If James wants to continue his playing career, it is very possible that he does so somewhere other than the Lakers and many believe a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers is the most likely scenario.

It makes sense as LeBron is the greatest player in Cavaliers history, spending 11 seasons with the franchise and bringing them their lone NBA Championship back in 2016. A return there would also allow him to join a group of players led by All-Star Donovan Mitchell, point guard James Harden and big man Evan Mobley that isn’t far from championship contention.

Of course, the players themselves hear these rumors as well and Mitchell was asked about the possibility of teaming with LeBron on the Cavaliers in an appearance on Sirius XM NBA Radio. While Mitchell made it clear that his focus is on this season and trying to win now, he admitted that it would be special to be a teammate of James:

“As a Bron fan, to be able to be a teammate, that would obviously be special, but that’s not something in my control. I control what we got here. There’s always going to be reports, that’s natural, it’s gonna be a thing. At the end of the day, to your point, my main focus right now is trying to get this championship. And whatever happens, it happens. Like, that’s not up to me, that’s not up to anybody else in the locker room. So I’m big on believing what I can control. But yeah, it’s LeBron James, right?”

As Mitchell said, growing up as a LeBron fan, it would obviously be great to become his teammate and his addition could possibly get the Cavaliers over the hump as a title contender. A return home for James would be a fitting end to his career so it is understandable why many are looking at this as a real possibility.

Whether or not he even plays next season is unknown as LeBron could always choose to retire after this year. But if he does suit up for a 24th NBA season, and it isn’t with the Lakers, it feels more and more likely that a return to the franchise where he began his career is in the cards.

Lakers would welcome LeBron James back next season

Just because LeBron James is a free agent this offseason doesn’t mean the Lakers want him to leave. On the contrary, the franchise would reportedly welcome James back if he wants to continue playing next year.

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Despite missing 14 games to start this season and some rust after returning, the 41-year-old is still playing at an All-Star level and can clearly still provide to winning basketball.

Despite that, general manager Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office have shown signs of a willingness to let James go, whether that be signing elsewhere or hanging it up.

With that uncertainty looming over Los Angeles, teams are taking notice and preparing to possibly make a run at the four-time champion. Obviously, the Cleveland Cavaliers are at the top of that list with Donovan Mitchell and newly acquired James Harden rumored to be preparing a recruitment for the Ohio native, Kendrick Perkins reported on the Road Trippin’ Show:

“My sources told me that Donovan Mitchell and James Harden already are starting the push to go and recruit LeBron James this offseason. I’m just telling you, my sources told me as soon as James Harden got on the phone or got around the team, the initial was we’re about to make this run, go all out, but we want LeBron James.”

Seeing how the trade deadline panned out for the Cavaliers, they shortened their championship window by acquiring an older player in Harden in exchange for Darius Garland. However, they improved their chances of winning in the present and clearly want to bring a second title to Cleveland.

Objectively speaking, it makes sense as to why James would return back to Cleveland for a third and final stint. Closing out a historic career where it all started is a storybook ending and that could be weighing on his mind as well.

Signs are pointing to the Cavaliaers making a considerable push for James and a departure for L.A. looks to be on the table, although a lot can change between now and the summer.

LeBron James & organization ready to part ways this summer

James is in his eighth season with the Lakers and the end appears to be near.According to recent reports, L.A. is ready to move on to shift their focus on building around Luka Doncic and James shares a mutual feeling of parting ways this offseason.

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There were also rumors that the Lakers had interest in Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis. It was clear the Kings were going to move on from him, as he had league-wide interest despite the franchise believing he wasn’t worthy of consistent playing time. Both of those rumors suggested that the Lakers knew they needed defensive-minded perimeter players who could at least somewhat regularly hit shots from deep.

Both of those connections went by the wayside on Saturday night, however, when it was reported that the Cavaliers and Kings agreed to a trade swapping the two players, via Shams Charania of ESPN:

BREAKING: The Cleveland Cavaliers are trading De'Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, sources tell ESPN. The three-team deal includes the Chicago Bulls acquiring Kings forward Dario Saric and two future second-round picks. pic.twitter.com/Hoc6bP0hhj

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 1, 2026

The Cavaliers reportedly wanted Rui Hachimura from the Lakers in any Hunter deal, in part due to his expiring contract and Cleveland’s hopes of getting under the second apron. They instead get away from Hunter’s multi-year deal for a cheaper one in Dennis Schroder, as well as the expiring Ellis. The trade saves them about $7 million this year and upwards of $10 million next year.

