LeBron James says the Cavaliers were ‘consideration for sure’ in July: Cleveland was the only team he met with as a free agent

LeBron James said the Cleveland Cavaliers were “consideration for sure” during his 25 days as a free agent in July, and his agent Rich Paul confirmed Cleveland was the only team James met with before he chose the Philadelphia 76ers, Chris Fedor writes.

The Cavaliers sent a contingent to James’ home: president of basketball operations Koby Altman, vice president of business operations Grant Gilbert and now-general manager Brandon Weems, a childhood friend of James. “The nature of the meeting, I probably won’t discuss much, but it was consideration for sure,” James said after Thursday’s game in Philadelphia. “That’s a team trying to build toward the championship and things of that nature. I was trying to decide where I wanted to go with the rest of my career, to finish my career or whatever the case may be, the next step, and there was a lot of consideration for sure.” Cleveland and Philadelphia were finalists along with Minnesota, Miami and Golden State.

Multiple members of the Cavaliers organization believed James was leaning toward a homecoming, including Donovan Mitchell, who was involved in the recruitment. Mitchell said at media day that the choice surprised him, and that he expected Golden State if not Cleveland. After missing out, the Cavaliers brought Mario Hezonja back to the NBA after six years in the EuroLeague and traded for Peyton Watson to fill the hole at small forward.

“You’re anticipating. You’re excited. You’re expecting something to happen, and it doesn’t happen and that first day or two you’re just like depressed, quite honestly,” coach Kenny Atkinson said before Thursday’s game. “I loved how quickly we switched gears and the push to get Peyton in the fold and everything we had to do to do that. It was a complicated maneuver. Dan Gilbert and Koby, they’re aggressive. They don’t stand pat. We take risks. We take swings.”

James had 17 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals on Thursday as the 76ers erased a 29-point deficit to beat the Cavaliers 114-106. His first game back in Cleveland with Philadelphia comes in the Nov. 4-8 week.