LeBron to Cavs

Moderators: MoneyTalks41890, HartfordWhalers, Texas Chuck, BullyKing, Andre Roberstan, loserX, Trader_Joe, Mamba4Goat, pacers33granger

User avatar
zimpy27
Forum Mod
Forum Mod
Posts: 45,405
And1: 43,528
Joined: Jul 13, 2014

LeBron to Cavs 

Post#1 » by zimpy27 » Wed May 7, 2025 2:18 am

I always felt LeBron might return to the Cavs to finish off the career and it looks like he could help them make it passed the 2nd round in the playoffs.

What would a trade of LeBron to Cavs look like?
"Let's play some basketball!" - Fergie
Godaddycurse
RealGM
Posts: 21,857
And1: 13,811
Joined: Nov 13, 2019
 

Re: LeBron to Cavs 

Post#2 » by Godaddycurse » Wed May 7, 2025 2:25 am

Lebron needs to take a really sizable paycut since Cleveland is in 2nd apron and can't aggregate/receive a sign and trade...
User avatar
zimpy27
Forum Mod
Forum Mod
Posts: 45,405
And1: 43,528
Joined: Jul 13, 2014

Re: LeBron to Cavs 

Post#3 » by zimpy27 » Wed May 7, 2025 2:28 am

Godaddycurse wrote:Lebron needs to take a sizable paycut since Cleveland is in 2nd apron and can't aggregate...


Well as long as they end up under 2nd apron during the trade they can do it. Would need a 3rd team but not something overly complicated.

It's more difficult to work out if the Cavs trade Garland, Mitchell or Allen to make it happen.
"Let's play some basketball!" - Fergie
Godaddycurse
RealGM
Posts: 21,857
And1: 13,811
Joined: Nov 13, 2019
 

Re: LeBron to Cavs 

Post#4 » by Godaddycurse » Wed May 7, 2025 2:40 am

zimpy27 wrote:
Godaddycurse wrote:Lebron needs to take a sizable paycut since Cleveland is in 2nd apron and can't aggregate...


Well as long as they end up under 2nd apron during the trade they can do it. Would need a 3rd team but not something overly complicated.

It's more difficult to work out if the Cavs trade Garland, Mitchell or Allen to make it happen.


they need to cut like 15M to get under the 2nd apron and thats with filling remaining ~5 roster spots with 2nd rd min contracts... so realistically need to cut like 20M to have proper depth. thats hard to do
dcstanley
Starter
Posts: 2,333
And1: 1,509
Joined: Nov 20, 2017

Re: LeBron to Cavs 

Post#5 » by dcstanley » Wed May 7, 2025 2:52 am

I don't see why Cleveland would trade any of their core for a 41 year old with a maximum of two seasons left.

If it's possible to add him to Garland/Mitchell/Mobley/Allen/Hunter then I'm sure they would be open to it.
mg
General Manager
Posts: 8,760
And1: 4,599
Joined: Jun 12, 2003

Re: LeBron to Cavs 

Post#6 » by mg » Wed May 7, 2025 3:05 am

Dan Gilbert could get antsy if the Cavs lose this 2nd round series to the Pacers.

I also think the Mavs would probably like to reunite Lebron with both AD and Kyrie.

Those situations would be better basketball wise for Lebron and would allow the Lakers to build around Luka. Obviously there would be apron issues to work out.
JustBuzzin
RealGM
Posts: 16,089
And1: 13,646
Joined: Jun 10, 2023
 

Re: LeBron to Cavs 

Post#7 » by JustBuzzin » Wed May 7, 2025 3:18 am

Lebron for Garland
LeBron for Allen

Don't really see why Cleveland would entertain anything else.
User avatar
Texas Chuck
Senior Mod - NBA TnT Forum
Senior Mod - NBA TnT Forum
Posts: 92,338
And1: 98,157
Joined: May 19, 2012
Location: Purgatory
   

Re: LeBron to Cavs 

Post#8 » by Texas Chuck » Wed May 7, 2025 3:25 am

I mean its just not really very doable as a trade. And I don't think he's prepared to go sign for dirt cheap. And I think LA still has plenty of low-hanging fruit to upgrade their current roster that should be explored.
ThunderBolt wrote:I’m going to let some of you in on a little secret I learned on realgm. If you don’t like a thread, not only do you not have to comment but you don’t even have to open it and read it. You’re welcome.
LightTheBeam
RealGM
Posts: 18,890
And1: 12,026
Joined: Sep 17, 2010
     

Re: LeBron to Cavs 

Post#9 » by LightTheBeam » Wed May 7, 2025 4:23 am

I do think lebron for garland makes a lot of sense for both teams.

Cleveland can't reasonably keep this team together ffinancially much longer. Get a 2 year run before re-tooling around mitchell/Mobley.

Imo lakers will struggle to win even with a center. Luka, lebron, resves is always going to be rough defensively, and lebron is only going to take more and more plays off.

Just for fun, minnesota needs to give Naz a starting spot, reaves + vando + kleber for gobert? They still have knecht/vincent/1st to get another forward cam johnson?

