LeBron James puts Cleveland Cavaliers on notice with MVP-level performance

The Cleveland Cavaliers are making a mistake if they’re starting to take LeBron James for granted.

With LeBron James’ MVP-level performance against an elite team and elite two-way player in Minnesota Timberwolves guard-forward Jimmy Butler, he sent a powerful message to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Don’t take him for granted.

After dropping 37 points (on 72.7 percent shooting from the field), dishing out 15 assists and grabbing 10 rebounds, all team-highs, James notched his ninth triple-double of the season.

As he passed the beloved Zydrunas Ilgauskus for the most rebounds in Cavs history, James became just the third player in NBA history to lead their team in points, rebounds and assists, joining Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls) and Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves).

James also is the franchise’s leader in games played (820), minutes played (32,068), field goals made (8,050), three-point field goals made (1,195), free-throw made (4,976) and steals (1,345).

He’s easily the most dominant player in franchise history, even after missing four seasons to play with the Miami Heat (2010-2014).

Carrying the Cleveland Cavaliers from tipoff to the clock expired, James also sealed another game with a clutch defensive play against a top player. With stops against the likes of Blake Griffin and Kristaps Porzingis, Butler is just the latest victim of James’ late-game clamps.

That’s not to say James didn’t make clutch plays on the offensive end, as he made a game-tying layup late in the game before coming up with that sensational block. James also made a Christian Laettner-style buzzer-beater to win the game.

James, who struggled without his jump shit throughout January (he shot 22.0 percent from three-point range), had it going on Wednesday as he knocked 5 threes (out of 7).

Should anyone in, or in support of, the Cleveland Cavaliers organization want James waive his no-trade clause? No.

Should Cavaliers team owner Dan Gilbert be ready for James to get out his hair? No.

Is any player outside the top three or five prospects in the 2018 NBA Draft going to change a team’s fortunes and lead them to a championship like James? No.

To that point, in James’ four-year absence the Cavs had four lottery picks, including the breathtaking Kyrie Irving (the first pick in the 2018 NBA Draft). There was no team success until James returned though.

With that said, James’ performance last night should have reminded the Cavs that they’re a team who needs, and has needed, James. They need him to be the face of the franchise and to lead the team to another NBA championship.

No, he won’t always be around. Father Time is undefeated and that’s indisputable. However, when James gone, they’ll miss the success and attention he’s brought the organization.

Will Gilbert take James for granted?

The 33-year-old forward is now averaging 26.5 points, 8.7 assists, 8.0 rebounds, 1.6 steals, 1.0 block and 4.5 turnovers per game. He’s shooting 56.7 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from three-point range and 74.3 percent from the free-throw line.

*All stats gathered from www.basketball-reference.com