Like most people, I was a skeptic during the season when folks talked about LeBron James returning to the Cavs next season after he opts out of his contract with Miami and becomes an unrestricted free agent. It just seemed too absurd of a notion.
But I am starting to believe that the possibility exists, however remote.
Just for kicks, let’s throw out a few “What ifs …”
What if the Miami Heat lose to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals? Or lose to the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.
What then?
The Heat will not be considered a dynasty, because you need three consecutive championships to make it into the dynasty category. The Big Three will have the opportunity to return, but what if one of them wants to make it a four-year chapter of his career, then move on to the next big thing.
What if LeBron misses the hero worship that embodied his time in Akron and Cleveland? What if he wants to be loved again the way he once was?
What if the Cavs are willing to give up the No. 1 pick in the draft to acquire Kevin Love prior to LeBron’s free agency on July 1? What if playing with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love is appealing to LeBron?
(RELATED: ONLY A 25 PERCENT CHANCE KEVIN LOVE STAYS IN MINNESOTA)
Just a few things to think about, as I discussed in this interview on the Bill and Grant Show on 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C.
Love trade to Cleveland is not likely to happen at this time, because Kevin likely wouldn’t give any guarantee that he’d re-sign with CLE, unless of course he knew that James was going there (Catch-22).
Unless Heat get beat badly in remaining playoffs, making it unlikely they would have a chance to win the 3rd Champ. next year, LeBron should play it safer and re-consider Cavs next July, after giving their young players a year to develop. The should still be able to find the cap space next year.
Cleveland is filled with nothing but bad defensive players, not to mention has one of the worst majority owners in all of professional sports. I would hope James is better than this, so stoop that low.
In Cleveland, during the playoffs, James practically had to defend five-on-one. Let’s get real, he gets plenty of hero worship in Miami and in the country. Hero worship in Cleveland sports is easy and cheap, it’s where bastions of mediocrity like Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Bernie Kosar (and his cabinet full of liquor flasks) are considered gods.