LeBron James Fuels Rumors About Cavs Reunion Amid Lakers Trade Talk
LeBron James has put pressure on his team's front office for much of his career, but that has rarely been the case with the Los Angeles Lakers.
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He obviously still has some level of input, but he has rarely held the front office hostage with trade or free agent demands like he has with his past teams.
The Lakers and Dallas Mavericks sent shockwaves through the league when they swapped Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis before free agency this year.
Ever since the infamous blockbuster, the 21-time All-Star's camp has been singing a much different tune.
James played a large role in the initial acquisition of Davis, the Cleveland Cavaliers trading for Kevin Love back in 2014 and now he appears to be pulling strings again.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the first half in game five of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs.Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Reporting around the league over the last few days suggests that the Lakers are much more focused on investing in their future than catering to the king.
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If that is true, then it makes much more sense why James picked up the player option on his deal which is worth $52.6 million.
His agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, put out a statement to the media earlier this week that reaffirmed his desires to compete for a championship in what could be his final NBA season.
Amid the firestorm of rumors and trade buzz, James took to his Instagram story in what some fans and media pundits believe to be a subtle hint as to where he wants to land.
The 'Welcome Home' hat could be seen as a sign that the four-time champion wants to finish out his playing career with Cleveland.
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Although James has left his hometown team high and dry multiple times, many have assumed for years that he would still finish out his career there.
The Lakers and Cavs would both need to pull off some salary cap gymnastics to put a deal together.
There aren't currently any solid reports about a trade from either side, but James ending his career in the place where it all began would be poetic.
Related: Donovan Mitchell Sends Clear Message to LeBron James About His Cavs Legacy
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
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