​With LeBron James still undecided about which team he will suit up for in the upcoming NBA season, there are circulating rumors that a couple of organizations he’s linked to are weighing strategies to woo him to their rotation. The Golden State Warriors have reportedly shown interest in pursuing a trade for Anthony Davis, who was once James’ fellow superstar on the Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers—the franchise where James began his career—are said to be keeping a roster spot available for Bronny, his son, signaling possible long-term plans that could accommodate the family’s basketball legacy in Northeast Ohio.
Amid these open discussions, there is growing chatter that James might be headed back to Cleveland, with pundits framing the situation as a matter of when, not if, an official announcement will follow. Should the Cavaliers decide to entertain this notion, one proposed path from Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz involves a bold three-team deal that would bring Kyrie Irving back to Cleveland and potentially reunite two of James’ past All-Star teammates on a championship-contending roster.
In Swartz’s envisioned trade, Cleveland would acquire veteran center Jarrett Allen’s backcourt partner in this scenario as well as forward Naji Marshall from the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks, in turn, would take possession of center Jarrett Allen and guard Dennis Schröder from Cleveland, while the Miami Heat would receive James Harden from Cleveland. In exchange, Cleveland would send Nikola Jovic and Davion Mitchell to Dallas, forming a complex web of player movements that could realign the star power around LeBron if he returns to Ohio.
To understand the chessboard, it helps to recall James’ return to Cleveland in 2014, a homecoming that immediately aligned him with Irving, who was then entering his fourth professional season. The pairing propelled the Cavaliers to their first NBA championship in 2016, a feat that secured James’ enduring legacy in the franchise. However, Irving’s tenure in Cleveland was short-lived after he forced a trade the following year, breaking the on-court tandem that had delivered a title.
Fast forward to today, and Irving is 34 years old. He did not play at all during the previous season after suffering a torn ACL in March 2025. The prevailing expectation is that Irving will reclaim star-level form once he returns to action, though there has been ongoing speculation about a potential move by the Mavericks, even if such a deal currently appears unlikely.
This narrative originated from LeBron Wire, which covered the possibility of a mock trade that could reunite LeBron James with Kyrie Irving on the Cavaliers—an arrangement that would certainly captivate fans and analysts alike as the NBA landscape continues to shift ahead of the new season.