Former Cavaliers GM on LeBron's Potential Cavs Reunion

David Griffin weighs in on speculation about LeBron James returning to Cleveland.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Former Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin shared his thoughts on the possibility of LeBron James returning to the Cavs this offseason. Griffin, who helped build the Cavs' championship team in 2016, believes there's a good chance James could come back to Northeast Ohio, where he has deep roots.

Why it matters

LeBron's potential return to the Cavaliers would be a major storyline in the NBA, as he looks to add another championship to his legacy in the city where he first rose to superstardom. Griffin's perspective as the former Cavs GM provides unique insight into the team's potential interest in bringing LeBron back.

The details

During his seven seasons with the Cavaliers from 2003-2010, LeBron James led the team to the NBA Finals once but was unable to win a championship. When he returned to Cleveland in 2014, the team had a stronger supporting cast, including players like Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, and they won the title in 2016. Griffin, who was the Cavs' GM from 2010-2017, believes there's a good chance James could come back to Northeast Ohio, where he has deep roots. The Cavaliers made some roster moves ahead of the trade deadline that could clear the way for a LeBron reunion.

  • LeBron James will be a free agent this summer.
  • The NBA All-Star game is this Sunday, February 19, 2026, where LeBron will come off the bench for the first time in his career.

The players

LeBron James

A 4-time NBA champion and 4-time NBA MVP, LeBron James is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He spent the first 7 seasons of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers before leaving in 2010, then returned in 2014 and led the team to the 2016 NBA title.

David Griffin

The former general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2010-2017, David Griffin was the architect of the Cavs' 2016 championship team that was built around LeBron James.

Kyrie Irving

A 7-time NBA All-Star, Kyrie Irving was a key member of the Cavaliers' 2016 championship team alongside LeBron James.

Kevin Love

A 5-time NBA All-Star, Kevin Love was also a vital part of the Cavaliers' supporting cast during their 2016 championship run with LeBron James.

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What they’re saying

“There's a big part of me that would be surprised if he doesn't, on some level, just because Northeast Ohio means so much to him. It would be surprising to me on some level if he didn't want to... I can tell you the theater of it excites me, sure.”

— David Griffin, Former Cavaliers General Manager (usatoday.com)

“He owns every record you could have... And he would give every damn one of them away to win a title here again.”

— David Griffin, Former Cavaliers General Manager (usatoday.com)

What’s next

The Cavaliers will have to clear more salary cap space this offseason if they hope to bring LeBron James back to Cleveland.

The takeaway

LeBron James' potential return to the Cavaliers would be a major storyline in the NBA, as the franchise looks to recapture the magic of their 2016 championship run. The perspective of former GM David Griffin provides unique insight into the team's interest and LeBron's deep ties to Northeast Ohio.