[Tim MacMahon] I know what the ramping speculation is around the league: this summer there’s gonna be a reunion and potentially a retirement tour for the ages back home again with the Cleveland Cavaliers next year
Has a team ever had 82 nationally televised games before
I’d watch. Is Ty Lue and Kyrie all coming back too???
Kyrie James and Donovan sharing ball duties is crazy. Lue can be the dealer at poker night
Chauncey like đ
Would be cool to see Bron reunited with his son
All thatâs missing is some Love
I know K. Love is washed, but he’s looked a little less washed this year and as a 4th big who can play next to Allan or Mobley, I wouldn’t hate it. (Even though it would be a bad use of a roster spot)
He could never close games and even just LeBron going to the Cavs would raise the question of who guards anyone on the perimeter with LeBron, Harden, and Mitchell and K Love would make that worse as an immobile 4, but I still want it to happen.
Overthinking it. His best skill is inbounding the ball. He can just do that in late game situations.
Yea, crazy Bronnyâs situation got all the publicity it did when Lebron had already played on the same team as his son many, many years before.
If they get Delonte back Bron can be reunited with his father too.
No Ilgauskas and im out
Where’s Amon Ones
Yes.
Even Shump, TT, and the 1st round pick are coming back.
Which player did that pick turn into?
Collin Sexton
Maybe Cleveland will get Boozer in the draft also.
Dellevedova and JR Smith!!!
Boobie Gibson đ„ș
Fuck it, bring back Ilgauskas and Varajao too
Just Anthony Bennett
You can’t have Kyrie back, we love him where he is at, and we have had enough taken from us.
Need a ty lue mystery mouth ring rebirth
Kobe 2016? On ESPN2 though
At least harden, Mitchell and LeBron will entertaining if he returns to Cleveland
Kobe did.
Wait like actually?
81
The Dallas Cowboys
This is gonna be their new “milk it” topic until the offseason since Giannis can’t get traded anymore
When do you think they start throwing the Warriors in there as another team for him to go to
They have been for years. Both him and Giannis too even before this year XD
The peak of it was that article about us wanting a Steph/Bron/Gianiss big 3 next year LMAO
Eh, I feel like the warriors have always been in it. LA and Cleveland have been the clear leads but the warriors and a run with Steph has always been the not too far behind third option
I’d rather him play on any other team in the league than the goddamn fucking Warriors. Boston would be sickening but those no-good, filthy, disgusting, gross, stomach-churning Golden yuck State gag Warriors barf would be unbelievably hideous.
I would be physically ill
Warriors rumors are created by our gm though to preserve an image of “hey we’re trying hard, that’s why we’re holding on to all our future picks”
âIâm hearing Steph is really pushing management to get LeBron and actively recruiting him personally as well. As for LeBron, Cleveland is his perfect ending but heâs intrigued at the thought of playing next to Steph. However, he is still in LA and his daughter attends school there so he might stay in LAâ
There you go.
This one is ole reliable honestly
Has Lebron partnered with a gambling agency on his next Decision yet??
Bron just because a part owner of FanDuel.
Itâs gonna be funny when he just re signs with the lakers
Or goes back to the east expecting an easier playoffs only to run into a revamped Boston or pissed off pistons.
You misspelled hornets
LeBron’s last season ending in a first round exit to the Hornets led by airpod hooper LaMelo Ball would be hilarious
MJ stans would give him credit for the win even though he sold the team.
MJ drafted LaMelo, so yea
ball knows ball as Ball would say
Just pop an H on that so we know what it is
Boston and Detroit havenât been a problem for LeBron since Moses wore short pants
Celtics were legit LeBronâs biggest problem until he went to Miami and STILL were consistently the team that pushed him hardest in the playoffs giving us the famous EvilLeBron picture
The east used to be way weaker when LeBron was playing in it
And LeBron wasnât 42 lol
Are you saying we might not walk to the Finals for 4 straight years?
Do you think he’d re-join A.D. in Washington DC with the Wizards? That’s where Jordan ended his career. Just sayin. đ
Hey! We still need revenge for the ‘07 ECF Game 5.
Joking aside, watching that live made me respect him for life.
