LeBron James' Former Cavaliers Teammate Predicts Reunion in Cleveland

Donovan Mitchell and James Harden reportedly leading the effort to bring LeBron back to the Cavs.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 4:39pm

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According to former Cavaliers player Kendrick Perkins, his sources have told him that Donovan Mitchell and newly acquired James Harden are already working to recruit LeBron James to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers this offseason when the Lakers star becomes a free agent. Perkins believes LeBron may relish the chance to win one more title in Cleveland, where he began his career and led the franchise to its first championship.

Why it matters

LeBron's pending free agency will be a major storyline in the NBA this summer, with several teams expected to pursue the 41-year-old superstar. A potential return to Cleveland would be a sensational homecoming and give LeBron a chance to win another title with the Cavaliers, the team he first joined as a young phenom and later led to championship glory.

The details

Perkins, who played with LeBron on the Cavaliers, says his sources have told him that Mitchell and Harden are already leading the effort to recruit LeBron to Cleveland. LeBron left the Cavaliers on much better terms in 2018 than his controversial departure in 2010 when he joined the Miami Heat. Now in the twilight of his legendary career, LeBron may be enticed by the chance to win one more title in his hometown.

  • LeBron James' contract with the Los Angeles Lakers expires this summer.

The players

LeBron James

A 41-year-old NBA superstar who began his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers and later returned to lead the franchise to its first championship.

Donovan Mitchell

A star player for the Cleveland Cavaliers who is reportedly leading the effort to recruit LeBron James back to the team.

James Harden

A newly acquired player for the Cleveland Cavaliers who is also reportedly part of the push to bring LeBron James back to the team.

Kendrick Perkins

A former Cleveland Cavaliers player who says his sources have told him about Mitchell and Harden's efforts to recruit LeBron.

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What they’re saying

“Donovan Mitchell and James Harden are starting the push to go and recruit LeBron James this offseason. My sources tell me as soon as James Harden got on the phone and got around the team...we're about to go all-out, and we want LeBron James.”

— Kendrick Perkins, Former Cavaliers Player (Road Trippin' Show)

What’s next

LeBron James will become a free agent this summer, and his decision on where to play next season will be one of the biggest stories in the NBA.

The takeaway

LeBron James' potential return to the Cleveland Cavaliers would be a sensational homecoming, giving him a chance to win another title with the franchise where he began his career and later led to championship glory. The recruitment efforts by current Cavaliers stars Donovan Mitchell and James Harden show the team's strong desire to bring LeBron back to Cleveland.