After signing All-Star Donovan Mitchell to a four-year, $273 million contract extension, the Cleveland Cavs are still eyeing a career storybook ending for LeBron James. While Harden, who’s expected to reach a new deal with the Cavs, remains unsigned to an extension, Cleveland is still holding out on James, and potentially his son, Bronny James, amid free agency.
Mitchell’s whopping contract extension has no bearing on James making a second return to the Cavs, who drafted him out of high school in 2003, according to The Athletic’s Joe Vardon.
“James Harden remains unsigned. The two sides have agreed to the framework and dollar amount of a new contract and are waiting to see if they need the flexibility to sign LeBron (or another free agent) first, which means Harden’s salary would be spread out over three seasons instead of two,” Vardon reported. “A roster spot remains open, potentially for Bronny James.
“And the Cavs can now offer Donovan Mitchell a four-year, $270 million contract extension. Mitchell signing such a deal would not impact the salary cap for this coming season, so it wouldn’t impact Cleveland’s attempt to sign LeBron. But it’s fair to wonder if everyone will wait on that one until James finishes his business, one way or another,” Vardon concluded.
Either way, the idea of James heading back home has other potential suitors panicking, hoping they still have a chance to land the future Hall of Fame forward.
Rival teams ‘afraid’ of LeBron James reunion with Cavs
It wouldn’t come as a surprise for LeBron James to return to the Cavs after eight seasons with the Lakers. With an opportunity to join a championship contender in what could be the final season of his career, James could team up with All-Stars James Harden and Donovan Mitchell. This worries a team like the 76ers, who some believe could make a late push for LeBron after trading for All-Star Jaylen Brown.
The Cavs are considered to have the best odds of signing James, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
“I’ve talked to people in Philly, and I’m like, what do you think? ‘We’re afraid it’s Cleveland,’ – everybody I talked to is like ‘we’re afraid it’s Cleveland,’ – nobody seems like they have optimism,” Windhorst said, per ESPN Cleveland.
“I’ve talked to people in Philly, and I’m like what do you think? ‘We’re afraid it’s Cleveland,’ – everybody I talked to is like ‘we’re afraid it’s Cleveland,’ – nobody seems like they have optimism,” – @WindhorstESPN on the latest with LeBron James 👀👀 pic.twitter.com/aGcO0GiPFo
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 6, 2026
James could reach a decision by the end of this week.