Judging by the Los Angeles Lakers' decision to trade for Luka Doncic in early February, it’s safe to say no move is off the table for the franchise.
Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz believes the Lakers could shake up the NBA by sending their superstar forward and four-time NBA champion back to his first NBA home: the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“The Cavs won 64 games last season before injuries derailed their chances of making it past the Indiana Pacers,” Swartz wrote Sunday. “Donovan Mitchell (three years) and Evan Mobley (five years) are both starting new max extensions and together would form one of the best Big Threes in the entire NBA with James.”
“One potential problem? Money. Since James makes more than any other Cavs player ($52.6 million), the Cavaliers cannot aggregate contracts since they are over the second apron."
"The only way for Cleveland to trade for James would be to send out enough salary to match his contract and get under the second apron, a line they are currently $18.7 million above.”
“NBA salary cap analyst Yossi Gozlan outlined what a potential trade for James would look like, one that had Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, and De'Andre Hunter all going out.”
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“A third team would need to be involved to take on salary as well. This would leave the Cavs with a core of James, Mitchell, Mobley, Max Strus, Lonzo Ball, Sam Merrill, and Dean Wade as well as prospects like Tyrese Proctor, Jaylon Tyson, and Craig Porter Jr.”
It’s no secret that James is well known for his two stints with the Cavaliers. The 6-foot-9 forward was among the league’s best players by the time he finished his seventh campaign with the Cavaliers.
However, it was evident that Cleveland didn’t have the pieces necessary to win multiple championships, compelling the 21-time All-Star to bolt for the Miami Heat in 2010.
However, when James returned to Cleveland in 2014 with a more talented supporting cast (Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, etc.), he ensured the organization got over the hump.
In an unforgettable seven-game 2016 NBA Finals series, James and the Cavaliers defeated Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors to capture their first-ever championship.
Will James end his career with the same franchise that helped jumpstart it? Perhaps, considering that a recent report mentioned four unknown teams have contacted James’ agent, Rich Paul, about a potential trade.
However, as Swartz wisely pointed out, it would be difficult for the Cavaliers to make a deal work financially without involving another team, making it unlikely.
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