For the second time, LeBron James will abandon the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to long-time NBA writer Chris Sheridan. According to Sheridan, a source told him that the coming season will be James’ last in Cleveland and he’s 100 percent leaving the Cavaliers in 2018. Sheridan added that the relationship between James and team owner Dan Gilbert is beyond repair. However, Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio disputed Sheridan’s claim, saying his source “swung, and missed by a mile.” Chris Broussard of Fox Sports 1 echoed Amico's pronouncement, adding that James will decide on his future after this season.
It was earlier reported that James will leave the Cavaliers and join the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. James first left the Cavs in 2010 when he took his talent to South Beach and joined the Miami Heat, where he won two NBA titles. In 2014, he returned to the Cavaliers and led them to three straight NBA finals appearances and gave the franchise their first NBA crown in 2016. However, things turned sour between Gilbert and James when the team parted ways with general manager David Griffin, the architect of the Cavaliers’ resurgence.
Griffin’s firing irked James
The firing came at the time when the Cavaliers were trying to work out a trade with the Chicago Bulls for Jimmy Butler. The Bulls eventually traded Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
James became frustrated with the team when the Cavaliers allowed Griffin to leave without offering him a contract extension. The Cavs took some time before formally hiring Koby Altman as general manager, denying them a chance to work out a trade for big-name free agents in the market. Cleveland’s lack of moves in the offseason also frustrated James as they need to beef up their lineup to challenge the Golden State Warriors next season.
Worse, Kyrie Irving demanded a trade from the Cavaliers, saying he’s tired of playing in James’ shadow and wants to be the leader of a team. Irving said he wanted the Cavs to trade him to either the New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, or the San Antonio Spurs.
No significant offseason moves for Cavs
While the Warriors kept the corps of their championship team intact and added shooting guards Nick Young and Omri Casspi, the Cavaliers did not get any big names from the free agent pool.
The Cavaliers signed former MVP Derrick Rose to a one year, veteran minimum deal. The Cavaliers also added veteran forward Jeff Green and Jose Calderon to identical one-year, $2.3 million deals, and kept sharpshooter Kyle Korver via a three-year, $22 million contract.
