Report: Cavaliers could target LeBron James in 2026 

The Cleveland Cavaliers had the best record in the Eastern Conference last season at 64-18. Despite this, Cleveland fell in the second round to the Indiana Pacers.

Related: Does LeBron James feel slighted by the Lakers with Luka Doncic?

There have been rumors of LeBron James returning to Cleveland for a third time. The Cavaliers, however, quickly shut that down, claiming that they don’t need him.

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That was the initial report. Now, an anonymous NBA executive claims Cleveland may be very interested in a reunion with King James.

“Next season is a big year for Cleveland,” the NBA executive said. “Tyrese [Haliburton] is out. Jayson [Tatum] is most likely out. The East is wide open. It’s there for the Cavaliers to take. They should win the conference next season. There’s no excuse. And once you get to the Finals, anything can happen. I actually think they match up really well against OKC.

“I’ll tell you this right now: If the Cavaliers don’t win it all next season, I can see them going hard after LeBron. Everyone knows Dan [Gilbert] wants to win a title without him, but if they can’t win the championship next season, adding LeBron to that group would be a cheat code. I know he’ll be 42, but it’s LeBron. He will always be an elite force.”

This is a bold claim, but it appears to be unlikely. Unless the Cavs can get LeBron for cheap, I don’t see them forking out a lot of money for someone who will be 42 years old in the 2026-27 season.

Stranger things have happened, however.

About the Author Published Aug 9, 2025

TITAN FREY

Titan Frey is a dedicated father to three wonderful children, whom he takes immense pride in. His passions include reading, writing, basketball, both playing and watching, and playing chess. Titan spent five years working as a journalist for the basketball website fadeawayworld.net, where he served as editor-in-chief for four and a half years. One of his most notable achievements was interviewing Chuck Cooper III, the son of Chuck Cooper, the first African American ever drafted by an NBA team, and writing a biography that has been praised as the most definitive article about Cooper’s legacy. Titan is the author of more than ten novels and the screenwriter of three produced short films. His newest young adult novel, Echoes of the Hardwood: Braxton Foxworthy’s Time‑Travelling Book Report, blends basketball history with heartfelt storytelling and is now available. Order here: https://a.co/d/bo7BYz1