Are the Cleveland Cavaliers preparing for life after LeBron James?
The Cleveland Cavaliers and David Griffin parted ways at the most inopportune time for the team. The team’s only choice for general manager, Chauncey Billups rejected their contract offer. The team’s off-season signings were Jeff Green, a player who has underwhelmed at virtually every stop to date in his career, Jose Calderon a player who was washed up three years ago, and Cedi Osman an unproven Turkish league player. The whispers that LeBron James is departing for the Lakers as a free-agent are becoming deafening shouts. After being dangled as trade bait, Kyrie Irving has reportedly demanded a trade. To say that the Cavaliers have had an awful offseason is a gross understatement.
The Cavaliers’ seemingly awful offseason was not accidental but rather by design. The Cleveland Cavaliers ownership apparently expects LeBron James to depart as free-agent next summer. If LeBron is leaving the team, why make far-reaching changes to the team? Why should you extend LeBron’s preferred general manager? Why should you pull out all the stops to bring in a General manger who is coming to be LeBron’s new general manager?
A game of musical chairs such as moving Kevin Love for Carmelo whose contract expires in 2019 makes sense. Jeff Green and Jose Calderon are minimal salary commitments and Osman is young enough to be part of the inevitable rebuild. Here is a nice conspiracy theory for you, the ownership of the Cavaliers want LeBron to depart as free-agent in the Summer of 2018. The ownership knows what they are doing, and are not only preparing for life after LeBron but are initiating it.
Here is why the Cavs are ready to move on from LeBron.