Cleveland Cavaliers Run The Risk Of Running LeBron James Out-Of-Town Early

The Cleveland Cavaliers run the risk of running LeBron James out-of-town early because they’re reneging on promises.

With the way the situation sounds in Cleveland, LeBron James and Dan Gilbert’s working relationship isn’t really working anymore. It seems like it’s been falling apart ever since Gilbert infamously held up the Larry O’Brien Trophy like Rafiki held up Simba in Disney’s “Lion King”. This is a reference made only to show the complete mockery Gilbert made of the historical moment by trying to be in the spotlight early and often.

The irony that Gilbert’s shining moment in Cleveland came after Cleveland’s prodigal son returned home for the sake of the Cleveland Cavaliers and not for himself, for he had won two championships in the time he had none, shouldn’t be lost on anyone.

The idea that the man who openly supported President Donald Trump while LeBron James went on the campaign trail with Hillary Clinton, could be at odds with James on a fundamental level, shouldn’t be inconceivable.

That’s why reading these words in an article written by ESPN’s senior writer Brian Windhorst wasn’t surprising (emphasis mine):

"“Tension between LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ leadership is centered on payroll spending, multiple sources told ESPN.James and team owner Dan Gilbert have different views on the issue, and it has been straining the relationship, sources said.”"

Nor were these (from the same article):

"“When James was considering a return to the Cavs in 2014, he pressed Gilbert on whether he’d be willing to spend unconditionally on talent, regardless of the luxury-tax cost, sources said. Over the course of several meetings with James and his representatives, Gilbert agreed, and James subsequently signed with the team.”"

Or these (from the same article, emphasis mine):

"James, however, has grown frustrated. He perceives that the Cavaliers have slowed new spending after winning their first championship, sources said."

While Gilbert and general manager David Griffin are angered by James, does it not make sense for there to be confusion on James’ part. While Griffin says they’ll only pay for players who are worth it, plenty of worthy players have been passed up. That’s one problem. James was also told there would be an unlimited budget. That Griffin says there’s an unlimited budget but that it comes with a caveat, is like telling a half-truth.

An alternative fact, if you will.

After all, according to Windhorst, Gilbert made these comments.

"“We’re committed. We’re all-in. … When you invest in something like a sports franchise and you’re in for so much … [if] you, at the margins, start pulling back, I think that may be foolish on a lot of fronts.”"

Isn’t pulling back at the margins exactly what the Cleveland Cavaliers have been doing?

Maybe the Cavs don’t need a big splash trade. Maybe they just need to take a chance, according to James. Sign a veteran point guard like Jarrett Jack, Norris Cole or Mario Chalmers and a veteran frontcourt player like Carl Landry, J.J. Hickson or Andrea Bargnani could be what James wants the team to do this season.

Those players are all experienced veterans who can stretch the floor, for one. Defensively, they all have their positive attributes as well. Jack and Hickson would be my choices from that list. Both have experience with current players on the Cleveland Cavaliers team and are hard-working veterans who display toughness on the floor.

In any case, the Cleveland Cavaliers are doing the types of things that James has shown he disliked in his career.

They’re not showing him a certain respect as they consistently say James isn’t making a point but in reality, the facts show he is. Such is the case with Griffin initially saying the team didn’t need a big man then flipping the script after an injury scare against the Phoenix Suns where Tristan Thompson left the floor briefly with a dislocated finger. It’s also the case now, as Griffin says the team doesn’t have a budget but is hesitant to spend. So hesitant to spend, that they haven’t signed any player and even the trade for Kyle Korver didn’t cost a thing.

They did spend $2.5 million on Kay Felder, I guess. So spending $4 million (including the luxury tax) on a veteran they’d sign on a minimum contract is probably way too much.

Sarcasm aside, with a patchy relationship between James and Gilbert becoming more strained because Gilbert stopped doing what he told James he would, what got James to sign with the Cavs instead of a team like the Phoenix Suns, after the Cavs won a single championship. He stopped spending. It may seem like it’s an overreaction by James but how many people can be the greatest ever at something in their lives?

How many only have what’s probably a 3-5 year window to achieve that goal?

James has three rings and would likely like six rings, like Michael Jordan.

More from Cavs News

When he has a chance to become a free agent in 2018, he can sign with the Phoenix Suns (who will have Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker, two of his favorite players on the team along with Tyson Chandler, Marquese Chriss, Dragan Bender, Jared Dudley and Brandon Knight) or the San Antonio Spurs (who will have Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Danny Green and Dejounte Murray).

Both teams have at least as much talent at the top of their roster as the Cavs do now, will have more cap space to spend in 2018 on other players and, in the case of the Phoenix Suns, will have at least one other high draft pick by the time James can sign with them.

Let’s not forget that the Suns have an outstanding training facility and players often feel younger and rejuvenated playing in Phoenix or that the Spurs have mastered the art of resting players. Both teams will help James’ longevity.

In addition, let’s not forget that James is also a big coach of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and considers him to be the best coach of all-time. He’d even consider playing in the 2020 Olympics, even after skipping the 2016 Olympics to let the young guys have it, because Popovich will be the head coach for Team USA. As far as Kawhi, he has the potential to be the best player in the NBA.

There’s no word on James’ idea of Earl Watson as a head coach or if Watson would even be the head coach of the Suns in 2018 but Bledsoe is like James’ little brother and Booker is a player James said has All-Star potential, and was probably the first person to say that publicly.

So while the Cavs may have Thompson, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert locked-in through 2018, other teams will have at least as much talent and executive leadership where the respect is mutual or at least will be better than the working relationship between Gilbert and James.

James will leave again if he has to, though he’d probably like another championship or two before 2018. Have you ever watched your friend’s romantic relationship fall apart from afar? This is the Cavs second attempt at romance with James but if they don’t change their ways and their caveats, they run the risk of running James out-of-town early. Once you lose a person’s trust, the relationship is almost bound to fail from that point on.

Related Story: What To Do Against GSW

Do you think that the Cleveland Cavaliers are risking running LeBron James out-of-town early? Let us know in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA.