LeBron James’ upcoming free agency is already shaping up to be one of the biggest storylines of the NBA offseason - and there’s a familiar city back in the mix: Cleveland.
Yes, that Cleveland.
The same place where LeBron’s NBA journey began. The same franchise he lifted to its first and only championship in 2016. And now, according to recent buzz, it might just be the final chapter of his storied career.
On the latest episode of the Road Trippin’ Show, ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins dropped a notable nugget: sources have told him that Donovan Mitchell and newly-acquired James Harden are already laying the groundwork to bring LeBron James back to the Cavaliers. That’s right - the full-court press is reportedly underway.
“Donovan Mitchell and James Harden are starting the push to go and recruit LeBron James this offseason,” Perkins said. “My sources tell me as soon as James Harden got on the phone and got around the team...we're about to go all-out, and we want LeBron James.”
That’s not just offseason chatter - that’s a statement of intent. If true, it signals that Cleveland isn’t just content with being a playoff team in the East.
They want to contend. And they believe bringing LeBron back could be the catalyst.
Let’s not forget: James didn’t burn any bridges when he left Cleveland in 2018. Quite the opposite.
After delivering the title in 2016 and giving everything he had in four straight Finals runs, he exited with the city’s respect firmly intact. There’s no bad blood this time - only unfinished business, perhaps.
At 41, James is deep into the back nine of his career, but he’s still producing at a level most players half his age can’t match. He’s the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, still a nightly triple-double threat, and still capable of taking over games when it matters. And if there’s one thing we know about LeBron, it’s that he’s always thinking about legacy.
A return to Cleveland to chase a fifth ring? That would be a storybook ending. But it won’t be uncontested.
Teams like the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors are expected to make their pitch once free agency opens. The Knicks have been hunting for a superstar to push them over the top, and the Warriors could offer a chance to pair up with Steph Curry in a move that would shake the league to its core.
But Cleveland has something no other team can offer: home. And if Mitchell and Harden are indeed spearheading a recruitment campaign, it shows the Cavs are serious about making a run - not just at a title, but at a legacy-defining reunion.
LeBron’s decision is still months away, but the groundwork is being laid. And if the whispers coming out of Cleveland are to be believed, the King’s final act might just take place right where it all began.