​Cavaliers poised to outduel Warriors for disgruntled $101 million ex-Lakers four-time MVP, a spotlight piece originally featured on The Sporting News. Please add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. While ESPN’s Shams Charania did not name Golden State as a top landing spot for the unhappy former Lakers star forward—who reportedly felt slighted that his franchise did not prioritize him this offseason—that doesn’t mean the Warriors have been fully ruled out of the pursuit.
Stephen Curry recently delivered a persuasive pitch to the four-time MVP, a move that could help the Warriors rekindle momentum in their chase of the next future Hall of Famer. However, NBA legend Charles Barkley isn’t convinced. He contends that Cleveland is the most logical destination for the four-time Finals MVP, arguing that the Cavaliers would ultimately outduel the Warriors and other suitors for the league’s top free agent.
“His (LeBron James) only move in my opinion is to go back to Cleveland,” Barkley told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole on Friday. “If he goes to Golden State or somewhere else, it’d be like he’s chasing Michael Jordan and trying to win more championships.” He added, “He doesn’t have any affiliation with those other teams. His only affiliation is with where he was born in Cleveland, Ohio. So I think he should go back to Cleveland.”
From a nostalgia-driven lens, Barkley’s argument for Cleveland over Golden State and the other contenders in the James sweepstakes is compelling. LeBron, after all, is a native of Ohio, launched his career with the Cavaliers in 2003, and rose to prominence with the 2016 NBA champions. While it’s impossible to overlook the impressive run LeBron enjoyed with the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers, the Cavaliers’ role in his rapid ascent to superstardom and overall development remains undeniable.
If LeBron indeed decides to finish his career where it began, the Cavaliers would gain a meaningful opportunity to reunite with their franchise icon. In other NBA news, the Clippers have officially outbid the Warriors and Spurs for a 6-foot-8 former Lakers elite shooter, and speculation continues about whether Spurs might outbid the Warriors for the $101 million Lakers star, a four-time NBA champion. Luka Doncic has also sent a clear message to the Lakers about roster decisions they cannot overlook as the team searches for better SEO alignment.