Rumor: LeBron to let Cavs know his free agency intentions on Wednesday

LeBron James could let the Cleveland Cavaliers know if he wants to return as early as Wednesday.

According to Basketball Society’s Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, LeBron James plans to let the Cleveland Cavaliers know his free agency intentions — whether he’ll return or take his talents elsewhere — on Wednesday.

"A source familiar with LeBron James’ thinking told me this afternoon that the Cavs’ free agent-to-be will inform Cleveland whether he plans to stay or go, this Wednesday."

With the 2018 NBA Draft a little more than a week away (June 21st) and the deadline for James to opt into the final of his contract on June 29th, this is a rumor that makes sense even if it’s unexpected.

Whether James wants to re-sign or leave, letting the Cavaliers know his intentions now allows the front office to be comfortable trading the 8th pick in the draft for an All-Star or keeping the pick in the event of a necessary rebuild.

Many have speculated that this isn’t how James would operate, considering that in 2010 and 2014, he told neither the Cavs or the Miami Heat of his intention to leave the organization prior to the draft. Furthermore, considering his diligence in assessing the championship hopes of his potential suitors, that he would wait until he had his free agency meetings seemed like a logical assumption.

However, according to James, this decision is a lot easier than the one he made in 2010.

He’s a champion, unlike in 2010, and doesn’t seem to be looking for outside validation anymore; he’s just challenging himself to reach six titles.

He’s said multiple times that he wants to finish his career in Cleveland and I don’t believe he was talking about an honorary one-day contract or a one-year deal when he’s on his last legs.

He has sons who have grown close to kids within Northeast Ohio; his oldest son LeBron James Jr. routinely brings his friends to the Cavs games.

He also has a baby daughter in Zhuri and moving her away from a place she’s been comfortable, as with his sons and wife, an Akron-native, doesn’t seem like it’ll be appealing.

In truth, James could very well be comfortable in other places. It just seems as if he’s already comfortable where he’s at.

His kingdom.

Furthermore, contrary to popular belief, the Cavs’ biggest obstacle isn’t convincing James that they’re capable of putting a great team around him, he already believed they did that with the moves at the trade deadline.

Though the team had struggles with the championship-or-bust type of pressure that follows James everywhere he goes, those growing pains weren’t necessarily what kept them from winning a championship, as veterans who had been in the NBA Finals before (like Kyle Korver and J.R. Smith) were struggling too.

That said, with the way that Houston Rockets guards Eric Gordon and James Harden would have a stretch of struggles against the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals and the way the Philadelphia 76ers’ franchise cornerstones in Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid failed to reach the Eastern Conference Finals with their struggles in the previous round, James could easily look around the league and say that the only issue his team had that was exclusive to them was a lack of star power.

The front office would need time to construct trade parameters with teams in order to bring that type of star power in via a draft day deal, so if James wanted them to pull the trigger on a move, he’s wise to say so as early as possible.

Of course, James could also have already decided he would leave and chase his rings with a squad with better coaching, depth and/or starpower and his telling the front office his plans early is simply a way to be courteous and let them go all in on a rebuild without second guessing their moves.

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