It’s been bandied about now for several days that LeBron James could make a third appearance in a Cavaliers uniform in the existential 11th hour of his career.

But despite what’s being said by various talking heads and even some well-respected, generally accurate and knowledgeable reporters, there’s an element of the collective bargaining agreement that’s being left out of these fanciful discussions wherein LeBron is envisaged as a buyout candidate.

A team above the first apron is prohibited from signing a player whose salary prior to being waived was more than the non-taxpayer mid-level exception.

James exercised his player option for the 2025-26 season June 29; his salary is currently $52,627,153. The NTMLE is $14.104 million. So even if he were willing to play in Cleveland for the minimum, it still isn’t possible via that route.

The only feasible way it could work would be a trade — the framework of which would need to include enough salary for the Cavs to end up below the second apron. That would require including multiple franchise players. And that would be asinine.

The Cavs could’ve made some moves that were suggested here several weeks ago that could have made an immediate return possible. But even that was a longshot and the ship with the possibility on it has already left port.

So what team would make sense for the Akron Hammer this season? And is there any hope of a North Shore reunion around the corner? We’re headed there right now in Part 2.

—@PoisonPill4