One anonymous NBA executive believes LeBron James blew his chance at a perfect ending. According to Hoops Wire, the unnamed exec said James should have opted out of his $50 million deal with the Lakers this summer and returned home to Cleveland, where he could have joined forces with Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley. In the exec’s eyes, that lineup would have “walked to the NBA Finals” and set up a legendary third act for James in a Cavaliers jersey.
“I’m not gonna sit here and tell someone to say no to over $50 million, but LeBron is a billionaire, man,” the NBA exec told Hoops Wire. “He has enough money and makes enough off the court. If I were in his camp, I would have told him to decline his player option with the Lakers and sign with the Cavs. That would have been the smart play.”
James, 40, has been a Laker since 2018, but he had the opportunity this summer to chart a different course. As it stands, it looks like James will be heading back to the Lakers to finish his career, but not everyone agrees that it’s the best place to maximize his title odds.
“Do you know how dangerous Cleveland would have been? LeBron starting next to Donovan [Mitchell], Evan [Mobley], Jarrett [Allen], and Darius [Garland]? They would have walked to the NBA Finals, and it would have been a storybook ending for LeBron to finish his career in Cleveland,” said the exec. “I think he made a mistake.”
James (career averages of 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game) has a long and complicated history with the Cavaliers. First of all, he was born in Akron, Ohio, which is not far from Cleveland. Growing up a Cavs fan, his story went full circle when he was drafted by the franchise with the No. 1 overall pick in 2003.
He rose to stardom right away and was a hero in the city until his dramatic exit in 2010. He spent four years with the Heat, which was met with resentment and vitriol from the fans. Eventually, he returned to the Cavs and helped them win a title in 2016 before he left once again to sign with the Lakers.
A return to Cleveland at this stage would’ve been the ultimate storybook ending—one that also positioned him to chase another ring with Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
While the Cavs are in the second apron, James likely could have forced his way back there this summer if he really wanted, especially in a buyout scenario. Instead, LeBron missed his chance, and he may come to regret it later. Instead, LeBron may have let the perfect ending slip away, and the regret could come later.
For now, LeBron James remains in Los Angeles, still competing at an elite level as he enters his 22nd NBA season. But as the end of his career draws near, the idea of a final chapter in Cleveland—where it all began—will always linger in the minds of fans and execs alike. Whether or not James regrets staying in L.A., one thing is clear: the storybook ending was right there waiting for him.
