The Cleveland Cavaliers had their best season without LeBron James this year. At 64-18, it was the second-best season ever in franchise history. The Cavs won the Central Division for the first time since 2017-18 and had the Eastern Conference’s best record for the first time since 2009-10.
Unfortunately, their 2024-25 season ended in a second-round exit. And just like that, they are back to the drawing board. A good thing for team owner Dan Gilbert, though, is that he has the reigning NBA Coach of the Year in Kenny Atkinson. He also has the current NBA Defensive Player of the Year in Evan Mobley. Looking at their roster, they have elite players at all positions, except the small forward. So if there’s an area for an upgrade this summer, it’s the SF position.
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Fox Sports’ Nick Wright has a suggestion for the Cavs: LeBron. Wright went on to compare James to the Cavs’ best option at that spot right now: Max Strus, referencing how Strus took a page out of the book of “King James” and failed epically.
“Their starting small forward, much like their previous starting small forward when they were down 3-1, sent a group text along the lines of ‘If you don’t think we can do it, don’t get on the plane,'” said Wright. “Now, the previous small forward responded to that himself by having the greatest three-game stretch in the history of the league. This small forward responded to it by going 0-9 and scoring zero points. Sorry, Max Strus, it is what it is…which I say this: ‘Just go home, Bron.'”
LeBron can still make things happen with the right supporting cast
Wright went on to say that current Cavaliers superstar Donovan Mitchell has made it to the playoffs in each of his first eight seasons in the league. However, “Spida” has never led his team past the second round of the playoffs. Meanwhile, Nick also mentioned that the Cavs have never gotten past round two without LeBron.
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Although James is turning 41 and will be entering his Year 23 season next campaign, the FS1 analyst says he is still an All-NBA caliber player who, if paired with All-Stars like Mitchell and Darius Garland and given a supporting cast as formidable as what the Cavs have, can still make things happen. The only hitch about Bron is that there may only be one way to get him back to the “Land.”
“It can only happen if Bron is willing to play for close to nothing,” admitted Wright. “It would really be just him being like, ‘ You know what, I did my job in L.A. I brought them a championship and helped them get the player that they can use to get the next generation of Lakers basketball.’ And I think, as great as Luka is, I think Bron has a better chance of winning a championship playing with the Cavs.”
Better chance to win a title in Cleveland?
James has a $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 campaign, but he is expected to turn it down so he can sign a longer, two-year contract and extend his tenure in the league further. It’s unclear, however, if LeBron is willing to give up a lot of money.
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That may be unlikely but if somehow LBJ did, and chose to leave Los Angeles to finish his career in Cleveland on a pro-bono contract, it would be a game changer in the East because its two biggest stars — Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum may not be playing next season as “The Greek Freak” could be on the move, possibly to the West, and JT out due to injury.
Wright added that if LeBron wanted to win another championship, the path in the East would be easier than in the West. He also believes that Cleveland’s current roster is better than the L.A. squad around him and Luka Doncic. And although the Lakers will most certainly upgrade this summer, they certainly have more holes to fill. And what if Nico was correct that “Luka Magic” can’t lead a team to an NBA title with his style of play?