Why Cavs must go all out to give LeBron James his retirement tour after ECF sweep

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers both exceeded a lot of expectations this year, but both of their seasons ended via a disappointing postseason sweep. The Lakers earned the fourth seed in a crowded Western Conference despite a number of injuries to key players, but they were clearly outmatched in the conference semifinals. The Cavaliers trekked all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, but they didn’t put up much of a fight in their four games against the New York Knicks.

Both of these teams have older rosters and unclear futures. LeBron James is 41 years old, and considering he is an unrestricted free agent, it is unclear where he will decide to play next season. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, have to gauge financial concerns. They were the only second-apron team this year and one of two teams expected to be past that threshold next season. Their mid-season trade for James Harden appeared to be a win-now move, and at some point, the team might have to reset their finances.

Regardless, one thing is on every NBA fan’s mind ahead of the upcoming offseason, and that is the possibility of a return to Cleveland for James. Here is why the Cavaliers must go all in on a reunion with their former number one pick.

A LeBron James return to the Cavaliers makes too much sense

The kid from Akron was drafted first overall by the Cavaliers in 2003. He has since embarked on a longer NBA career than any other player. Along the way, the forward nicknamed “The Chosen One” has won four championships, earned four MVPs, made 22 All-Star appearances, and become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. He had two separate stints in Cleveland, the second of which he delivered a promised championship to a team that had never won the NBA Finals before.

Of course, a homecoming for one of the greatest players in NBA history would pull at everybody’s heartstrings. James’ potential return to the Cavaliers makes sense for more reasons than just nostalgic ones, though. Historically, James has refused to take pay cuts, and the Cavaliers are in no position to pay him big-time money, but if there were a context where he’d be willing to play on a minimum deal, it would be in a retirement tour with the team where it all started.

The Cavaliers have Donovan Mitchell and Harden under contract for next season, assuming the latter picks up his player option. That means the backcourt is set with advanced scorers and playmakers. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are also glued to long-term deals, so the power forward and center positions don’t need much help. What lacks in Cleveland’s starting lineup is a great small forward, and James just so happens to be the best three-man of all time.

The Cavaliers are desperate for more size and creation ability on the wings. They could use more defense there, too, and while James’ best defensive days are long gone, he has the size to still hold his own against many small forwards. In one last dance, James could be the player who gets the Cavaliers back over the hump and into the NBA Finals. After all, that’s just about all he did during his last stint with the team.

The team’s rotation is loaded with catch-and-shoot options, including Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, Dean Wade, and Max Strus. That is perfect for James, who most thrives getting downhill and creating for his teammates. Plus, he’d benefit from having a backline that includes elite shot blockers. That was lacking during his last couple of seasons with the Lakers.

It might not be easy to convince James to leave the Lakers. He has actually spent more consecutive seasons in Los Angeles than with any of his previous teams, and his son, Bronny James, is on the team’s roster. The Cavaliers’ financial situation won’t make bringing in a megastar like James easy, either. If the Cavaliers can navigate these concerns, then it makes too much sense to bring back the best player in franchise history. James deserves a retirement tour, and no team would make more sense to give him one than the team that took a chance on him coming out of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.

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