LeBron James to the Cavs? The truth behind the growing rumour
LeBron James making a sensational return to the Cleveland Cavaliers is a rumour that is gathering speed in some circles.
A story that feels straight out of an LA film set continues to gain steam in NBA circles: could LeBron James end his career back in Cleveland, where it all began? Over the past number of months, lips have whispered out noises surrounding a possible return to the Cavaliers, making some fans all fluffy inside at the potential Hollywood ending.
LeBron, now in the twilight of a career that has stretched out for more than two decades, remains with the Los Angeles Lakers after exercising his player option for the 2025‑26 season.
That move signalled his intention to stay put for at least another year, but it also triggered speculation about his longer-term future. His status as an unrestricted free agent in 2026 opens the door for him to choose his next destination, and if you stick a new face-of-the-franchise Luka Doncic into the mix, you’ve got yourself one sure-fire recipe for a steaming hot rumour pie.
LeBron James was only 17 when he entered the NBA, but he carried himself like a seasoned vet 💯
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) December 22, 2025
From chest hair to emotional intelligence and social awareness, Kevin Ollie points out what stood out most about Bron during his rookie season in Cleveland 👏 pic.twitter.com/ZCCB2dml8X
“All roads lead back to Cleveland”
For Cavs supporters, the appeal of LeBron coming home is simply irresistible. James is the franchise’s all‑time leading scorer and was the central figure in Cleveland’s first NBA championship in 2016, ending a long title drought for the city. CBS write that the “there will almost definitely be changes on the fringes” for the Cavs at the end of the current campaign and as for LeBron, “all roads lead back to Cleveland.”
However, this is Hollywood, baby, not real life. Enthusiasm should be tempered as League executives and salary cap experts point out significant obstacles. Back in May last season, NBA insider Brian Windhorst said: “The Cavs have a core of guys in their 20s who are signed to long-term contracts, and they’re trying to figure out how to get this core over the hump. You do not trade guys in their 20s for a guy who is going to turn 41 this year.”
Cleveland are also currently capped under NBA luxury tax rules that make it extremely difficult to add James’s large salary without ripping apart core pieces of their roster. Simply trading for him isn’t straightforward under these rules, and the Cavaliers would likely have to rely on a free‑agency scenario with James taking a deeply reduced contract just to make the numbers work. “If he wanted to come back on a minimum contract, the Cavs couldn’t sign him to anything else,” Windhorst added. “You’re not trading guys in their 20s for him. That’s lunacy.”
Christmas Day 2003 was supposed to be LeBron’s moment.
— OLDSKOOLBBALL (@oldskoolbballx) December 23, 2025
Instead, Tracy McGrady reminded everyone who the league’s top scorer was.
T-Mac dropped 41 on Cleveland, torching a teenage LeBron with pull-ups, blow-bys, and pure swagger.
LeBron was special already.
Full highlights ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/jBos2OrxWp
Added to that is the fact that James does not have a no-trade clause in his contract, meaning he would have to sign off any deal that the Lakers agree to if the team decided to get rid of the 21-time All-Star.
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