Cleveland Cavaliers Not Interested in Trading for Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James

According to NBA insider Sam Amico of HoopsWire, the Cleveland Cavaliers are not interested in trading for Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.

The Cavaliers are only interested in adding James if the NBA icon agrees to a buyout with the Lakers and becomes an unrestricted free agent.

A four-time MVP, James was at the Cavaliers’ practice facility last weekend. He was in town for July 4th weekend and worked out at the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center, causing speculation that James and Cleveland were going to reunite again.

However, Cleveland can’t feasibly trade for James since the four-time Finals MVP will make too much money ($52.6 million) next season. 

James is still a dominant offensive player despite being the oldest guy in the NBA. He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists last season for the Lakers while shooting 51.3% from the field, 37.6% from beyond the arc and 78.2% from the free-throw line and made the All-NBA Second Team.

The Lakers and James are not on the same page right now. Los Angeles wants to build for the future with Luka Doncic, while James wants to compete for a championship next season since he’s 40 years old and turns 41 in December.

The Cavaliers were the first seed in the Eastern Conference last season. However, they lost to the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the playoffs in five games. Cleveland hasn’t advanced past the second round of the postseason since acquiring Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz in 2022.

If James and the Lakers agree to a buyout, the Cavaliers will pursue the leading scorer in NBA history. However, there will be no trade between Cleveland and Los Angeles.

James signed with the Lakers in 2018 after playing for the Cavaliers from 2014-15 to 2017-18. Los Angeles won the 2020 championship against the Miami Heat at the Walt Disney World bubble.

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