Gobert
Rui
Cam johnson/Dfs
Garland
Luka

Id much prefer this team over keeping lebron and adding whatever center they can get.
giberish
RealGM
Posts: 17,389
And1: 7,143
Joined: Mar 30, 2006
Location: Whereever you go - there you are

Re: LeBron to Cavs 

Post#10 » by giberish » Wed May 7, 2025 4:44 am

it's really tough to match salaries with LeBron's current contract without causing major problems for Cleveland. While he could opt out (next year is a PO) at that point it would be a S&T deal - so Cleveland would have to finish under the 1st apron (and then stay there). Would require LeBron taking a massive pay cut and 3rd team to salary dump.
SlimShady83
RealGM
Posts: 14,471
And1: 4,361
Joined: Jun 19, 2012

Re: LeBron to Cavs 

Post#11 » by SlimShady83 » Wed May 7, 2025 5:11 am

Away from the Lakers would be nice, but don't see It happening except maybe Dallas.
My Go Team
Magic, Jordan, Pippen, Duncan, Shaq

My Counter
Stockton, Kobe, Bird, Rodman, Dirk

Today's Team
Luka, SGA, Tatum, Giannis, Wemby
Apz
Head Coach
Posts: 6,752
And1: 2,492
Joined: Jan 18, 2019
 

Re: LeBron to Cavs 

Post#12 » by Apz » Wed May 7, 2025 6:07 am

Bet luka want to resign if the big lakers plan is to get the dude luka dislikes the most
Astaluego
Starter
Posts: 2,394
And1: 907
Joined: May 02, 2020
   

Re: LeBron to Cavs 

Post#13 » by Astaluego » Wed May 7, 2025 6:21 am

I think a trade for Allen/Okoro would be more natural and better fit the needs...it implies that LeBron takes a pay cut.

Garland/Mitchell/Hunter/LeBron/Mobley

Luka/Reaves/DFS/Hachimura/Allen

go after Lauri the LAKERS
Old Mike Lorenzo
Mavrelous
Forum Mod - Mavericks
Forum Mod - Mavericks
Posts: 19,325
And1: 17,123
Joined: Aug 20, 2020

Re: LeBron to Cavs 

Post#14 » by Mavrelous » Wed May 7, 2025 6:29 am

UTA sends: #21 + Cavs 27+29 + Cavs swaps + LAL 1st + John Collins + Sexton + Hendricks
UTA receives: Garland + Okoro
UTA trade for PGOF to go with Lauri and Kessler while keeping their own picks and the valuable Suns 1st.
They need to work the terms of the deal with the Suns and Hawks, maybe LAL.1st to Hawks for the swaps with CLE.

Cavs send: Garland + Hunter + Okoro
Cavs get: LeBron + Hendricks + all their picks back + LAL 1st
Cavs restore all their draft capital, and get an extra future 1st, drop below 2nd Apron and of course, get LeBron.

Lakers send: LeBron + Kleber + Vando
Lakers get: Collins + Sexton + Hunter
Lakers trade LeBron for usable depth, maybe flip Collins to BK for Claxton.

WAS: take Kleber and Vando into exception for #21(or Cavs 26 1st)
Defense wins draft lotteries!
User avatar
zimpy27
Forum Mod
Forum Mod
Posts: 45,405
And1: 43,528
Joined: Jul 13, 2014

Re: LeBron to Cavs 

Post#15 » by zimpy27 » Wed May 7, 2025 10:25 am

Lakers get Garland+Allen

Cavs get LeBron+Reaves

3rd team gets Hunter


Could this framework work?
"Let's play some basketball!" - Fergie
DowJones
RealGM
Posts: 16,396
And1: 7,500
Joined: Feb 22, 2008

Re: LeBron to Cavs 

Post#16 » by DowJones » Wed May 7, 2025 11:13 am

There is no trade to be had here. If LeBron wants to come to Cleveland, he can opt-out of LA and sign as a free agent.
DowJones
RealGM
Posts: 16,396
And1: 7,500
Joined: Feb 22, 2008

Re: LeBron to Cavs 

Post#17 » by DowJones » Wed May 7, 2025 11:19 am

zimpy27 wrote:Lakers get Garland+Allen

Cavs get LeBron+Reaves

3rd team gets Hunter


Could this framework work?


This is really, really bad for Cleveland. Garland is a 25 year old All-Star PG. You don’t trade that for a 41 year old that has a year or two left. Adding the Hunter/Allen for Reaves part makes it worse. Allen is a fantastic center, but more to the point, I wouldn’t trade Hunter for Reaves straight up. Hunter has been perfect for Cleveland.
User avatar
Scoot McGroot
Retired Mod
Retired Mod
Posts: 44,723
And1: 13,972
Joined: Feb 16, 2005
     

Re: LeBron to Cavs 

Post#18 » by Scoot McGroot » Wed May 7, 2025 1:49 pm

zimpy27 wrote:Lakers get Garland+Allen

Cavs get LeBron+Reaves

3rd team gets Hunter


Could this framework work?


Cleveland would likely have to cut a bit more salary to make it work legally. They'd have a little less than $10m to fill 5 required roster spots. It's doable, but it's definitely not a "championship type doable".
jbk1234
Retired Mod
Retired Mod
Posts: 58,754
And1: 35,838
Joined: Dec 22, 2010
 

Re: LeBron to Cavs 

Post#19 » by jbk1234 » Wed May 7, 2025 3:03 pm

We clearly and badly miss Garland this series. I guess I'd be curious as to why the lesson to take away from that is we should trade him.
cbosh4mvp wrote:
Jarret Allen isn’t winning you anything. Garland won’t show up in the playoffs. Mobley is a glorified dunk man. Mitchell has some experience but is a liability on defense. To me, the Cavs are a treadmill team.
DowJones
RealGM
Posts: 16,396
And1: 7,500
Joined: Feb 22, 2008

Re: LeBron to Cavs 

Post#20 » by DowJones » Wed May 7, 2025 4:21 pm

jbk1234 wrote:We clearly and badly miss Garland this series. I guess I'd be curious as to why the lesson to take away from that is we should trade him.


Trading Garland is certainly on the table for me, but you need much more than a 41 year old. Garland is a 25 year old all-star PG. Cleveland would need substantial value to move him.

Return to Trades and Transactions