He ended our ownership of the east so we end his career…seems fitting
Or you knowâŠthe Pacers + the 1st Pick
“I have beaten Celtics and Pistons myself before, surely this time will be the same as well”
Yeah Boston looks super scary. Maybe LeBron will get some hair dye on one of his jerseys.
For real. Cause the main thing media people arenât doing is asking how tf are the Cavs gonna get him on the roster
$1 contract plus ownership? Or endorsement like Kawhi, if the league doesnât punish the clippers why wouldnât the cavs just do it
He should just do one 10 day contract with each team. Imagine the jersey sales and how fun it would be for each team to have their week with LeBron.
Is it? The way the NBA is reported on is pathetic. No education about the game or talking about coaching schemes or breaking anything down around what makes LBJ or Jokic so good, just this manufactured drama lowest common denominator bullshit.Â
That’s what I’m saying…. But at the same time if this was nonsense I’d assume Bron of all people would say “nah this is bs”
Assuming this will have to be a sign and trade both teams could end up being pretty stoked on this.
If this happens East is going to be absolutely bonkers next season. The return of Tatum, the return of Hali with a lottery pick in a loaded class, LeBron retirement tour in Cleveland, and Knicks and Pistons should still be good
Charlotte Hornets might even be better next season as well.
I don’t think we can get better than NBA champion
Correct brother
weâre winning the world cup in june too obviously
Yâall are currently leading at the Olympics as well
99-0 (you volunteer for the 10 seed because you don’t want to take away from the other teams) season, perhaps?
Return of Hali + lottery pick + Zubac is very intriguing.
Well it wonât just be a lottery pick now. Itâs either the pacers add a complete stud in one of the top 4 guys or nothing.
Oh right. The protection is something like 1-5 and 10-30 protected, right? Thatâs nerve wrecking after this season đ
1-4 and 10-30 pacers are playing a risky game which if it works out could make them favorites next year.
Man I hope they do get it honestly. I feel so bad for how the finals ended for them. We all wanted to see how that game 7 played out
I just canât believe they capitulated to the clippers demands in getting their pick this year. I feel like there had to be enough to get a deal done without the possibility of the clips getting the #5 pick this year lol
And Embiid and Paul George have another year of NBA experience under their belts! Sixers are gonna be so wise
Absolutely bonkers is still worse than the current west
Trae, AD, and Sarr right! I want to have fun!! :(
But can they compete with the Trae/AD Wizards?
Iâm picturing all these stacked teams showing up to next season using portals like in endgame.
The return of Haliburton with Zubac at Center is going to be an insane combo.
absolutely bonkers
You only named five good teams lol. But yeah that would be bonkers for the East I guess
Donât forget the Sixers with an even further aged PG and Joels last remaining shred of meniscus. Come on.
Knicks and Pistons might even make some moves to be more competitive!
Only if LeBron is signing for the MLE.Â
Yes. Basketball gods… plase don’t let the fucking Clippers get that pick. đ
So about as bonkers as a regular season in the western conference, got it
Does Bronny stay in LA or get traded to The Land?
If you take a James, you gotta leave a James. It’s basic manners.
Bronny gonna be the bread winner next year.
LeManOfTheHouse
I thought it was have a James, leave a James. Need a James, take a James.
Mathematical law requires the James’ to be paired J x J = J^2
LeLawsOfPhysics
The Law of LeQuivalent LeXchange
sues the NCAA and completes his eligibility at Ohio State
I hope he doesn’t come along. As great as it would be to see him in a Cavs jersey after he grew up in this arena, he deserves a chance to make his own path and not just become Thanasis 2.0.
They got two years together we need to see them go against each other now lol Imagine the scenes of Bronny going iso on LeBron
Turnover highlights for the ages into a chase down block
LeBron plays for the minimum. Bronny gets 1 year 40 mil. Estate tax workaroundÂ
Please take him
He stays so they can play against eachother
You can’t convince me Lebron, who famously listened to Pandora with ads for years, is taking a pay cut in any capacity. Who are the Cavs moving to bring him in?
This is the dumbest narrative. Just because LeBron doesnât want to take a paycut for the Lakers doesnât mean he doesnât want to take a paycut for any team.
