“He’s not going anywhere, and if he does go somewhere, it won’t be Cleveland. The Cavaliers don’t need him. They’re building something really great there. I don’t think he puts them over the top at this stage of his career anyway.”
When you factor in LeBron’s mammoth $52.6 million salary for the upcoming season, it’s hard to envision the Cavaliers trying to bring him back home. It would take a sizeable trade offer to pry him out of the Lakers. However, if a deal ended up looking like the one Swartz has proposed, then maybe Altman would change his stance.
Unfortunately for Cavaliers fans, a LeBron return doesn’t project to be on the cards. Not for this season, at least.
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