Stephen Jackson Says Cleveland Was the 'Only Thing That Made Sense' for LeBron

Stephen Jackson ran through LeBron James' free agency options on All The Smoke, the podcast he co-hosts with Matt Barnes, and landed on Cleveland.

Philadelphia was not among the destinations Jackson had considered plausible.

"I was one of those guys that thought he would go somewhere he was familiar to, even go to Cleveland," Jackson said. "I thought for me that made the most sense because all the talk you hear about the GOATs and him comparing him to Jordan and Kobe, for me, if he was thinking about it, which he probably never did, but Cleveland was the only thing that made sense for me to keep him in that conversation, because you go back home, you bring another championship there with the team they have there, I think that's bigger than winning the championship with any other team that's already built to win the championship."

"You're the best player in the league as you say," Jackson continued. "So going to a team that's already championship ready, that's not what I would look at as the best player in the league challenging himself. He's done it before and he has the right to make his own decision, just like I have the right to my opinion. I don't think that was a best-player-in-the-league move of what a guy that I respect as being the best player in the league would do."

James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers to a two-year, $8 million deal. He announced it on X on July 24 and called it his last decision. The contract was official two days later.

Before that, James met with Cleveland Cavaliers officials in early July. Mario Hezonja signed with Cleveland after the decision.

On Aug. 19, the Cavaliers acquired Peyton Watson from Denver in a five-team sign-and-trade. Watson's new contract runs four years and $88 million and includes a player option and a 7.5% trade kicker. Max Strus joined the LA Clippers. Denver got an unprotected 2031 Cleveland first-round pick and a 2032 Sacramento second-rounder. Charlotte acquired Dennis Schröder, merging it with the previous deal. Cleveland traded Tre Mann, a 2027 second-round pick, and cash to Washington for Cam Whitmore.

The trade hard-caps Cleveland at the first apron of $209,015,000.

James Harden re-signed the next day for three years and $97 million, with a player option in the final season. He had turned down $42.3 million on June 29. Cleveland acquired Harden from the Clippers on Feb. 4 for Darius Garland and a second-round pick. He averaged 20.5 points and 7.7 assists with the Cavaliers last season, then 19.2 points and 5.5 assists in the playoffs.

Watson played 54 games for Denver last season, averaging 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. He shot 49.1% from the field, 41.1% from 3-point range on 3.6 attempts, and 73.0% from free throw.

James played 11 seasons in Cleveland over two stints, averaging 27.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 7.3 assists, winning two MVPs and the 2016 title.

Cleveland finished 52-30 last season and placed fourth in the Eastern Conference. Seven games were required to get past Toronto in the first round. The Cavaliers trailed Detroit 2-0 in the second round and won that series in seven as well. New York swept the conference finals and then beat San Antonio for the championship.

Donovan Mitchell signed a four-year, $273 million maximum extension this summer.

ESPN projects the Cavaliers to win 51 games in 2026-27, one more than it projects for Philadelphia.

Cleveland opens the season Oct. 22 in Philadelphia at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. The home opener is Oct. 24 against Brooklyn, and James visits Rocket Arena in a 76ers uniform on Nov. 6. Coach Kenny Atkinson begins his third season. Training camps start late September.