NBA teams fear LeBron James will end up in this landing spot

LeBron James. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

NBA teams fear LeBron will end up in this landing spot

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Jul 7, 2026 12:37 PM ET

Despite this being his 24th season, LeBron James is the biggest fish in NBA free agency — again.

At least half a dozen teams are reportedly trying to make a run at the four-time NBA champion, who informed the Los Angeles Lakers he wouldn't return.

There have been conflicting reports about James' next stop, though a return to Cleveland seems to be gaining steam.

According to ESPN insider Brian Windhorst, league sentiment is that James will return to the Cavaliers for a third glorious stint.

NBA teams think LeBron James will sign with the Cavaliers

“I’ve talked to people in Philly, and I’m like what do you think? ‘We’re afraid it’s Cleveland,’ – everybody I talked to is like ‘we’re afraid it’s Cleveland,’ – nobody seems like they have optimism,” Windhorst said on "Pardon My Take" (h/t ESPN Cleveland).

“I’ve talked to people in Philly, and I’m like what do you think? ‘We’re afraid it’s Cleveland,’ - everybody I talked to is like ‘we’re afraid it’s Cleveland,’ - nobody seems like they have optimism,” - @WindhorstESPN on the latest with LeBron James pic.twitter.com/aGcO0GiPFo
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 6, 2026

While the Cavaliers may not give James the best chance at winning another NBA championship, they're a legitimate playoff team in the Eastern Conference.

More than that, they're the team that makes the most sense for him, legacy-wise, given everything that he's accomplished for the organization.

Of course, watching him team up with Stephen Curry in the Golden State Warriors would be must-watch television, but it would also feel a bit off.

He has won everything and has done almost everything any NBA player could dream of, so returning home would be the perfect storyline to close his career.

Still, he's not expected to make a decision soon, so anything can happen until he puts pen to paper.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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