LeBron James to the Cavaliers would require getting under the second apron, which would mean losing Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, and a third guy: probably Max Strus.

 

The Last Dance in Cleveland? Inside the Complicated Path for LeBron James to Retire with the Cavaliers**

 

In the ever-evolving NBA landscape, there are few storylines as emotionally compelling — and financially complicated — as the idea of **LeBron James returning home one last time to retire with the Cleveland Cavaliers.** It’s a concept that flares up periodically, sparked by nostalgia, fan longing, and sometimes actual front office whispers.

This week, that flame was reignited by **Kevin O’Connor of *The Ringer*,** who laid out a bold — albeit complex — framework for how such a reunion could happen. The headline version? It would take a **major teardown**, involving the loss of **Darius Garland**, **Jarrett Allen**, and **Max Strus**, along with precision cap gymnastics, third-party facilitation, and an iron-willed front office unafraid of sentiment and risk.

But let’s break it down further: **Is this realistic? Why would the Cavaliers do it? And could LeBron actually return to Cleveland not just to say goodbye — but to win?**

—

## **Kevin O’Connor’s Vision: A Complicated but Strategic Play**

On a recent *Ringer NBA Show* episode, O’Connor laid out a scenario that raised eyebrows:

> “LeBron James to the Cavaliers would require getting under the second apron, which would mean losing Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, and a third guy: probably Max Strus. It’s a lot to give up for a player who may not put you over the top and may have only one year left. Then again… could trading them be a low-key salary dump for Cleveland?”

That’s a provocative statement — not just because it implies Allen and Garland are expendable, but because it frames a LeBron reunion not as a sentimental swan song, but as a **two-fold strategic maneuver**:

1. **Maximizing short-term title odds** by adding arguably the greatest player of all time in a mentor-leader role alongside Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley.
2. **Resetting long-term cap flexibility** by clearing space around Mitchell and Mobley with better-fitting role players down the line.

—

## **Let’s Start with the Hard Truth: The CBA Is Brutal**

Any conversation around LeBron returning to the Cavs must start with a clear understanding of the **Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)** — specifically the newly implemented **second apron** penalties.

These harsh luxury tax rules are designed to discourage superteams and penalize the highest spenders by restricting key roster-building tools like:

* Sign-and-trades
* The mid-level exception
* Aggregating salaries in trades
* Sending cash in deals
* Trading picks more than 7 years out

In 2025, the **Cavaliers are dangerously close to the second apron**, particularly if they keep all their current core: Mitchell, Mobley, Garland, Allen, and Strus. Adding LeBron’s salary (\~\$50 million) — even on a one-year deal — would blow past the apron and handcuff them operationally.

Thus, for LeBron to return, the Cavs must **clear enough salary to reset their cap sheet.**

—

## **Who Goes: Garland, Allen, Strus**

O’Connor named the three logical casualties:

* **Darius Garland**: a talented scoring guard, but whose fit alongside Mitchell has never been seamless. At 6’1″, his size limits defensive flexibility. He’s due \~\$36 million next season.
* **Jarrett Allen**: a rim-running center who’s performed inconsistently in the playoffs. With Mobley evolving, Allen may be redundant — and he earns \$20 million.
* **Max Strus**: a streaky shooter on a \$63 million deal. Valuable but movable.

That’s over **\$80 million in combined salary**. Shedding those contracts could bring the Cavs under the second apron and allow them to legally pursue LeBron — while also opening long-term financial breathing room.

—

## **Why Would Cleveland Do It? The Case for LeBron**

Let’s be clear: LeBron is not the same athlete he was in 2016 when he delivered Cleveland’s first major title in half a century. He’ll be **41 years old next season**. But that doesn’t mean he’s just ceremonial.

Last season with the Lakers, LeBron still averaged:

* **24.6 points**
* **7.2 rebounds**
* **8.1 assists**
* **3.7 three-pointers per game**
* 75 games played — his most since 2018

He remains a highly productive star, particularly in half-court playoff settings where his decision-making, floor spacing, and leadership carry immense weight.

### **1. LeBron + Mitchell + Mobley = Dangerous Trio**

With **Donovan Mitchell** (28) entering his prime and **Evan Mobley** (23) still developing, LeBron could slot in as a playmaking forward and secondary scorer — much like his current role with the Lakers. His presence would ease the load on Mitchell while unlocking Mobley’s offensive potential as a roll-man and cutter.

### **2. Championship Pedigree**

The Cavaliers have made playoff strides but still lack a true title resume. Adding LeBron brings gravity — not just in media attention, but in poise and expectation. For a young team, that culture shift could be catalytic.

### **3. The Emotional Factor**

Fans want it. Cleveland wants it. **A final season in a Cavaliers jersey**, ending where it all began in 2003, would cement LeBron’s legacy as a hometown hero who never forgot his roots. From Akron to immortality — it writes itself.

