Why a LeBron James return to Cavs remains complicated

Any summer involving Lakers superstar LeBron James is going to invite speculation. This one will be no different.

James is entering his offseason with a $52.6 million expiring contract, and the idea of a return to the Cavaliers has once again surfaced. According to Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron, however, the logistics make that path far less clean than it might sound.

The Cavs are projected to be over the second apron again next season, severely limiting their flexibility. Clearing enough space to use the $6.1 million taxpayer mid-level exception is possible, but that would only be about $2.2 million more than James could earn on a veteran minimum. And it could come at the cost of weakening the roster elsewhere.

Gozlan floated an alternative structure — as in a two-year, $8 million deal with a player option and no-trade clause. That setup would allow James to count for $3.9 million against the cap if he signs for two seasons, or just $2.5 million if it’s a one-year agreement.

In other words, if LeBron ends up back in Cleveland, it likely won’t be because the Cavs outbid anyone. It’ll be because the situation makes sense to him, financially and competitively.

That’s usually how this goes.