LeBron Is Cruising Through Ohio Right as the Warriors Noise Gets Loud

LeBron James posted a video on Instagram Thursday night. He’s driving around Northeast Ohio, the captions says he’s “ENJOYING A NICE CRUISE THRU MY CITY.” Free agency officially opens Friday. The timing is not subtle.

This is the same LeBron who made “The Decision” 16 years ago. The same guy who came back to Cleveland, won a title, then left again. So when he drops a video of himself rolling through Akron on the eve of free agency, people notice. Especially with the Golden State Warriors reportedly pushing hard to bring him in alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.

There’s a chunk of the rumor mill that ties Anthony Davis to this mess too. Some reports say the Warriors are trying to land both James and Washington’s big man. That would be a four-man core that nobody saw coming and everyone would hate or love depending on which side of the Bay you’re standing on.

LeBron still owns a house in Ohio. He has roots there. It’s not weird that he’s in the state. But the phrase “my city” on the day before free agency? That’s a choice. He knows it. The internet knows it.

Warriors or Cavs or Lakers? Pick one.

The Cavaliers are also trying to re-sign James Harden, but you have to wonder if they’d pivot hard if LeBron signaled any interest in a second homecoming. He already did the dramatic return once. The letter, the parade, the whole thing. Would he really post that video and then join the team that beat the Cavs in three Finals? Stranger things have happened.

And don’t forget the Lakers. LeBron plans to meet with them in the next few days. One sit-down could settle everything for a ninth year in L.A. That’s not a done deal though. The Lakers might feel confident. The Warriors clearly have faith. And now Cleveland has a reason to dream again.

Fans online were quick to react. Some called it a masterclass in trolling. Others saw it as a genuine sign he’s coming back. One Twitter user pointed out that LeBron recently highlighted a portion of his trip with members of the 2015-16 Cavs team. That squad won the franchise’s first and only championship. The nostalgia play is real.

There’s no “Decision Part II” planned. But that doesn’t mean three fan bases won’t end up feeling played by the end of the weekend. LeBron is doing what he does best. Keeping everyone guessing.