King James Gospel
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Beighle: The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t deserve LeBron James

By Nathan Beighle

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers sits on the bench late in the game against the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers sits on the bench late in the game against the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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Over the last couple seasons, the Cleveland Cavaliers have hurt their chances of winning the Finals and now killed their chance of retaining LeBron James.

Do the Cleveland Cavaliers deserve LeBron James?

Let’s take a short trip to the past. About 11 months ago, the Cleveland Cavaliers traded their second best player, Kyrie Irving. Albeit Irving wanted out, the replacements and the ensuing trades made by Cleveland made them undeserving of keeping the King this free agency.

Irving demanded a trade. His knee even made it possible for him to threaten to sit the season out like he did for the last few months of this past season in Boston. While that might have been necessary, looking in hindsight, we can accurately see how the trade played out.

The trade at the time was Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the 2018 Brooklyn Nets first-round pick which turned into Collin Sexton. The Nets pick ended up being the No. 8 overall selection.

Then, with mid-season turmoil hitting the Cavs as hard as ever, the management made a move to shake things up, trading two of the three players they acquired along with Derrick Rose. They brought in George Hill, Larry Nance Jr., Rodney Hood, and Jordan Clarkson while retaining that 2018 first-round pick.

With little postseason experience that was certainly displayed in the NBA Finals, the Cavaliers mid-season trades were far more hyped up than they needed to be.

Instead of dealing several players, the Cavs had an opportunity with DeAndre Jordan on the block to bring in a superstar talent, but they didn’t. They cared more about the future than the present.

They continue to show that passion for the future by keeping Collin Sexton instead of trading him or the pick before the draft for a player that might enhance James’ desire to stay. Now, look where that got them. They have some skill on the roster, and behind a core of Hood, Hill, Love, Sexton, Nance Jr. and other, they have a chance to be above .500.

But, .500 might be all Dan Gilbert wanted.

Did he want LeBron James to stay and continue to pour money into the team? As we remember, the Cavs were one of the few NBA teams to lose money in 2017, according to Forbes.

Next: 10 moves the Cleveland Cavaliers must make if LeBron leaves

Gilbert and company chose mediocrity over contending. That’s reason No. 1 why LeBron James shouldn’t see his legacy torn apart upon his leaving.

This past season, Cleveland showed that they don’t deserve his greatness anyway.