‘Read the tea leaves’: Multiple ESPN reporters suggest LeBron James could return to Cleveland again

LeBron James to ClevelandNortheast Ohio native LeBron James began his NBA career in Cleveland, won a title in Cleveland, and now it sounds like he could end his career in Cleveland.

>On Tuesday, James officially informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he would not be returning to the team and would be signing elsewhere as a free agent. While the Golden State Warriors are reportedly making a push to sign James, it sounds like there’s a real chance that he could return to the Cleveland Cavaliers once again, presumably to end his career.

>In fact, based on some recent rumblings from a few NBA insiders, it sounds like it’s more than just a possibility.

‘Read the Tea Leaves’During a free agency special of “NBA Today” on Tuesday, ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin, who has been covering the Cavs, suggested that the Cavs are a real contender to land James, even pointing out that the NBA megastar is in Ohio right now to figure out what’s next for his career.

>“I mean, of all the places in the world where he could come to the conclusion that he’s going to be leaving the Lakers, and telling the Lakers he was going to be leaving it, it just so happens to be Akron, Ohio, Cleveland, Ohio,” McMenamin said. “I’m not going to say that’s all of the clues right there, but we have to read the tea leaves here. I know that several members of LeBron’s inner circle are going to meet him in Ohio this week. … It could be the best situation right down the road from where you grew up, 45 minutes from Akron with the Cavs for a third stint.”

Windhorst, TooMcMenamin is not the only one piecing together some tea leaves.

>Later during the broadcast, ESPN insider Brian Windhorst, who has been perhaps the most connected LeBron James reporter throughout his career, explained the process by which the Cavs might lure James.

>“When the Cleveland Cavaliers learned today that LeBron James would be willing to play for less than his market-value salary, that changed everything,” Windhorst said on ESPN.

>Windhorst went on to point out that the Boston Celtics have not been able to find a trade partner for Jaylen Brown and suggested that the Cavs could make a run at trading for him, which would provide James with an incentive to sign with the Cavs.

>“What can the Cavs do? James Harden opted out yesterday. He, from what I understand, is willing to partner with the Cavs to figure out a way how to improve the roster,” Windhorst said. “Jaylen Brown is out there. Can the Cavs make a move for Jaylen Brown, then come to LeBron and say ‘How do you feel about us now?’ That is the type of move that you’re going to do to get LeBron James’ attention.”

>It’s worth noting that this is a complete shift from what Windhorst was previously reporting.

>“I don’t think the Cavs are a realistic option,” Windhorst said earlier this week. “I’ve not heard the Cavs are out but I’ve certainly not heard that they’re in. So, I’m not considering that as an option at the moment.”

Another Sign?This comes just a few days after a Cleveland-area fitness trainer who accurately predicted LeBron James’ return to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014 once again

>“Supposedly, LeBron IS coming back for a third and final stint with the Cavaliers. Here we go,” Joshua Teplitz posted Thursday on X.

>We’ll have to see what happens, but there certainly seems to be a lot of smoke all at the same time.

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