The Cleveland Cavaliers and James Harden are reportedly working together to make a compelling offer for LeBron James in free agency. According to the latest rumors from The Athletic’s Joe Vardon, the Cavaliers could trade Max Strus or Dennis Schroder to make a $15 million annual offer possible for James.
“Cleveland has one or two roster moves to make to be able to pay James $15 million next season instead — unloading Max Strus and Dennis Schröder — but hasn’t done either yet. I am told they, like other teams pursuing James, are in a holding pattern,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Harden has apparently delayed signing an extension as he and the Cavaliers wait to see if they need flexibility to sign James or another free agent. Harden has agreed to a framework with the Cavaliers, giving him a certain amount over two years, or three, if James chooses to return for a third stint.
“James Harden remains unsigned. The two sides have agreed to the framework and dollar amount of a new contract and are waiting to see if they need the flexibility to sign LeBron (or another free agent) first, which means Harden’s salary would be spread out over three seasons instead of two,” Vardon wrote on Tuesday.
If the money gets distributed over three years, it reduces Harden’s paycheck for next season and contributes to opening up a nontaxpayer midlevel exception for the Cavaliers worth $15 million.
Cleveland already holds a plausible advantage in the James sweepstakes with the lure of a fairytale ending to his career. Moreover, while Los Angeles has been his home for eight years, James has spent time in Ohio during the offseason since his 2018 move to the Lakers.
A chance to be at home away from his home is also enticing, and if the Cavaliers manage to create a $15 million exception, it only incentivizes James to join them.
Cavaliers Make LeBron James A Priority: Rumors
The Cavaliers are apparently going all in on LeBron James this offseason. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Cleveland’s franchise star Donovan Mitchell is embracing James’ return after signing a four-year, $273 million max extension with the team.
“LeBron James is the first priority for the Cavaliers and Donovan Mitchell is fully on board with that and upgrading the Cavs roster overall after they made a run to the Eastern Conference Finals,” Charania reported on NBA Today.
The Cavaliers reached the conference finals for the first time since 1993 in the non-LeBron James years in the 2026 NBA playoffs. However, the eventual champions, the New York Knicks, swept them. Cleveland needed more from players other than Donovan Mitchell in that series loss.
While LeBron James will turn 42 next year, there’s optimism that he can still be a decisive player, especially after leading the Lakers to a playoff series win against the youthful Houston Rockets in the first round last season in the absence of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves (who played the last two games in which Los Angeles was 1-1).
Read more:
- NBA Analyst Predicts Lakers Will Contend For No. 1 Offensive Ranking After Signing Steph Curry’s Ex-Teammate
- LeBron James Reunion With Cavaliers Suddenly Looks More Real Than Ever After Latest Insider Update
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