Polymarket Sports posted on Monday that the Cleveland Cavaliers now have a 46% chance of landing LeBron James. The Golden State Warriors (25%), the Miami Heat (16%), and the Philadelphia 76ers (7%) are also in contention to sign the former Los Angeles Lakers superstar.
James’ close friend, Cuffs The Legend, emphatically urged him not to return to Cleveland for three major reasons.
LeBron James Urged to Reject Cavaliers Reunion for 3 Major Reasons
Going back to Cleveland, for what could possibly be the last season of his all-time great career, is the storybook ending for James, according to some analysts. The Akron, Ohio, native could walk into the sunset in front of an adoring fan base.
However, Cuffs strongly pushed back against the odds of James reuniting with his home team.
“Kenny “Analytically Speaking” Atkinson is NOT the guy to coach these Cavs.. and unless Kyrie is replacing James Harden.. It’s a NO for me, dog. Evan Mobley & Jarrett Allen are simply just too SOFT!” he posted.
Kenny “Analytically Speaking” Atkinson is NOT the guy to coach these Cavs.. and unless Kyrie is replacing James Harden.. it’s a NO for me dog
Evan Mobley & Jarrett Allen are simply just too SOFT! 🤷🏽♂️ https://t.co/RPv80YTvCe
— 73-9 and THEY LIED (@CuffsTheLegend) July 14, 2026
When an NBA observer asked him for his reasons why he called Mobley and Allen soft, the Fox Sports Radio co-host replied:
“Go back and watch the Knicks series.. and it’s not just that.. Mobley & Allen will have monster games and vanish the very next game.. too inconsistent.. not DOGs.”
Go back and watch the Knicks series.. and it’s not just that.. Mobley & Allen will have monster games and vanish the very next game.. too inconsistent.. not DOGs
— 73-9 and THEY LIED (@CuffsTheLegend) July 14, 2026
James’ friend couldn’t hold back against Mobley and Allen, who had underwhelming postseasons, especially against the New York Knicks, who swept the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals. Mobley averaged 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game, while the latter posted 11.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, and 1.3 bpg in the conference finals.
Mobley, in particular, struggled offensively in the playoffs. Cleveland had a 116.0 offensive rating without him and only 105.5 with him on the floor, per NBA Stats.
Cavs coach Atkinson arguably made the most polarizing comment in the playoffs, likely the reason James’ friend does not want him to stay on the team. Down 0-3 against the Knicks, Atkinson said Cleveland won two out of the three games “analytically.”
Cleveland isn’t the only place James’ friend asked him to stay away from. This is the second team in a matter of days that the podcaster has publicly appealed to James not to consider.
On Sunday, he asked James not to “overthink” the process and bring his 22-time All-Star talents to South Beach instead of joining Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in Golden State.
According to Cuffs, the Bam Adebayo-Giannis Antetokounmpo pairing is much better than the Curry-Green combo.
The four-time NBA Finals MVP is roughly two weeks removed from announcing his decision to leave Hollywood, giving him enough time to weigh his options.
He will likely go to a team that makes sense to him over any indicators pushed by odds or public pleas from the NBA community and from people he knows.
