Cavaliers Urged To Trade For Lakers’ LeBron James For Five Reasons

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been urged to trade for Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James for five reasons. 

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report outlined the five reasons in a column called “The Real Reason Cleveland Cavaliers Should Trade for LeBron James.”

“Unfortunately, no team faces a tougher challenge when trying to acquire James, who chose to pick up a $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season,” Swartz wrote. “The Cavaliers are the only NBA team above the second apron luxury-tax line, meaning they cannot combine multiple player salaries to trade for one player, in this case, James.

“The same reason the Cavs face this restriction is precisely why they should pursue a trade for the greatest player in franchise history for yet another reunion. They should trade for James, although the rationale has as much (or more) to do with off the court as it does on.”

James has played for the Cavaliers twice. He’s the greatest player in franchise history and will get his No. 23 jersey retired by the organization one day. 

Here are the five reasons why Swartz thinks the Cavaliers should trade for James:

• Cavs’ Crushing Cap Situation

• LeBron’s Contract Is Key

• The Importance of Getting Out of the Second Apron

• LeBron Improves Cavs’ Title Chances

• Fairytale Ending Exists (For LeBron and Cleveland)

James, 40, will make $52.6 million next season in the final year of his contract. He turns 41 in December and is the oldest active player in the NBA. 

A four-time MVP, James made the All-NBA Second Team and finished sixth in MVP voting last season. He’s still an elite player despite being the oldest active player in the league. 

James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists for the Lakers last season. The four-time Finals MVP shot 51.3% from the field, 37.6% from beyond the arc and 78.2% from the free-throw line. 

The Cavaliers were the No. 1 seed in the East last season. They swept the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs but lost to the Indiana Pacers in the second round in five games.

Cleveland hasn’t advanced past the conference semifinals since James left town in 2018.