Brandon Weems Reportedly Promoted to Cavs GM, Was LeBron James' HS Teammate

The Cleveland Cavaliers didn't land LeBron James this offseason, but they are reportedly promoting his high school teammate to general manager.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported Friday the Cavaliers promoted Brandon Weems to be their new GM under team president Koby Altman. Weems has been with Cleveland for a decade and had various scouting and personnel roles prior to becoming the assistant GM in 2022.

Cleveland's GM role was open because Mike Gansey joined the Philadelphia 76ers as their president of basketball operations.

Philadelphia is also where James ended up this offseason, although ESPN noted his agent, Rich Paul, called Weems "basically LeBron's brother" and suggested his presence with the Cavaliers was a major selling point in their pursuit of the King.

After playing high school basketball with James, Weems played collegiately at Walsh University before joining coaching staffs for Oakland University, Drexel and Kentucky.

Since Weems became the assistant GM in Cleveland in February 2022, the Cavaliers have made the playoffs four consecutive years. Last year was their deepest run during that span, as they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to the New York Knicks.

Weems has helped put together a consistent Eastern Conference contender that figures to remain on the short list of teams that can realistically make a run to the Finals in 2026-27. 

Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen provide plenty of firepower and were just a step away from the sport's biggest stage last season.

It will be up to Weems and the rest of the front office to potentially make complementary moves during the season to put that group in the best position to succeed by the playoffs.