Unit Two – Nut Graf ~ Brandan Ramnandan

LeBron James Leaves Door Open To Cleveland Return – Matt Johnson (SportsNaut)

02/20/22

https://sportsnaut.com/lebron-james-return-cleveland-cavaliers/#:~:text=Set%20to%20become%20a%20free,open%20to%20rejoining%20the%20Cavaliers.&text=During%20an%20in%2Ddepth%20interview,23%20NBA%20season%20is%20possible.

LeBron James clarifies comments, reaffirms commitment to ‘purple and gold as long as I can play’ – Lorenzo Reyes (USA Today) 

02/27/22

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/lakers/2022/02/27/lebron-james-clarifies-comments-future-los-angeles-lakers/6964893001/

According to an article published by Matt Johnson of SportsNaut, he states “LeBron shared before the All-Star Game that he is open to rejoining the Cleveland Cavaliers”. Quoting LeBron “The doors’ not closed on that. I’m not saying I’m coming back and playing, I don’t know. I don’t know what my future holds. I don’t even know when I’m free”. LeBron is set to become a free agent in 2022-2023, it is highly likely due to the Lakers recent struggles this season and if they don’t pick up the pace next season, LeBron may leave the Lakers. My source to further this argument is published by Lorenzo Reyes from USA Today, he quotes LeBron during the all star game once again ““My last year will be played with my son,” James told The Athletic on Feb. 19. “Wherever Bronny is at, that’s where I’ll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year.” Now to me this is news, not only do we have comments about LeBron open to rejoining Cleveland, he now states he is going to play wherever his son is during his last year in the NBA, surely confirming the lakers will lose LeBron is the future since they have no draft picks after trading for Anthony Davis. He also later debunks the statement made about Cleveland saying “I never said I’d see myself playing in a Cavaliers uniform”, but instead that he’d pick up a one day contract to retire there. Personally, I think LeBron is teasing that he will test free agency when his contract is up so teams will have him on their radars for the future, although I disagree when it comes to him joining Cleveland because I don’t think they’d have enough money to pay him for the amount of work he’ll have to do since Cleveland lacks starpower.