While the Golden State Warriors weren’t named a top landing spot for a disgruntled ex-Los Angeles Lakers superstar forward (he was unhappy that the franchise didn’t prioritize him this offseason) in ESPN’s Shams Charania’s recent report, that doesn’t mean they’ve been officially eliminated from consideration.
Stephen Curry recently made a convincing pitch to the four-time MVP, which could help the Warriors get back on the right track in their pursuit of the future Hall of Famer. NBA great Charles Barkley isn’t buying it, though, citing that he believes the Cleveland Cavaliers will outduel the Dubs for the top free agent on the market.
“His (LeBron James) only move in my opinion is to go back to Cleveland,” Barkley told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole Friday. “If he goes to Golden State or somewhere else, it’d be like he’s chasing Michael Jordan and trying to win more championships.”
“He don’t have any affiliation with those other teams. His only affiliation is where he was born in Cleveland, Ohio. So I think he should go back to Cleveland.”
From a nostalgic standpoint, it would be hard to argue against Barkley’s reasoning for giving Cleveland the nod over Golden State and the other franchises in the James sweepstakes. Not only is James from Ohio, but he also started his career with the Cavaliers in 2003 and put himself on the map with the 2016 NBA champions.
While it’s impossible to ignore the success the four-time Finals MVP enjoyed with the Miami Heat and Lakers, there’s no question that the Cavaliers played the most significant role in his rapid ascension to superstardom and overall development.
If LeBron decides he’s all-in on finishing his career where it began, the Cavaliers would receive a heartfelt opportunity to reunite with their franchise legend.
More NBA news: