5 steps the Cleveland Cavaliers must take to initiate the rebuild

CLEVELAND,OH - Rodney Hood #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers high five in Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals on June 8, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND,OH - Rodney Hood #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers high five in Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals on June 8, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
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CLEVELAND,OH – Rodney Hood #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers high five in Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals on June 8, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND,OH – Rodney Hood #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers high five in Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals on June 8, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Once the powerhouse of the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers need to enter a full rebuild. They must trust the process, and here are five steps to kick it off.

Just a few days ago, LeBron James, the Northeast Ohio native, left his hometown team for the second time in the last decade. This time around though, it seems fans from all around Ohio have embraced and accepted the news.

As it ranks, Cleveland is the fourth leading city in sales for James’ new Los Angeles Lakers jersey. The hostility isn’t there this time around. However, the hole that James’ absence will cause is there.

Although Cleveland is in a much better place to rebuild than they were in 2010, it’ll be a process they have to go through in order to reign supreme again one day. That process comes with sacrifice, and it comes with challenges to the front office, the young players within the organization, and the dedicated fanbase.

Also within the week, all-star forward DeMarcus Cousins made a huge free agency splash. He left New Orleans for who other than Golden State.

The Warriors are now the clear favorites to win the 2019 NBA Finals (as if they weren’t before), and while Cleveland might have tried to compete with LeBron James on the roster, without him it seems pointless to continue making strides to contend.

It’s time to think of the future, and the Cavs can do that by doing a few if not all of these steps.