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LeBron James reconnects with high school teammates, including a Cavs exec
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- LeBron James reconnects with high school teammates, including a Cavs exec
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LeBron James spent an evening back home in Akron, and the timing has Cleveland fans dreaming . The four-time MVP was photographed reconnecting with his St. Vincent-St. Mary high school teammates this week, a group that included Cavaliers assistant general manager Brandon Weems.
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The get-together landed in the middle of James' free agency, fueling fresh speculation about a possible return to the team where it all began.
James, now a free agent after informing the Lakers he would move on , has been linked to several suitors, with the Cavaliers among the teams generating the most buzz. Cleveland holds obvious sentimental value for the Akron native, who delivered the city its first major title in 52 years back in 2016.
His agent, Rich Paul, recently broke down the case for and against a Cleveland reunion. The biggest point in the Cavaliers' favor, according to Paul, is the man James stood beside in that Akron photo.
"Brandon Weems is basically LeBron's brother," Paul said on the "Game Over" podcast , calling the executive's presence a big feather in the cap for Cleveland.
Weems, one of James' oldest friends, worked his way up the basketball ladder through stops as a graduate assistant at Kentucky, Oakland, and La Salle before reaching the Cavaliers front office. Paul made a point of noting that Weems earned the role entirely on his own.
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There is a catch, though, and it comes down to the backcourt . Cleveland traded guard Darius Garland to the Clippers in February to acquire James Harden , moving on from a player James holds in high regard.
"The negative is, and this is no offense to Harden, there's no Darius Garland," Paul said. "Because LeBron loves Garland the way he loves Tyrese Maxey."
Even without Garland, the Cavaliers remain a genuine contender, boasting Donovan Mitchell , Harden, Evan Mobley , and Jarrett Allen . Whether that is enough to bring James home for a third stint remains to be seen, but the Akron reunion suggests the door is at least open.
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