For a while, Cleveland looked like the natural landing spot for LeBron James as the 2026 NBA offseason unfolded. After his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers, the Cavaliers were widely viewed as the team most likely to bring him back for what figured to be the final chapter of his career.
That ending never materialized.
James instead chose the Philadelphia 76ers, where he’ll join Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, and Tyrese Maxey. For Cleveland, the disappointment goes beyond simply missing out on a reunion. He didn’t just bypass the Cavaliers - he landed with an Eastern Conference opponent, which makes the decision sting even more.
Bill Simmons added another layer to the heartbreak during a segment of the "Bill Simmons Podcast." According to Simmons, James had been headed to Cleveland before something changed.
“Listen, he was going to Cleveland. I don’t know what happened.
I can’t wait for the story. Something happened," Simmons said.
At some point, James is expected to explain why he passed on the chance to return to the Cavaliers. That conversation may not come soon, but it feels inevitable.
For now, the focus shifts to what James still has left after leaving Los Angeles. In 60 games with the Lakers last season, he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals while shooting 51.5 percent from the field and 31.7 percent from three. He’s not the same player he was in his last Cleveland stint, but he remains a major force.
His playoff numbers backed that up. In 10 games last postseason, James put up 23.2 points, 7.3 assists, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 45.9 percent from the floor and 32.7 percent from deep.
The Cavaliers won’t have to wait long to see their former star in his new uniform. Cleveland and Philadelphia meet for the first time on October 22, the second game of the season for both teams, and it will be in Philadelphia.
It’s a brutal outcome for Cleveland fans who had every reason to believe a reunion was within reach. Instead, they’re left with the kind of near miss that hurts the most: a legend almost coming home, then heading somewhere else entirely.
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Atkinsons confidence matters because the Cavs have spent the offseason trying to balance development with the need to stay competitive in a tough Eastern Conference. The same conversation has surfaced elsewhere in the league, with Pacers GM Chad Buchanan also laying out how Jarace Walker fits into Indianas plans for the coming season. For Cleveland, the focus now is less on outside moves than on how much its own depth can carry when the games start to tighten. [Read more 🡒]