LeBron James says goodbye to Lakers, and Cavaliers among teams hoping to land him

LeBron James informed the Los Angeles Lakers he was moving on. His next move could ignite a major celebration in Northeast Ohio or cause more anguish for the hometown fanbase. The four-time NBA champion is an unrestricted free agent and plans on coming back for a 24th season in the league. Even though the majority of the teams in the league would welcome him on their roster, there are three teams in the forefront for his services. The Cavaliers want him back for a third stint with the team. Even though he'll be 42 years old in December, he could be the perfect fit in Cleveland. Adding him to the core four would give the Cavs one of the most talented starting lineups in the NBA and a legitimate championship contender. Cleveland advanced to the Eastern Conference finals in May before being embarrassed by the New York Knicks. Does anyone think the Cavs would have gotten swept if James was on the roster? Besides Cleveland, Golden State and Miami appear to be the other teams with the best chances to sign the 22-time All-Star. The Warriors are going all out to add James to the nucleus of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. In South Beach, the Heat would love to pair James with newly acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo. In either scenario, the four-time MVP would probably fit in seamlessly. However, coming home to Cleveland would seem like the perfect ending to his stellar NBA career. If it comes down to money, the Cavs might be left at the altar. Other teams can offer more than Cleveland, still in the second apron of the luxury tax. It is trying to make moves behind the scenes to carve out more money. The Cavs are rumored to be shopping Max Strus and Dennis Schroder on the trade market. James, who was in town last weekend and played a lot of golf, has more money than he'll ever be able to spend and made $52.6 million last season with the Lakers. He's not likely to play for the league minimum ($3.6 million) or even the midlevel exception ($5.7 million). Not only would a return be nostalgic, James checks all the boxes for the Cavs. They need a legitimate small forward. They need another 20-point scorer. They desperately need leadership and playoff experience. James has appeared in the NBA Finals 10 times and won four titles (one in Cleveland, one in L.A. and two in Miami). He started his career with the Cavs. It would be fitting for him to end it with them. He owns a home in nearby Fairlawn and still refers to Akron as his home. His return would touch off a holiday weekend to remember. It was exciting when the Cavs drafted him No. 1 in 2003. When he returned in 2014, it was exhilarating. It would be hard to describe what a third go-round would be like. James isn't the same player he once was, but he's still a star who could push Cleveland over the top in the 2026-27 season. Cpntact Bob Finnan at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.