I donât even altogether know he isnât willing to take a pay cut for the Lakers either. I think it really depends on how much and what the team looks like
15-20 mil on a championship level team and he takes that imo. The same with another year in LA where they are a shitshow in the front office? Idk
He literally was willing to take a pay cut during his last contract negotiations. He told the Lakers they could sign someone and he would take less, they couldn’t find anyone so he took the most he can lol
He’s already taken pay cuts for the Lakers anyway
and he took them for the Heat, like this isn’t a new thing for him.
Lol 5-10 million wonât do it this time. It would have to be a 30+ pay cut. Huge difference.
If he’s willing to take a pay cut for another team why wouldn’t he be willing to take a pay cut with the Lakers? His family currently lives in LA.
Or that there arent S&T options at somehwere between the min and max.
One wrinkle with a S&T for a guy turning 42 next season is that S&T deals have to be at least 3 years.
They’ll get him a tree planting gig since there are no repercussions to circumventing the cap.
Good point
i would guess the paycut is 100% worth the attention and the storyline that a retirement tour in Cleveland would bring.
plus the Cavs being contenders it makes perfect sense
This. His endorsement rate would (further) dwarf his salary.Â
It would probably have to involve Harden not picking up his player option. If Harden does pick up his option, Mitchell/Mobley/Allen/Harden alone would be $170m in salary on their 26-27 books.
As annoying as it would be and as much as I’d be against it given how well he’s playing with Harden, bringing back LeBron probably involves moving on from Allen
Heâs not taking a pay cut heâs signing a new contract. And he could absolutely take 15-30
I’d like to tell you about some little things called the cap and the aprons.
Cavs are a few million above the second apron, they could pretty easily duck under it in the summer and offer him a MLE
It would have to be the taxpayer MLE, since itâs pretty unlikely they could go from having the highest payroll in the league to getting under the tax.
The taxpayer MLE is around $6m.
itâs pretty unlikely they could go from having the highest payroll in the league to getting under the tax
skill issue
Cavs are already committed to 185 million payroll next year. 15-30ms would be a massive pay cut for Lebron who is making 52Ms and he is worth every penny in ticket and merch sales alone.
Okay⊠Which team is paying him $30 million or more next season?
Only two teams currently have cap space next year, so Iâm not sure what kind of options he really has if heâs intending on signing for 15-30 with a team other than the Lakers. Willing to take the MLE would open it up for him.
Who’s going to give him a max?
Ballmer. But itll only hit the cap for the min for some reason.
Pay cut? Whoâs paying him more next season?
I think Lebron gets most of his money not from the NBA, but from what his likeness generates. If he can make money from a grand farewell tour he would do it
If we pay for Pandora, I think we got him.
Sign and trade for Jarrett Allen
Eventually everybody with age learns you have enough.
Heâs not taking a pay cut now because he knows this team canât win anyway. Maybe he takes a pay cut in Cle if he thinks it helps to get one last chip in his final season.
Love this idea. If he goes home and that team wins a chip on the farewell tour that’s one of the all time moments from one of the all time players.
At home too, itâs honestly too storybook for the NBA to pass up
Honestly if he does that, what would be a bigger moment in sports? I remember David Robinson retiring and winning the NBA finals on Father’s Day. That was pretty special. Indiana winning the CFP this year was massive. But neither of these come close
Jordan coming back from baseball and immediately winning titles in the next 3 seasons is the other one that comes to mind
Which is even better thatâs decades of content for ESPN arguing which one is a bigger deal
Lebron got me into basketball and I’ve never got the chance to see him live. I might actually cry if this happens.
How often do you get to do a retirement tour, at home, on a team that will be a real championship contender. It’s perfect.
The problem is that home is no longer Cleveland. His entire family is in LA. He probably doesnât want to move and be away from his family even if itâs for 1 year
A potential Retirement tour?
