The summer of 2017 hasn't worked out the way the Cleveland Cavaliers might have wanted it to. After failing to win the NBA championship last season, the Cavaliers are still trying to find ways to improve this offseason. Honestly, Cleveland lost to a better team in the 2017 NBA Finals, as the Golden State Warriors were simply too much to handle. The Warriors won the title in convincing fashion, as they dismantled the Cavaliers 4-1 in the Finals. It became apparent that the combination of Durant and Curry, alongside with Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, is on a different level.
The Cavaliers also realized that, and they knew that changes had to be made in order to get that title next season.
Cavaliers' inability to acquire a 'big time' player
While there were many talks about Cleveland maybe signing Jimmy Butler or Paul George this summer, that didn't happen. Butler ended up in Minnesota and George was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. After that, the Cavaliers turned their focus to acquiring Carmelo Anthony, but that deal hasn't happened yet. Carmelo is still in New York, and there is a strong possibility that he ends up in Houston by the end of the offseason. The only real upgrade the Cavs made this summer is acquiring free-agent Jeff Green.
And if there's somebody who knows basketball, and is aware of the moment - it's LeBron James.
According to Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today, James is apparently frustrated and concerned with the moves the Cavaliers made, or didn't make, this offseason. Reportedly, a "person with direct knowledge of James' thinking," told USA Today that the four-time league MVP is frustrated with the team's inability to acquire better players that would help them compete against the Warriors.
James has a point, if we take a closer look at the moves the Warriors made this summer, and compare them to the Cavaliers.
Could LeBron leave Cleveland again?
Earlier this offseason, Cleveland signed a veteran point guard Jose Calderon to a one-year deal. They also signed Jeff Green, and re-signed Kyle Korver. Richard Jefferson will be on the team as well next season, and the Cavaliers' latest move was signing rookie Cedi Osman from Turkey to a multi-year deal.
LeBron knows that while these are relatively good moves and signings, it's still not enough to beat the Golden State Warriors in a potential Finals rematch. James has two years remaining on his contract with the Cavaliers, but has the right to opt out of his final year and become a free-agent in the summer of 2018. The way things are looking now, it's hard not to think that LeBron could leave Cleveland again. The Los Angeles Lakers are mentioned as the possible landing spot for LeBron in 2018, and if the Cavs fail to win the title again next season - anything's possible.
