Rich Paul says LeBron James is going to steer his own free-agency call, even as the buzz around where he lands keeps building.
In an interview with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson of ScoopB.com, James’ agent said he is advising the longtime star through the process, but not making the decision for him.
“LeBron will make his own decision,” Paul told Robinson. “I’m rolling with him.”
Paul also took time to push back on the chatter that followed his podcast comments about the Cavs’ roster after the trade that sent Klutch Sports client Darius Garland to the Clippers. Those remarks sparked questions about whether he had doubts about Cleveland’s outlook or any issue with new Cavaliers guard James Harden.
Paul said that wasn’t the case.
“I like James Harden,” Paul said. “He’s actually my friend.”
He also made it clear that his frustration over Garland being dealt has not changed his view of the organization.
“I rock with Dan Gilbert, Chris Grant, Koby Altman and Brandon Weems,” Paul told Robinson.
Grant has not been with the Cavs in more than 10 years, but Paul’s comments underscored how long those relationships have lasted around the franchise.
James remains tied most closely to the Cavs, Warriors, Heat, 76ers and Timberwolves. League sources continue to tell Hoops Wire that Cleveland is seen as the frontrunner, while Golden State, Philadelphia and Miami are all believed to be pushing hard.
James is expected to be at Fanatics Fest in New York later this week, and around the league there’s a growing sense that his long-awaited free-agency decision could come at any moment.
Robinson’s feature also includes conversations with Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson, James Harden, Evan Mobley, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, Ben Simmons, Dean Wade and Thomas Bryant, plus a deeper look at how the Cavs and 76ers compare as possible landing spots for James.
In Other News...
Browns May Be Headed For A Dillon Gabriel Outcome Fans Hate
Dillon Gabriel entered Browns camp with a clear path to work ahead of rookie Shedeur Sanders, but the early-season shuffle has only made the quarterback picture murkier. The third-round pick lost his spot quickly, yet his place on the roster still looks far from settled, especially with Cleveland weighing how many passers it wants to carry and how the depth chart might look once the dust settles.
Zac Jacksons read on the situation suggests Gabriel may not be going anywhere soon, even if the Browns keep sorting through other young arms and roster math. Gabriels rookie contract gives Cleveland plenty of control, and his profile still fits the kind of backup role teams like to protect, but the bigger question is whether the Browns will view him as part of their long-term quarterback plan or as a player whose value could be tested by late-summer competition and possible trade interest. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Hit With Another Brutal National Label Before 2026 Begins
The Browns are entering another offseason with plenty of change and very little certainty, which is exactly why a recent preseason power ranking landed with such a harsh edge. FanSideds Jason La Canfora placed Cleveland at No. 30, a reminder that national skepticism is still following the franchise even after a reset that includes new head coach Todd Monken and a reworked offensive line built around first-round pick Spencer Fano.
The bigger issue is that Cleveland still does not have a settled answer at quarterback, with the competition expected to stretch into camp. Add in the loss of Myles Garrett and the Browns are trying to convince the league they have a real direction, even as outside observers continue to see a team stuck in the middle of a rebuild and searching for proof that this version can move forward. [Read more 🡒]
Which Browns Players Are Truly Worth A First Round Pick
An ESPN column from Bill Barnwell has Browns fans doing the kind of roster math that always sparks debate this time of year: which players around the league are actually valuable enough to bring back a first-round pick in a trade. The piece uses Cleveland as a lens for that conversation, sorting through names and trying to separate true premium assets from players who are merely good, useful or still too unproven to command that kind of return.
Barnwells list leaves room for plenty of argument, which is exactly the point. He sees some Browns as the type of players who could headline a deal for a single first-rounder, while others would take more than that to pry away, and a few just missed the cut altogether. It is the sort of exercise that says as much about how the league values certain positions and age curves as it does about Cleveland itself, and it gives Browns followers another reason to wonder which pieces of the roster would draw the most interest if the phone ever started ringing. [Read more 🡒]