If LeBron James returned to Cavs, how would the trade look?
LeBron James returning to Cavs: Options for a deal around Collin Sexton
If the Los Angeles Lakers want to reload around Westbrook and Davis to compete this season, this is a compelling return. Collin Sexton is a dynamic scoring threat and has a good enough outside shot to make pairing him with Westbrook at least feasible. That is helped by Lauri Markkanen coming over as well; pairing Markkanen and Davis as the two bigs would give the floor the kind of space that Westbrook needs to survive.
If Sexton starts his salary at $20 million per season (perhaps as part of a four-year, $90 million deal with a $22.5 million annual average) then this deal would reduce the Lakers’ salary by $8 million, which might be enough to allow them to add minimum contracts and buy a few second-round picks and stay under the tax apron. Next summer Westbrook comes off the books and the Lakers can slide Sexton to point guard if they add a dynamic wing threat in free agency.
The Cavs are likely more in favor of this type of deal than the Kevin Love variety. Love is an excellent fit with James, both from a chemistry standpoint and on the court, and the flexibility of his expiring deal next summer is beneficial for a suddenly very expensive roster. They can now use the No. 14 pick on a wing who can step in and play minutes at the 2 right away, someone like Ochai Agbaji or Malaki Branham.
Next. Pros and cons of rumored Cavs trade with Hornets for Hayward. dark
LeBron James making his return to Cleveland this summer is certainly a longshot; it seems more likely to be an option for the summer of 2023 or beyond. Yet it’s certainly possible, and there are a few different options for putting such a deal together. LeBron in a Cavaliers jersey once more, surrounded by this awesome young core, would be a lot of fun for basketball fans.