Rumor: LeBron James is more likely staying
Rumors about LeBron James leaving Cleveland next season have been swirling around all summer. However, indications of those close to James have been nothing but the contrary.
Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Joe Vardon and Chris Fedor discussed in their recent Wine and Gold podcast about the possibility of LeBron James leaving Cleveland. The idea that he’s on his way out or should be traded appears to be an overreaction. According to Vardon:
"“Some things have happened, in the wrong way for the Cavs. The off-season just didn’t work out as I think LeBron had hoped. He was hoping that they would get that they would get a franchise transitional player that they could shake things up and could make a run at the Warriors. That didn’t happen…Does LeBron know where he’s gong to be next year? No he doesn’t. That enough should be concerning to the Cavs.”"
Vardon later summed it up by saying:
"“He has never picked up the option on a contract…He is not going to declare ahead of time that I’m (James) staying here past my contract. Because that’s how he operates. He wants to make sure that the Cavs do to do the right thing. By no means is he 100% gone. There’s just too many things that could happen.”"
Whether LeBron stays in Cleveland or not remains to be seen, but there doesn’t appear to be indications from his camp that he is on his way out.
The entire podcast can be listened to here. They begin to talk about LeBron in free agency beings at around the 26:00-minute mark.
LeBron James does have options if he is to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the several teams that could give James the winning atmosphere that he craves. The tampering charges that have been happening in Los Angeles is not a good site if the historically great team hopes to land the King. That said, James might not even be interested in going elsewhere if LA isn’t a pretty option.
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If he is to stay in Cleveland after this upcoming season, James will most likely be a Cav for the rest of his NBA career. I don’t see him doing what Michael Jordan did, leave his last couple seasons for a different team. James has too much invested in Cleveland to leave them now. It would shock me and the whole city of Cleveland if James leaves following next season.