LeBron back to Cleveland?

Upperclass · Post #1 » by **Upperclass** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 3:28 pm

Possibly/Likely Brons last year in the league.. Would he want his retirement tour in a Laker jersey?
Weak East next season
Cleveland is loaded on paper, last season #1
Luka randomly made it to LA and doesnt fit with Bron..

What would a trade look like between the 2 Teams? There seem to be easily matchable salaries.

JJ_PR · Post #2 » by **JJ_PR** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 3:31 pm

I wouldn't trade anything for LeBron. He could have come back without gutting our roster. He exercised his player option; he can stay in Los Angeles.

basketballRob · Post #3 » by **basketballRob** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 3:32 pm

It's not possible because the Cavs can't combine contracts to trade for him because they are over the second apron.

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KazuoOda · Post #4 » by **KazuoOda** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 3:32 pm

A trade is near impossible due to the CBA rules.
Lebron is staying in LA.

SkyBill40 · Post #5 » by **SkyBill40** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 3:34 pm

Why would the Cavs want James? He's spurned them twice and I don't think a third go round is in their best interest even if for the novelty of it. He'd be hugely disruptive and would cost them solid players who helped contribute.

Kid from Akron made his bed. Time to lie in it and go to sleep.

The Master · Post #6 » by **The Master** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 3:38 pm

It's just putting additional pressure from LeBron on the FO to actually make some moves, he won't leave LA.

And he'll be 41 on December, I don't think Lakers would've accepted Rockets offer for KD because their salary would be stuck - and I don't think they would've gotten much more.

AddiFB · Post #7 » by **AddiFB** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 3:40 pm

I don't think they can trade for him as they are above the second apron. If they could, they'd have to send out a lot of players or bigger contracts of important pieces to their current core... for a one year rental and a retirement parade? Guy left them twice, he made his decision not once but twice.

The4thHorseman · Post #8 » by **The4thHorseman** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 3:49 pm

ZERO chance

JujitsuFlip · Post #9 » by **JujitsuFlip** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 3:49 pm

There is not really a legal trade avenue under the current CBA

ropjhk · Post #10 » by **ropjhk** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 3:58 pm

This question was brought up in another thread. Cavs fans pointed out that a trade to Cleveland would be nearly impossible. It wouldn't make sense for the Cavs to even try.

God Squad · Post #11 » by **God Squad** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 3:59 pm

Let the Lakers deal with this circus. Cleveland has a good thing going right now.

Onlytimewilltel · Post #12 » by **Onlytimewilltel** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 3:59 pm

JJ_PR wrote:I wouldn't trade anything for LeBron. He could have come back without gutting our roster. He exercised his player option; he can stay in Los Angeles.

Exactly. If he really wanted to go to Cleveland for a final farewell and have a good chance to win a title he could have simply opted out and signed there for the vet minimum as a free agent. But since he's greedy as ef he would never allow himself to do that. Hence, "only" 4 rings :lol:

Wolveswin · Post #13 » by **Wolveswin** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 4:06 pm

Third team would be needed to take on some salary to make CBA legal.

Wingy · Post #14 » by **Wingy** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 4:07 pm

Lebron for KAT is probably one of the only trades out there that would work and might make some small, tiny modicum of sense.

Luka gets a younger running mate. LA would still desperately need 3/D players all around them.

NY gets a pretty compelling playoff starting lineup, at least for the East. I have more faith in old man Lebron being able to turn the defense on for moments, and obviously he dwarfs KAT in b-ball IQ. Would need depth behind Robinson though given his very checkered lack of health history. Knicks need more depth in general no matter what they do.

Iwasawitness · Post #15 » by **Iwasawitness** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 4:16 pm

Onlytimewilltel wrote:
JJ_PR wrote:I wouldn't trade anything for LeBron. He could have come back without gutting our roster. He exercised his player option; he can stay in Los Angeles.

Exactly. If he really wanted to go to Cleveland for a final farewell and have a good chance to win a title he could have simply opted out and signed there for the vet minimum as a free agent. But since he's greedy as ef he would never allow himself to do that. Hence, "only" 4 rings

Can we even sign vet minimums at this point? I'm still not 100% sure on how the second apron works.

Onlytimewilltel · Post #16 » by **Onlytimewilltel** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 4:23 pm

Iwasawitness wrote:
Onlytimewilltel wrote:
JJ_PR wrote:I wouldn't trade anything for LeBron. He could have come back without gutting our roster. He exercised his player option; he can stay in Los Angeles.

Exactly. If he really wanted to go to Cleveland for a final farewell and have a good chance to win a title he could have simply opted out and signed there for the vet minimum as a free agent. But since he's greedy as ef he would never allow himself to do that. Hence, "only" 4 rings

Can we even sign vet minimums at this point? I'm still not 100% sure on how the second apron works.

Yes, you can still sign vet min players even when in 2nd Apron. Not that it matters since LeBron is too greedy for something like that :lol:

Wolveswin · Post #17 » by **Wolveswin** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 4:23 pm

To Cavs: James/Lakers 1st/Pelicans 1sts

To Pelicans: Garland/Wade

To Lakers: Allen/Murray/Pels Filler

Interesting for all 3 teams.

Cavs get James retirement tour - and should be improved playoff performing team. Plus restock the cupboard so when James retires begin re-build around Mobley most likely.
Mobley
James
Hunter
Strus/Mitchell
Mitchell/Ball

Pelicans get a PG - one last time seeing if Zion with a PG can do anything before fully busted.

Lakers keep Luka happy enough in short term with Allen and Murray (when healthy). But play for the future when they can promise full capspace for a star.

JujitsuFlip · Post #18 » by **JujitsuFlip** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 4:39 pm

Wolveswin wrote:To Cavs: James/Lakers 1st/Pelicans 1sts

To Pelicans: Garland/Wade

To Lakers: Allen/Murray/Pels Filler

Interesting for all 3 teams.

Cavs get James retirement tour - and should be improved playoff performing team. Plus restock the cupboard so when James retires begin re-build around Mobley most likely.
Mobley
James
Hunter
Strus/Mitchell
Mitchell/Ball

Pelicans get a PG - one last time seeing if Zion with a PG can do anything before fully busted.

Lakers keep Luka happy enough in short term with Allen and Murray (when healthy). But play for the future when they can promise full capspace for a star.

Not a legal trade.

KazuoOda · Post #19 » by **KazuoOda** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 4:45 pm

JujitsuFlip wrote:
Wolveswin wrote:To Cavs: James/Lakers 1st/Pelicans 1sts

To Pelicans: Garland/Wade

To Lakers: Allen/Murray/Pels Filler

Interesting for all 3 teams.

Cavs get James retirement tour - and should be improved playoff performing team. Plus restock the cupboard so when James retires begin re-build around Mobley most likely.
Mobley
James
Hunter
Strus/Mitchell
Mitchell/Ball

Pelicans get a PG - one last time seeing if Zion with a PG can do anything before fully busted.

Lakers keep Luka happy enough in short term with Allen and Murray (when healthy). But play for the future when they can promise full capspace for a star.
Not a legal trade.

Even if it was legal, Garland and Allen are worth more than 2 first round picks each and Lebron doesn't offset that value.

Makes absolutely 0 sense for Cavs to move off their youth for 2 late firsts.

Plutonashfan · Post #20 » by **Plutonashfan** » Mon Jun 30, 2025 4:47 pm

JJ_PR wrote:I wouldn't trade anything for LeBron. He could have come back without gutting our roster. He exercised his player option; he can stay in Los Angeles.

Same. We could have signed him outright two seasons ago. He choose his bed.