Cleveland Cavaliers: The Future Is Bigger Than LeBron James
The Cleveland Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert, and LeBron James could head for another ugly divorce, yet again. The question is, whose fault is it now? The 2017-18 season was to be one of redemption after the Cavaliers were demolished by the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals. However, rumors broke that Kyrie Irving wanted out and from there, everything else just slowly began to fall apart.
No one really knows what drove Irving away other than more rumors. However, with him gone, it’s clear that the Cleveland Cavaliers were not the same team who went to three straight NBA Finals. The Cavaliers and Celtics swapped All-Star point guards which may have set the Cavaliers back. Although they would make the Finals, LeBron didn’t have his right-hand man helping along the way. The result, another Finals loss and possibly the end of the LeBron James era for the second time in Cleveland.
There were rumblings that players were against LeBron bringing in Dwyane Wade. Couple that with non-stop trade rumors and it was only a matter of time before the foundation fell apart. One of the big issues was the contract of Tristan Thompson. LeBron is the reason the Cavaliers signed Thompson to such a huge deal in the first place. To add more fuel to the fire is the job security of Tyronn Lue who LeBron basically placed in the head coach position himself. With Lue’s leadership in question, LeBron has not offered much support for his friend.
Report: @cavs facing “adversarial situation” between LeBron James and owner Dan Gilbert. #NBA https://t.co/pUCKchNFA3 pic.twitter.com/38LZ1NPJ6G
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) February 5, 2018
According to SLAM, there were reports that owner Dan Gilbert wanted to sell the team. And earlier this season, there were rumblings that Gilbert doesn’t care if LeBron bolts after this season or not. Which brings up to the original question. Whose fault is this?
It’s easy to point the finger at LeBron for all he has done or not done for that matter where the Cavaliers are concerned. However, Gilbert has to take some blame as well. What’s happening in Cleveland is a clear power struggle between owner and player. But it shouldn’t be like that. At the end of the day, LeBron James is still an employee of Dan Gilbert’s. I get it, LeBron is the star and may have a little say so but this is where Gilbert has to put his foot down and let James know who pays the bills.
When LeBron left in 2010, it was Gilbert who felt betrayed. Here was an organization who took the local kid with the No. 1 pick, tried his best to build a team around him only to be stabbed in the back on National TV as James told Gilbert, along with the rest of the world he was leaving Cleveland. Gilbert had every right to be upset with LeBron but then he turned around and accepted him back into the family.
Now, everything has come to the surface and there’s no telling how it will end. The Cavaliers were struggling, gave their roster a complete makeover. Gone was Derrick Rose, Channing Frye, Thomas, Jae Crowder, and Wade. In their place are younger players such as Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., George Hill, and Rodney Hood. On the outside looking in, the roster shakeup looked crazy, but a closer look may reveal that the Cavaliers have a contingency plan just in case LeBron pulls another “taking my talents elsewhere” act.
One has to figure that LeBron is gone after the year is up. However, the Cavs have put themselves in a better position than they were a few years ago when he first bolted. If LeBron leaves, the Cavs have possession of the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 pick (No. 8), a young athletic Nance, and Clarkson to pair with Kevin Love. While that unit doesn’t scream 5th straight Finals, it’s still a very solid foundation. Gilbert has to see the writing on the wall in terms of LeBron’s loyalty and he has finally decided to put the team over the name on the back of the jersey.
Keeping LeBron happy was always a top priority and Gilbert has fell victim to that numerous times. However, LeBron has continued to push his own agenda and Gilbert had no choice but to make sure the Cleveland Cavaliers survived another LeBron escape. While winning the championship would’ve been icing on the cake, LeBron is still 33-years old and sooner or later, Father Time will catch up to him. What the Cavs must focus on is the future. If LeBron James does indeed leave for Philly or some other team, the moves the Cavs made since the trade deadline has them in a better position than they were before.
Maybe, just maybe, they can bring Kyrie Irving back.
[BXReporter] [matchedcontent]
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
