Joe Vardon: The Cavs are Championship Contenders with LeBron
Joe Vardon: The Cavs are Championship Contenders with LeBron  
Podcast: The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima
Published On: Wed Jul 01 2026
Description: Joe Vardon of The Athletic joins Ken and Lima and says he now believes LeBron is coming to Cleveland, admitting the reporting community was completely wrong about a done deal with the Lakers just weeks ago. He pushes back on trade speculation involving Evan Mobley, arguing it makes no sense for the Cavs to deal a 25-year-old two-way player, but says a Donovan Mitchell-for-Jaylen Brown swap with Boston is at least a more realistic thought exercise given Mitchell's looming extension. Vardon argues the Cavs already have a compelling pitch for LeBron since he'd have real relationships with James Harden and Donovan Mitchell in the locker room, something he never had with the Lakers, and doesn't think Cleveland needs to make roster upgrades to win him over. He closes by saying if LeBron signs and no major moves are made otherwise, the Cavs are a legitimate championship contender in a deep Eastern Conference.