Analyst Lists Cavaliers as Prime Option If LeBron James Parts Ways With Lakers
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Speculation about another LeBron James homecoming surfaced again after Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus named the Cleveland Cavaliers the leading candidate should the forward decide against re-signing with the Los Angeles Lakers.
In a recent report, Pincus wrote that Cleveland is “the franchise willing to pay James the required three years in a sign-and-trade deal to wind down his legendary career,” positioning the Cavaliers ahead of other suitors.
Any reunion would be complicated. Most league insiders still expect James to stay in Los Angeles, and ESPN’s Brian Windhorst noted that Cleveland does not have the salary-cap space to sign him outright at market value. A feasible scenario would demand significant roster moves and cooperation from the Lakers in a sign-and-trade.
James, 39, already has two stints with the Cavaliers. He returned in 2014 and led the club to its first NBA championship in 2016, rallying from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the 73-win Golden State Warriors. That comeback remains the only time a team has erased a 3-1 hole in the NBA Finals.
The four-time MVP is expected to make a decision on his future later this offseason. Until then, the Cavaliers are likely to stay in the conversation whenever his next move is discussed.
Source: Hoops Wire
