Veteran Sacramento Kings guard Russell Westbrook engaged in a lot of trash talk with Los Angeles Lakers players during his team’s 128-104 loss on Sunday night. In the process, he may have spilled the tea about one of the NBA’s worst-kept secrets: LeBron James returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers next season.
“Ball don’t lie! Ball don’t lie’ Watch how you brick yo free throws,” Westbrook could be heard telling Luka Doncic as the Lakers star went to the charity stripe.
“I’m just saying man, y’all [expletive] garbage. Finna be at the bottom of the league when ‘Bron leave to Cleveland,” added the 2017 NBA MVP.
LeBron, Lakers Split Inevitable?
As the Lakers prepare to usher in the Doncic era, they are reportedly not very keen on bringing James back unless the 41-year-old is willing to take a massive pay cut.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Lakers, projected to have over $50M in cap space this offseason after paying free agent Austin Reaves, plan to use their precious cap space to inject the team with youth, athleticism and shooting.
“If James were to return, his salary would be a major factor in determining exactly what kind of team L.A. could build,” McMenamin reported last month.
Even Lakers legend Byron Scott has echoed the sentiments of several Lakers fans who are ready to see James depart from the franchise.
“I’m a fan, but I don’t mince words. I think this should be his last year here,” he said, via LakersNation. “You don’t got to go home, but you got to get the hell up out of here.”
Farewell Tour in Cleveland?
Several league insiders have noted that James is expected to play out his final season with the Cavaliers next year. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported last month that the NBA is preparing for a retirement tour “for the ages” that will see the four-time NBA champion link up with Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Evan Mobley.
“I certainly don’t know what he’s going to do,” MacMahon said of James.
“I know what the rampant speculation is around the league, and that is this summer there’s going to be a reunion and potentially a retirement tour for the ages back home again with the Cleveland Cavaliers next year.”
Even Donovan Mitchell has chimed in on the James to Cavaliers buzz.
“As a Bron fan, to be able to be a teammate would obviously be special, but that’s not something that’s [in] my control,” Mitchell told “SiriusXM NBA Radio” last month.
“I control what we got here, he continued. “There’s always going to be reports. It’s natural, and it’s going to be a thing. But at the end of the day, my main focus right now is trying to get this championship. Whatever happens, it happens. That’s not up to me.”
“That’s not up to anybody else in the locker room,” Mitchell said of the LeBron to Cavs talk. “I’m big on believing in what I can control. But yeah, I mean, it’s LeBron James.
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