Charles Oakley isn’t sugarcoating his view of the Cleveland Cavaliers after LeBron James chose the Philadelphia 76ers instead of heading back to Northeast Ohio.
Speaking to TMZ Sports, the former NBA star blasted the Cavs, saying the organization has to answer for missing out on LeBron and arguing that Cleveland simply doesn’t have a strong enough roster. Oakley, who was born and raised in Cleveland, took a direct shot at the team after James made the move to Philadelphia.
The decision stunned plenty of people around the league. A return to Cleveland had been widely expected this summer, but instead James landed with the 76ers on a two-year, $8 million deal.
That left the Cavaliers looking elsewhere while James joins a new group in Philadelphia alongside Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. Cleveland had been hoping to pair him with Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
James made it clear he views this as the final chapter of his NBA run. On social media, he wrote, "This is my last decision," and went on to explain that the move wasn’t about money or family, but about still wanting to compete for another championship.
He added, "I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time. Thank you LA.
Miami I’ll forever love and Northeast Ohio will always home!”
For Cleveland fans, it closes the door on another potential homecoming for the player who defined two separate eras with the franchise. In his two stints with the Cavaliers - from 2003-10 and 2014-18 - James averaged 27.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. He also won two MVPs, one Finals MVP, and earned 10 All-Star and 10 All-NBA selections.
The Cavaliers are coming off a four-game loss to the New York Knicks in the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals, and now the focus shifts to the offseason. The team plans to re-sign Harden and pursue Jonathan Kuminga, who spent last season with the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks.
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Cavaliers Trade Stance Could Put Key Shooter In Lakers Spotlight
The Lakers search for another wing option has already led them down one crowded path, with Jonathan Kuminga in the mix via a sign-and-trade and a contract demand that pushes north of $20 million annually. Los Angeles has also shown a willingness to add Jarred Vanderbilt and draft capital to the discussion, which has kept the front office busy as it weighs how much it wants to commit to a larger move.
Max Strus has quietly become part of that conversation, too, because the Cavaliers are open to moving him as they look to create financial flexibility. For Cleveland, it is the kind of decision that can reshape the edges of the roster even if the core stays intact, and for the Lakers it offers another possible route to add shooting without making the Kuminga pursuit the only game in town. [Read more 🡒]
Donovan Mitchell Gives Cavs A New Edge After LeBrons Rejection
Donovan Mitchell already sits at the center of Clevelands present, and the latest offseason twist only seems to have sharpened that role. After LeBron James chose to sign with the 76ers instead of returning to the Cavaliers, NBA insider Brandon Robinson reported that Mitchell is motivated to have a strong upcoming season, a sign that the franchises direction now runs squarely through its current star. Mitchell has embraced Cleveland, and around the team he is viewed as the defining figure of the roster as the Cavs continue shaping their identity.
The backdrop here is bigger than one decision, because James camp has long carried real weight in how teams think about their moves. The article also points to the trade of Darius Garland as part of the changing landscape around the roster, leaving Cleveland in a spot where the future feels less about chasing an old reunion and more about building around the player who is already here. Mitchells response to that shift could end up telling the story of the Cavs next step. [Read more 🡒]
Donovan Mitchell Just Gave Cavaliers Fans A Feel Good Offseason Moment
Donovan Mitchell gave Cavaliers fans a rare offseason dose of good news this week, tying the knot with R&B singer Coco Jones in a private ceremony on Aug. 1. The celebration brought together family, friends and a handful of notable guests, turning what has been a closely watched relationship into a milestone moment for one of Clevelands biggest stars.
Mitchell and Jones had been together since 2023, and their engagement became public in July 2024, so the wedding was hardly a surprise to people who had followed the couples story. Still, it was the kind of upbeat personal headline that travels fast around a fan base, especially when it involves a franchise cornerstone whose life off the court has drawn attention well beyond basketball circles. [Read more 🡒]