It was a typical summer afternoon in Cleveland, Ohio, except for one unexpected visitor.
LeBron James, fresh off a season in which he earned his 21st consecutive NBA All-Star nod and guided the Los Angeles Lakers to a 50-32 record, stopped by the Cleveland Cavaliers' practice facility on Friday.
A post on X showing James standing courtside alongside Cavaliers’ 2025 Summer League standout Denver Jones instantly set the basketball world abuzz.
The image of LeBron at Cleveland’s court rekindled chatter that has circulated since he opted in for a $52.6 million player option for 2025-26 on June 30.
His agent, Rich Paul, recently revealed that four teams had inquired about James' availability, but insisted no serious trade talks have begun.
Friday's post, however, has fans believing otherwise.
Under coach Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland finished the 2024-25 regular season with the best record in the Eastern Conference at 64-18.
Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley were all named All-Stars, with Mobley winning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, headlining an offense that led the league in scoring (119.4 points per game)
Yet the postseason exposed lingering limits.
After sweeping the Miami Heat in the first round, the Cavaliers fell to Indiana in five games, raising questions about their ceiling, even with a loaded roster.
Enter James.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) with Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) with Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick.
Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
In practical terms, a LeBron‑to‑Cleveland trade is possible; however, Lakers insiders and ESPN’s Brian Windhorst stress that James’s no‑trade clause and hefty salary make any deal highly complex.
Given those hurdles, and James’ public desire to win his fifth ring, an L.A. stay seems more plausible. However, with both franchises eager to win now, all bets remain off.