It may be the Fourth of July in America, but the rumors never stop rolling when it comes to the NBA community. Amid uncertainty about his NBA future, even LeBron James has not been exempt from the rumor mill this summer, and he had to set the record straight after a photo of him at a Cavaliers practice facility began circulating on X.
Hoop Central: “LeBron at the Cavs practice facility today.”
LeBron James: “And every summer since it was built. I live here still and train every summer. Got damn yall bored man! Go get a plate of food somewhere and enjoy the 4th of July!”
Of course, this interaction comes during questionable times in Los Angeles. Since the Luka Doncic trade (which sent Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round pick to the Mavericks), LeBron James and the Lakers have been drifting apart, and now it’s gotten to a point where his voice is becoming an afterthought for the organization.
With James committed to playing at least one more season, he wants to go out as a winner, and there are doubts that the Lakers are in a position to give him that right now. Relations are at an all-time low, and it’s caused LeBron’s name to appear in all sorts of rumors and trade scenarios involving teams like the Knicks, Warriors, and even the Dallas Mavericks.
Another popular destination for LeBron is back to the Cavaliers. With Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley, they already have an elite core in place that is only missing a small forward to dominate on the wing. Even at 40 years old, LeBron can be that guy for them and complete their star-studded rotation. In 70 games for the Lakers last season, he averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game on 51.3% shooting.
It would have been an ideal scenario for everyone involved, and when fans saw that LeBron was back in Cleveland, they took it as a sign that he had made up his mind to return and play there for the first time since 2018. It also would have explained why he was caught wearing a ‘Welcome Home’ hat, which caused a lot of speculation on his future.
In reality, not only are the Cavaliers reportedly ‘not that interested” in LeBron, but the 4x champion himself has come out to debunk those claims. Using the Cavs’ practice court is a tradition for him during the offseason, when he returns to his home state to catch up with his family and prepare for the next season. That explanation makes a lot of sense, given that LeBron still lives in the area and has many of his businesses based there.
So far, LeBron has shown no outward signs of wanting a change of scenery, and that’s good news for the Lakers. After adding Deandre Ayton and re-signing Jaxson Hayes this summer, they have the pieces in place to contend for a title next season if they can just stay healthy and develop positive chemistry on the court. For now, LeBron is still committed to their cause, and that’s enough for them to feel good about their outlook for the next NBA season.
