All-Star guards Donovan Mitchell and James Harden are expected to recruit LeBron James to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the offseason, sources told Cavaliers Nation.
James becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason for the first time since 2018. If the future Hall of Famer doesn’t retire from the NBA, the Cavaliers are expected to heavily pursue James in free agency, sources said.
Cleveland acquired Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers in the blockbuster Darius Garland trade. Harden and Mitchell have relationships with James, who is open to leaving the Los Angeles Lakers for his hometown Cavaliers this offseason if he doesn’t retire, sources said.
The full trade, as reported by @ShamsCharania:
CAVS GET: James Harden
CLIPPERS GET: Darius Garland, 2nd-round pick pic.twitter.com/QMPTjzut95
— Cavaliers Nation (@WeAreCavsNation) February 4, 2026
Harden and Mitchell believe the Cavaliers can win the championship this season, sources said. Even if Cleveland wins the 2026 title, Mitchell and Harden are still expected to reach out to James in the offseason, sources said. After all, no superstar is satisfied with just one championship.
Harden is making $39.4 million this season, with $13.3 million of his $42.3 million salary for next season guaranteed. The Cavaliers are expected to sign the 2018 MVP to a new deal this offseason, sources said.
Meanwhile, Mitchell is making $46.4 million this season. He will make $50.1 million next season and has a player option worth $53.8 million for the 2027-28 season.
The Cavaliers haven’t advanced past the second round of the playoffs with Mitchell leading the way. Mitchell, who began his NBA career with the Utah Jazz, has never been to the conference finals.
Cleveland made the NBA Finals in 2018, losing to the Golden State Warriors in four games. James left the Cavaliers in the offseason of 2018 and joined the Lakers, who won the 2020 championship against the Miami Heat at the Walt Disney World bubble. The leading scorer in NBA history brought the Purple and Gold back to prominence.
However, Baxter Holmes of ESPN wrote a story published on January 21 that detailed the strained relationship between James and Lakers governor Jeanie Buss. Many people around the NBA don’t expect James to re-sign with Los Angeles this offseason if he decides to continue playing, sources said.
If James doesn’t retire this offseason, don’t be surprised if he signs with the Cavaliers to play with Mitchell, Harden and Evan Mobley.