—

## **Would LeBron Want This? Signs Point to Yes**

While LeBron has remained noncommittal about retirement, he has **never ruled out a final return to Cleveland.**

* In 2022, he told *The Athletic*:

> “The door’s 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.”

* In 2024, when asked about his final season, he replied:

> “It has to mean something. If I go out, I want it to be the right place.”

What better place than where it all started — and where it peaked in 2016?

### **Family Ties Could Also Play a Role**

LeBron’s son **Bronny James** is entering the NBA. If he ends up in Cleveland — or on a team willing to collaborate with the Cavs — the father-son storyline becomes even more powerful.

—

## **Why Would the Cavs Move Garland and Allen?**

The idea of moving a 24-year-old All-Star point guard and a starting center seems drastic. But consider:

### **1. The Fit Issue with Garland**

Garland’s strengths — ball-handling, midrange creation — overlap with Mitchell. Both need the ball. Both are undersized defensively. In today’s NBA, that’s a liability in the playoffs. If the Cavs choose Mitchell as the long-term star, Garland becomes the odd man out.

### **2. Allen’s Playoff Concerns**

Allen has struggled in the postseason, including being outplayed in back-to-back series. His offensive limitations shrink spacing, and his presence sometimes forces Mobley out of position.

Replacing Allen with a more versatile forward (or just giving Mobley the full-time center role) might modernize the offense.

### **3. Strus as a Tradeable Shooter**

Strus has value. His shooting stretches defenses, but he’s inconsistent and overpaid for his role. Moving him in a larger deal could help facilitate the cap mechanics of a LeBron return.

—

## **Trade Mechanics: How It Might Work**

This isn’t a clean one-for-one swap. A **three-team deal** would likely be necessary. Here’s a rough framework:

**Cleveland Cavaliers receive:**

* LeBron James (via opt-in & trade)

**Los Angeles Lakers receive:**

* Darius Garland
* 2026 first-round pick (via third team)

**Third Team (e.g. Orlando, Utah) receives:**

* Jarrett Allen
* Max Strus
* Filler contracts / absorbs salary

**Cavs send out**: \$80M+ in salaries, retain core trio: Mitchell, Mobley, LeBron.

**Lakers get**: Garland as a long-term piece post-LeBron, plus future assets.

**Third team** gets useful players for picks or cap flexibility.

—

## **The Risk: Is One Year of LeBron Worth It?**

Here’s the danger: What if LeBron only plays one more season? What if his body finally gives out?

You’ve just gutted your young depth and capped yourself out — again — for a year-long “farewell tour.”

But O’Connor’s point is that **LeBron’s exit may actually help the Cavs more than hurt**:

* His contract comes off the books.
* You’ve reset your books.
* You now have **Mitchell + Mobley + cap space** — a modern build with flexibility.

In that sense, LeBron could be both the short-term spark **and** the long-term reset.

—

## **The Verdict: Should the Cavs Go All-In?**

If you remove the sentiment, this is still a basketball move that makes sense.

* LeBron *still contributes* at a high level.
* Garland and Allen, for all their talent, might not be the right fits around Mitchell and Mobley.
* The financial rules *require* drastic changes anyway.

Now **add in the emotion**, the symbolism, the legacy?

It becomes irresistible.

Cleveland is not chasing rings like Golden State or Boston. They’re trying to **make history**, again. Bringing LeBron home for one last ride could galvanize the franchise, re-energize the fanbase, and put them in a better position long after he retires.

—

## **Final Thought: One More Ring? Or One Last Goodbye?**

LeBron James is one of the most strategic players in NBA history. If he comes back to Cleveland, it won’t be purely for nostalgia. It’ll be because **he believes** — believes in Mobley, believes in Mitchell, and believes there’s still a little magic left in the same building where he once delivered the city’s greatest sports moment.

For the Cavaliers, that belief might be worth the risk.

Because if it works?

We might just see one of the most poetic final chapters in NBA history.

 

 

There is a way for LeBron to retire with the Cavaliers, according to Kevin O’Connor 👀

“LeBron James to the Cavaliers would require getting under the second apron, which would mean losing Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, and a third guy: probably Max Strus.

“It’s a lot to give up for a player who may not put you over the top and may have only one year left. Then again, Allen has folded in the playoffs and Garland is a tiny guard. Could trading them be a low key salary dump for Cleveland? Then whenever LeBron retires, the front office would have cap flexibility to build next to Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley with better-fitting players than Allen and Garland. So in a strange way, adding LeBron could help optimize their short-term title odds while also helping in the longer term.

“It’d be a complicated trade. A third team at least would have to be involved. A lot would have to go out. But if the chance is there, the Cavs should all-in on LeBron.”