Schroder and Ellis also arguably make them better than Hunter did. While Hunter provided a need on the wing, having guards who can defend could massively help as they try to make a run in the weak Eastern Conference this season.

Regardless, neither Ellis nor Hunter are available targets for the Lakers, further increasing the likelihood that the purple and gold stand pat at this week’s deadline.

Lakers’ interest in De’Andre Hunter was overstated

It’s possible, though, that the Lakers never had any real plans to go after Hunter when he was on the Cavaliers. Reports state that L.A.’s interest in him may have been overstated. We’ll never know for sure now, given that Hunter is off the board.

If the Lakers are going to make a move to add defense to their roster, it likely won’t be with the Kings or Cavs.

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Perhaps the player they have been linked to most is De’Andre Hunter of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who could help fill their need for a 3-and-D wing even though he is having a bit of a down year.

According to recent reports, the Lakers and Cavaliers have discussed the general framework of a Hunter trade that would include Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht and a third team.

When names are being mentioned, that usually means the trade is close to completion, but that doesn’t appear to be the case with this one. According to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, the Lakers’ interest in Hunter is believed to be overstated:

League sources say that the Lakers’ interest in Hunter, meanwhile, has been repeatedly overstated this week. The teams have certainly talked during this transaction cycle, but the purple and gold are reticent to jeopardize their upcoming financial flexibility in the offseason by absorbing Hunter’s $24.9 million salary for next season.

As stated, Hunter is under contract at $24.9 million next season and the Lakers are believed to be prioritizing financial flexibility and cap space to try to lure another star to play with Luka Doncic.

With that being the case, the Lakers likely wouldn’t give up anything of significance for Hunter, who is averaging 14.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 42.3% from the field and 30.8% from 3-point range in 43 games (23 starts) this season.

Things can always change between now and the deadline, especially if the Cavaliers lower their asking price, but it makes sense for the Lakers to look elsewhere for upgrades as swapping out Hachimura for Hunter isn’t much of an improvement.

Lakers a ‘team of interest’ in potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade

One major move Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office could be exploring is a potential trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo as they are reportedly a team of interest in a deal for the Milwaukee Bucks superstar.

The team doesn’t have the assets to make a deal happen now, but if Antetokounmpo stays put until the summer, some more options will open up if L.A. wants to make a run at the two-time MVP.

A potential move like that is likely why the Lakers are hesitant to give up anything of substance for Hunter at the deadline.

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It’s no secret they can use a 3-and-D wing, and one name who could fit that billing, in theory, is De’Andre Hunter of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Hunter just had a good game against the Lakers this week and is reportedly among the players they are targeting in trade talks.

To take it a step further, Chris Fedor reported on the “Wine and Gold Talk” podcast that the Lakers and Cavaliers have discussed the framework of a Hunter trade involving Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht and a third team:

“I just want to say from people that I’ve talked to, my sources tell me that a general framework has been discussed between the Cavs and the Lakers and a third team. It’s hard because the Lakers are right below the apron. Like $900,000 below the apron, but they are a tax team. So there are some restrictions that they have, and we all know the complications for the Cavs when it comes to trades, they can’t aggregate salaries, they only have one really first-round draft pick that they can trade, they have to be right on the number in terms of salary-matching purposes. But my sources tell me that the Cavs and the Lakers have discussed a general framework surrounding De’Andre Hunter of Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht, and then bringing in a third team.”

Hunter is on the trade block because he is having a bit of a down year for the Cavaliers, averaging 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 26.2 minutes per game off the bench while shooting 42.2% from the field and 30.9% from 3-point range. Those percentages are significantly lower than his career numbers of 44.8% and 36.5%.

If the Lakers were to trade for Hunter then they would be betting that he could shoot closer to his career numbers while providing some perimeter defense. Reports have indicated that the Lakers are looking to maintain their future cap space going into the summer though, and Hunter would make that difficult as he has one more year remaining on his deal after this one at $24.9 million.

Lakers open to trading both Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht?

As stated in the report, it would probably have to be a three-team deal to make the money work, but Hachimura and Knecht would likely be the players departing L.A.

According to recent reports, the Lakers would be open to trading both Hachimura and Knecht with the latter needing a change of scenery to get his career back on track.

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