The Cleveland Cavaliers are coming off their best non-LeBron James season since the 1990s, though their season came to an early end at the hands of the New York Knicks. However, a recent rumor suggests that the Cavs may have a secret weapon to lure the best player in their franchise’s history back.
According to Fox Sports’ Nick Wright, Cavs power forward Evan Mobley’s ties to USC, the same college that LeBron’s son Bronny James just committed to, could be key to convincing LeBron to leave the Los Angeles Lakers and return to Cleveland.
Admittedly, the rumor seems far-fetched for a couple of reasons. The first is that Mobley spent just six months at USC two years ago, raising questions about how strong his ties to the school actually are. The second reason is that Bronny James is projected to be a lottery pick, while Cleveland isn’t expected to be a lottery team next season.
LeBron James could leave the Lakers after next season and Cleveland could lure him back.
That aside, LeBron has repeatedly stated that he plans on playing with his son in the NBA, and it’s all but certain that it won’t be with the Lakers, who don’t have a first-round pick next year. Therefore, he will likely leave Los Angeles after next season. That means that whoever drafts Bronny James could also land the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
At the moment, it seems unlikely that it will be the Cavaliers given where their draft pick is likely to fall, though they could be motivated to try and trade up, especially since Bronny and LeBron James appear to be a package deal. After all, Cleveland somehow acquiring Bronny James would pave the way for LeBron to return to the Cavaliers for a second time.
If that were to happen, the Cavs would add a lottery pick and a top-10 NBA player to an already talented roster. Cleveland already has three All-Stars and a rising star in Mobley. Therefore, acquiring both James’ wouldn’t just make for a great storyline; it would also make the Cavs the team to beat in the East.
All in all, LeBron has all but stated that he will leave the Lakers after next season. Additionally, his next team will likely be whichever one drafts his son. Given that Bronny is expected to be a top-10 pick, Cleveland may not be in a position to select him, but they may be able to wheel and deal to move up in the draft if it guarantees LeBron’s return.
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Author: Cal Durrett
May 14, 2023 | 9:00 am