Gunther has entered the chat
r/squaredcircle leaking onto r/nba is my favorite sub combo
Not that it makes much of a difference, but he said ârampantâ not ârampingâ
r/boneappletea
As much as I’d love him to stay in LA, if I’m Bron, I’m going back to Cleveland. For storyline reasons obviously, but also the fact that if I’m looking for one last real run the path through the East is probably straighter. Cleveland already has a team built for contention and the East overall is more open. If this is legitimately my last push, I’m taking that all day
2026-27 Cavs gonna face the Heat in the first round, the Knicks or Pistons in the conference semis, the Celtics in the conference finals, and the Thunder or Spurs in the NBA Finals. Because why freaking not.
Honestly itâll be fun. The Cavs will also have a super loaded team and I wouldnât be surprised if LeBron gets his 5th championship.
And keeping with tradition, weâll have to blow it up when we inevitably fall short, trade all the good players, once again leaving us the ass of the league for the 3rd time!
But just imagine weâre down 3-1 in the finalsâŠ
Game 5: Bron with 41/16/7
Game 6: DNP - Arthritis
Anything to stop Derrick White smh
The bad man returning to banish Boston again is heartwarming
Austin Carr suiting up one last time
A news of a whole lotta nothing.
Man Id love to see Lebron play IRL once in my life before he leaves but I cannot bring myslef to risk dropping $300 on a ticket for a rest game to happen
Same bruh. Me and brother were just talking about this
You gotta pick certain ones. We saw LeBron in 2024 vs the Clippers â ainât no way LeBron is gonna let the Clippers win in a âBattle for LAâ and he didnât lol. Had a crazy 4th quarter for the W.
I mean âpotentiallyâ I might join him also
Seems early for Kyrie to retire.
The caveat will be whoâs going to use their 2nd round pick on Bryce James?
I do really hope it happens LeBron retiring on the lakers feels gross in my very biased opinion
Idk man, Harden Dmitch and LBJ on the same team is the Lakers all over again.
You’ll have 2 defensive bigs right behind them to clean everything up though. The Lakers dont even have 1
In that scenario lebron would be on a cheap contract. And with allen and mobley it would be a insane Team.
Plus they are in the east. I know the east is getting better but is still way behind the west.
If dude is just saying shit I wish LeBron would come out and put this all to rest. Of course he’s bought into the entertainment aspect of the NBA. Why do I still pay attention to this drama sport?
I donât know people donât love him like that, heâs no Paul Pierce
If LeBron goes back to Cleveland next year, they will win a championship⊠!
Yea no shit.
Lebron retiring. Itâs why he has the patches because heâll be joining the Vegas ownership group.
Yes plz
This would be great đ
time to bring back jr smith frye and shumpert
Boggie Gibson redemption tour loading
Bring Chris Paul back to this team too
Dammit James pass me the ball you know itâs my retirement tour!!!
Itâs exhausting already and itâs not even here yet
We just want them to play the sport competitively during the regular season and full-tilt in the playoffs.
Tim MacMahon uggggg
Rampant. Rampant.
That’s just not something I want to watch unless the Cavs are absolutely 100% all in gunning for the chip
Honestly that would be pretty cool
I said this as soon as the Harden trade was announced. It was obvious
When’s LeBron going to announce hes also sponsored by Kalshi lol
Lebron would make the Cavs worse
Plot twist: He doesnât retire
Has anything this guy has said came true?
Bron usually does the opposite of whatever the media reports
Itâs the LeBron way, go to a stacked team, deminish it with wants and time, join a team thatâs got a good set up lol
Who doesnât know the word, ârampant,â MacMahon or OP?
He should play two seasons with the Cavs so he and bronny can do the tour together lol
The best TV would be full commit to heel. Fk the Cavs, join OKC, Spurs, maybe the Knicks for a vet minimum contract. Pistons even, hell with how Charlotte plays maybe them. Just whoever goes far in playoffs, whoever shows a real solid team you know?
Is it gonna happen? No. Kalshi won’t even let me place the bet…. /s
âRamping speculationâ means âweâre all just talking about itâ.
Heâs still too good and cares too much to just stop. At many times heâs still seems like the most dominant player on the floor for big stretches of the game.
Is this legit? I would still be pretty surprised to see LeBron leave LA
Gilbert won’t allow it
he’s not gonna live in Ohio after living in 70+ degree weather all yeah for years
Ughhhh I don’t even watch the NBA and this is exhausting