The Los Angeles Lakers are hoping to get one more title run out of superstar forward LeBron James before he calls it a career. Unfortunately for the Lakers, this season has been derailed by injuries to their key players, and the Lakers are sitting at fifth in the Western Conference standings.
The Lakers will really want to get things into gear this season, as James is set to hit free agency after this year’s campaign wraps. The rumor mill has been heating up surrounding a potential return for James to the franchise that drafted him, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Unfortunately, the Cavs may be limited in their resources, which makes things complicated in what would be legacy defining move for James.
“The Cavaliers are only able to offer LeBron James a minimum contract, per (Brian Windhorst),” reported NBA Central on Twitter/
The Cavaliers are only able to offer LeBron James a minimum contract, per @WindhorstESPN
(Via @ESPNCleveland ) pic.twitter.com/EwoVerLCMt
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 18, 2026
“Oh man, LeBron to the Cavs on a minimum deal? That’d be an incredible homecoming!” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“If he cares about getting paid at this point then his ego is crazy, “someone else added.
“Yea if thats the case LeBron isnt coming back to Cleveland. No way hes playing on a minimum,” one fan added.
It’ll be interesting to see how the situation unfolds. The Cavs added former MVP James Harden ahead of the trade deadline, so if he returns to Lake Erie, James would have a legitimate chance to win a championship.