The Cavaliers’ summer plans are stuck in limbo, and LeBron James is the reason everything else around them is on pause.
Cleveland is still in the mix for James, with the race reportedly narrowed to the Cavs, the Miami Heat, and the Philadelphia 76ers. That matters because James Harden is waiting to sign his next deal, giving the Cavaliers room to make a move if James chooses them. For now, though, nothing can move until James does.
According to Cleveland radio host Andy Baskin of Baskin & Phelps 92.3 The Fan, the delay traces back to James not liking Adam Silver’s recent comment that the NBA is waiting to build next season’s schedule until James decides where he is going. Baskin said James and his camp were prepared to make an announcement earlier, but held off because James wants to handle the timing on his own terms.
That leaves Cleveland in a holding pattern after a strong season that ended with an ugly finish. The Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference finals, then got swept by the eventual NBA Champions, the New York Knicks.
The wait is especially frustrating because the basketball fit is obvious. James is 41, but he is still an All-Star-caliber player, even if he is no longer the MVP force he was in his first run with Cleveland. If he lands there, the Cavaliers could roll out a starting five of Harden, Donovan Mitchell, James, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen - a group that would rank among the league’s most loaded.
That possibility is why Cleveland has not moved on anything else yet. Harden remains unsigned.
The roster is unfinished. And the Cavaliers are still waiting to find out whether James will join them.
For now, the whole situation sits in the same place: James is delaying his call, Harden is waiting to re-sign, and the Cavaliers can only sit back and wait with them.
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The harder part is figuring out what Cleveland would be willing to give up, because any serious pursuit would almost certainly force the Cavs to confront the value of Evan Mobley in a way that goes well beyond a simple roster tweak. There is also the broader question of whether Davis even gets to the point where this becomes real, since Washington still has to navigate his contract situation and the uncertainty around his early days with the franchise before any of the speculation turns into something more concrete. [Read more 🡒]
Former Lakers Champion Just Floated A Wild New LeBron Theory
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For Cleveland, the appeal is obvious even before the details get sorted out. A Green-Donovan Mitchell backcourt would be electric on offense, though it would also come with real questions on the defensive end, and the idea only gets louder because of what Greens arrival could mean for the Cavs larger future plans. For now, though, it is just another reminder that the offseason rumor mill can turn one post into a full-blown conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Love Reunion Could Become A Real Cavaliers Offseason Debate
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The Cavaliers are still waiting on LeBron James decision before making bigger roster moves, which keeps the rest of the offseason in a holding pattern. Loves longstanding friendship with James only adds to the intrigue, especially if Cleveland decides it wants another proven voice in the locker room and a veteran option in the frontcourt. For now, it sits as a possibility rather than a plan, but it is the kind of move that could become a real debate once the bigger domino falls. [Read more 🡒]