Donovan Mitchell and James Harden are reportedly preparing to make a major offseason pitch - and the target is none other than LeBron James.
According to reports, the two Cavaliers stars are expected to recruit the NBA legend to return to Cleveland this summer. James, currently with the Los Angeles Lakers, is set to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time since 2018. And while there’s been no official word from LeBron on his future - whether he’ll hang it up or keep going - the idea of a third stint in Cleveland is suddenly on the radar.
Let’s be clear: LeBron James is the most iconic player in Cavaliers history. Born and raised in nearby Akron, he was the franchise’s No. 1 overall pick in 2003, the hometown hero who delivered on the highest possible stage.
His crowning achievement? Leading the Cavs to the 2016 NBA title in epic fashion - rallying back from a 3-1 deficit against the record-setting 73-9 Warriors.
That remains the only championship in franchise history, and arguably the most dramatic Finals comeback the league has ever seen.
Now, nearly a decade later, the possibility of a LeBron reunion in Cleveland is back in the conversation - and this time, it’s Mitchell and Harden who could help make it happen.
Cleveland made headlines at the trade deadline by moving Darius Garland to the Clippers in exchange for Harden. That move not only added a former MVP to the backcourt, but also brought in a player with a long-standing relationship with LeBron. Mitchell, too, has ties to James, and both players are reportedly ready to use that connection to try and lure the four-time champion back to Ohio.
Of course, this all hinges on what happens with the Lakers. While LeBron has been the face of the franchise since arriving in 2018, the team appears to be shifting its focus.
Reports suggest Los Angeles is preparing to build around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, and they’re expected to make a strong push for Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer. That could leave LeBron on the outside looking in - or at least open the door for a new chapter elsewhere.
If that door opens, Cleveland has more than just nostalgia on its side. There’s a revamped roster, a pair of All-Star guards in Harden and Mitchell, and a city that still reveres its most famous son. The idea of LeBron finishing his career where it all began - in the same jersey that started it all - would be a storybook ending for one of the greatest to ever play the game.
In his two previous runs with the Cavs, James averaged 27.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. He brought home two MVPs, a Finals MVP, and made 10 All-Star appearances in a Cleveland uniform. His No. 23 jersey is a lock to hang in the rafters one day.
But before that happens, there’s a chance - slim or not - that we see him suit up for the Cavaliers one more time. If he doesn’t retire, all eyes will be on where he lands next. And right now, it’s looking like it could come down to two familiar homes: Los Angeles or Cleveland.