James Harden and the Cavaliers want to welcome LeBron James with open arms, but is the feeling mutual?
Harden is still technically a free agent right now, waiting for clarity as to what direction the Cavs are going to take – and whether that direction involves LeBron.
“We’re just waiting on big fella,” Harden said, according to LeBron’s ex-teammate Channing Frye on Yahoo Sports.
As well, when asked whether he would want to share the floor with James in Cleveland the answer was simple.
“Yes,” said a source to Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson. “James respects LeBron’s game; there’s a mutual respect that they both have as competitors, and they both want to see each other do well.”
But does the feeling go both ways?
Infamously, during the 2022 All-Star Draft, LeBron picked Harden as the very last reserve selection.
Plus, in the podcast episode of “Game Over” where Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul pulled out a whiteboard to discuss LeBron’s options, he didn’t say one good thing about Harden.
“The negative is, and this is no offense to Harden, there’s no Darius Garland,” Paul said on his podcast. “Because LeBron loves Garland the way he loves Tyrese Maxey.”
Insider Kevin O’Connor believes that if were a way for the Cavs to get Kyrie Irving back and ship The Beard off, the choice would be easy for the 41-year-old.
“The belief around the league is that LeBron would be more likely to choose the Cavaliers if the front office could replace Harden with Irving. The 2016 reunion would be a lovely story…,” O’Connor said.
However, O’Connor then pointed out that scenario has two big roadblocks
“Problem No. 1: The Mavericks don’t want to trade Irving.
“…Problem No. 2: The Cavaliers are happy with Harden.”
Unfortunately for LeBron, a lot of things may not go his way at whatever team he decides to go to.
Shams reported that most of the teams LeBron is considering in free agency can only give him a veteran minimum or an exception deal, which would be a $4 million contract.
READ MORE: LeBron James’ Free Agency Decision Hinges on Three Priorities