Mitchell, Harden Said to Be Organizing Cavaliers Bid for LeBron James
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James could face a major decision this summer, and two high-profile names reportedly intend to sway him back to Ohio.
On the “Road Trippin” podcast, former NBA center Kendrick Perkins stated that Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell and newly acquired guard James Harden have already begun laying the groundwork to recruit James once free agency opens. According to Perkins, Harden signaled the plan “as soon as he got on the phone or got around the team.”
James, 41, is playing on an expiring contract and can become a free agent for the first time in nearly 10 years. Despite missing the first 14 games of the season, he has maintained All-Star production in his 23rd NBA campaign.
The Cavaliers accelerated their win-now timeline at the trade deadline by sending Darius Garland elsewhere in exchange for Harden, adding another veteran to a roster that already features Mitchell. The organization won its only championship with James in 2016 and is reportedly eager to pursue a second title.
For the Lakers, signs point toward a potential separation. Recent reports indicate that general manager Rob Pelinka is prepared to shift the franchise’s focus to building around Luka Dončić, and James is said to share the sentiment of moving on after eight seasons in Los Angeles.
James began his NBA career in Cleveland, left for Miami in 2010, returned in 2014 to deliver the franchise’s first championship, and departed again for Los Angeles in 2018. A third stint with the Cavaliers would allow the four-time champion to conclude his career where it started, though final decisions are expected closer to the start of free agency.
Source: LakersNation.com
