Bill Simmons is calling his shot on LeBron James, and he thinks the finish line is coming in Cleveland.
The Ringer host said James is signing with the Cavaliers, and he didn’t leave much room for doubt. Simmons put it plainly: "The Cleveland thing is done."
LeBron is an unrestricted free agent for the first time since the summer of 2018, when he left Cleveland for the Los Angeles Lakers. This time, the list of teams reportedly in the mix includes the Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves. But Simmons’ read points straight back to the place where James started his NBA career.
That Cleveland connection still carries real weight. Across his two stints with the Cavaliers - 2003-10 and 2014-18 - James put up 27.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. He also collected two MVPs, one Finals MVP, and made 10 All-Star teams and 10 All-NBA teams.
Even at this stage of his career, the production is still there. Last season with the Lakers, LeBron averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game. He remains an elite offensive player, even as the oldest active player in the NBA.
The fit in Cleveland is easy to picture. A starting five of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, LeBron, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen would have enough firepower to chase a championship next season. And the Cavaliers already showed they can win in the East, reaching the conference finals before falling to the New York Knicks in four games.
Shams Charania of ESPN added another layer, reporting that Mitchell "would embrace" LeBron signing with the Cavaliers. If that happens, the offseason could get even busier.
Don’t be shocked if Cleveland also looks at trading for Bronny James, who is set to make $2,296,271 next season. The Lakers guaranteed his 2026-27 salary on June 29.
For now, the idea is simple: LeBron began his career in Cleveland, and Simmons believes that’s where it ends.
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