All eyes are on Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James this summer as he is currently on an expiring contract and has the ability to hit free agency for the first time in almost a decade. No concrete answers have been provided on whether James will want to continue play at least one more season, which would be his 24th, but he definitely still has the ability to if he wants.
Despite missing 14 games to start this season and some rust after returning, the 41-year-old is still playing at an All-Star level and can clearly still provide to winning basketball.
Despite that, general manager Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office have shown signs of a willingness to let James go, whether that be signing elsewhere or hanging it up.
With that uncertainty looming over Los Angeles, teams are taking notice and preparing to possibly make a run at the four-time champion. Obviously, the Cleveland Cavaliers are at the top of that list with Donovan Mitchell and newly acquired James Harden rumored to be preparing a recruitment for the Ohio native, Kendrick Perkins reported on the Road Trippin’ Show:
“My sources told me that Donovan Mitchell and James Harden already are starting the push to go and recruit LeBron James this offseason. I’m just telling you, my sources told me as soon as James Harden got on the phone or got around the team, the initial was we’re about to make this run, go all out, but we want LeBron James.”
Seeing how the trade deadline panned out for the Cavaliers, they shortened their championship window by acquiring an older player in Harden in exchange for Darius Garland. However, they improved their chances of winning in the present and clearly want to bring a second title to Cleveland.
Objectively speaking, it makes sense as to why James would return back to Cleveland for a third and final stint. Closing out a historic career where it all started is a storybook ending and that could be weighing on his mind as well.
Signs are pointing to the Cavaliaers making a considerable push for James and a departure for L.A. looks to be on the table, although a lot can change between now and the summer.
LeBron James & organization ready to part ways this summer
James is in his eighth season with the Lakers and the end appears to be near.According to recent reports, L.A. is ready to move on to shift their focus on building around Luka Doncic and James shares a mutual feeling of parting ways this offseason.
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