Cleveland Cavaliers: Questions surrounding the summer of LeBron James
LeBron’s Legacy
LeBron’s legacy is important to the history of the NBA. No one knows this better than LeBron so his decision of summer 2018 will not be easy. LeBron’s 2010 decision at first seemed to tarnish his legacy. How could he leave the team that drafted him? How could he leave them on national television? How could he have done the ‘Decision’?
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He won two championships with Miami and was the best player on the team in each of his four years there. He established himself not just as a great NBA player but also a winner. Leaving Cleveland for Miami was the best career move for LeBron. Why would LeBron leave Miami for Cleveland? He has a great team, why leave? He is playing with a hall of famer, why leave? He won two rings and can win more, why leave? Remember the infamous Dan Gilbert letter? Why would Lebron play for Gilbert again? LeBron is not leaving Miami. We all know what happened on July 11, don’t we?
LeBron brought Cleveland a championship to Cleveland. The Cleveland championship established LeBron as a basketball immortal. Why leave Cleveland again? He is playing with a hall famer, why leave? He won a ring and can win more, why leave? He has a great team, why leave? LeBron is not leaving Cleveland again. These questions represent a deja vu moment, don’t they?
What would it mean for the legacy of LeBron James if he went to the Lakers? What would recognition as the player that brought the Lakers back from doldrums do for LeBron’s legacy? What would surviving the western conference gauntlet and then beating the Warriors do for LeBron’s legacy? What would winning two championships in the Warriors prime while navigating the western conference gauntlet do for LeBron’s legacy? Winning under these circumstances would make these championships more valuable than any that LeBron previously earned. A move to the Lakers in summer 2018 would establish LeBron as the legend of legends in NBA history.
So as we approach the summer of LeBron opinions as to whether he is staying or leaving Cleveland will become common place. Several individuals will be quoting their sources. We will hear that this comes from someone who is close to LeBron’s inner circle. We will hear that I heard it from someone who knows someone who knows LeBron. Cupcake store owner and furniture moving men will become important sources. Let us not forget the gardener or the real estate broker. Where LeBron’s inner circle own the property is important right? As we prepare to stalk planes, moving trucks and barricade front gates let us remember one important point, LeBron James is a free agent.
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As Gordon Hayward illustrated this isn’t an easy decision, but ultimately a choice has to be made. LeBron has earned the right to make this decision. He shouldn’t be guilted into making a choice to stay, he delivered a championship and as such owes Cleveland nothing. I think that he is heading to the Lakers and I expect the NBA world to be just as shocked as they were on July 11, 2014.
On this the third anniversary of his return to the Cleveland Cavaliers the count down to the summer of LeBron has officially begun.