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There seems to be an increasingly likely scenario in which LeBron James will head back to the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer. James, of course, spent his first seven NBA seasons with them, and after leaving to join the Miami Heat in 2010, he returned in 2014 and brought them their first world championship in 2016.
His contract with the Los Angeles Lakers will expire at the end of this season. While a recent ESPN report indicated that the franchise would welcome him back for next season, making the math work in terms of a new contract will be difficult, and James may feel that another team would give him a better chance of winning his fifth championship.
Brian Windhorst, who has covered James since the superstar was in high school, said on ESPN Cleveland radio that it is almost a certainty that the NBA's all-time leading career scorer will return to the Cavaliers this summer — but with a huge caveat.
According to spotrac.com, the Cavs are currently over the second apron of the salary cap, and as of now, they will be just $870,242 beneath it once the new league year starts. It's hard to imagine James, who will make a total of $52.6 million this season and has never made less than $4 million during any single NBA season, accepting the veteran's minimum salary or even the taxpayer mid-level exception.
However, he is virtually his own brand and conglomerate, which means he can practically print his own money by getting involved in ventures off the court. Plus, there is the sentimental factor of ending his storied career where it all began and playing near his hometown of Akron, Ohio, and that could be hard for him to pass up.
In the end, no one can be sure what James will do until he officially announces his plan for the 2026-27 season or that he will be retiring this offseason.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Brian Windhorst on chances of LeBron James returning to Cavaliers
Continue reading...
His contract with the Los Angeles Lakers will expire at the end of this season. While a recent ESPN report indicated that the franchise would welcome him back for next season, making the math work in terms of a new contract will be difficult, and James may feel that another team would give him a better chance of winning his fifth championship.
Brian Windhorst, who has covered James since the superstar was in high school, said on ESPN Cleveland radio that it is almost a certainty that the NBA's all-time leading career scorer will return to the Cavaliers this summer — but with a huge caveat.
According to spotrac.com, the Cavs are currently over the second apron of the salary cap, and as of now, they will be just $870,242 beneath it once the new league year starts. It's hard to imagine James, who will make a total of $52.6 million this season and has never made less than $4 million during any single NBA season, accepting the veteran's minimum salary or even the taxpayer mid-level exception.
However, he is virtually his own brand and conglomerate, which means he can practically print his own money by getting involved in ventures off the court. Plus, there is the sentimental factor of ending his storied career where it all began and playing near his hometown of Akron, Ohio, and that could be hard for him to pass up.
In the end, no one can be sure what James will do until he officially announces his plan for the 2026-27 season or that he will be retiring this offseason.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Brian Windhorst on chances of LeBron James returning to Cavaliers
Continue reading...
