Joe Vardon: The Cavs are Championship Contenders with LeBron episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 1, 2026 · 20 MIN

Joe Vardon: The Cavs are Championship Contenders with LeBron

from The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima

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.

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.

NOW PLAYING

Joe Vardon: The Cavs are Championship Contenders with LeBron

0:00 20:04

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima?

This episode is 20 minutes long.

When was this The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima episode published?

This episode was published on July 1, 2026.

What is this episode about?

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...

Can I download this The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!