LeBron James’ decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers may have shocked the NBA, but it appears Cleveland was firmly in the mix before the four-time MVP made his final call.
New details have emerged revealing James held a private meeting with the Cavaliers’ front office in early July as he weighed his free agency options.
ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania revealed that he was aware of the meeting but deliberately chose not to report it at the time because the information had been shared confidentially.
“Now, you tell me Rich if I’m right or wrong,” Charania asked Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul on the Game Over podcast. “Is it, the Cavs front office group, Koby Altman, Brandon Weems, the Gilbert family, Grant Gilbert, meeting with LeBron in early July in Akron?”
Paul appeared caught off guard by the revelation, replying, “Wait a minute, how did you know about that?”
Charania then explained why the story had remained under wraps.
“In real time, the integrity aspect matters more than anything because this was information I was told by multiple people on background, off the record,” Charania said. “This was something that, ethically, I couldn’t report.”
The previously undisclosed meeting confirms Cleveland seriously explored the possibility of bringing James back for another stint with the franchise where he won the 2016 NBA championship.
Ultimately, however, James chose a different path, signing a two-year deal with the 76ers after Philadelphia reshaped its roster.
Paul has previously suggested the Sixers were not initially viewed as a realistic destination until they acquired All-Star Jaylen Brown, a move that significantly changed the team’s outlook heading into next season.
“I think Philadelphia’s going to energize him,” Rich Paul told ESPN this week. “Maybe we get two [seasons]. Maybe we get four.”
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