LeBron retiring with the Cavs would be the perfect ending to his story

Is there anything in the NBA world that makes more sense than LeBron James retiring with the Cleveland Cavaliers?

According to AP’s Tom Withers, LeBron James won’t rule out returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers to finish his career with the Wine and Gold.

I only have one question: is there really any other way his career is supposed to end?

The King and the Los Angeles Lakers aren’t supposed the final volume of The Legend of LeBron. The Lakers are supposed to be final meaningful chapter, perhaps.

They’re the one franchise that manages to mesh together LeBron’s past, present and future into one.

The Lakers can captivate LeBron the kid, who was watching Earvin “Magic” Johnson leading the “Showtime” Lakers and imagining himself Magic’s shoes while growing up in Akron, Ohio.

As James gets to live out a childhood dream, it’s literally “a dream come true” for him.

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They can captivate LeBron the adult, who has three NBA championships, four NBA MVP awards, three Finals MVP awards, a Rookie of the Year trophy and is the most productive player — from a statistical standpoint — of all-time.

Magic, a three-time champion, leads the Lakers franchise. The Lakers franchise has 16 NBA championships, the second-most of all-time.

Being around championship cultures appeals to LeBron, we all know that; the Lakers have one of the best.

They can even captivate LeBron the retired NBA player and the limitless potential he has when his career is over and the basketball gods have smiled down upon him, thankful for all that he’s contributed to the game.

LeBron arrived in Akron on Monday to open up a public school for the at-risk youth in his hometown and, though he has his hands busy with producing films, acting, investments and the LeBron James Family Foundation, his ultimate goal is to own an NBA team.

Magic, who became the first black owner in the MLB when he became a part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, gives LeBron the blueprint of how to achieve those dreams.

For those reasons, LeBron and the Lakers have formed a necessary and possibly inevitable partnership.

Nonetheless, LeBron’s heart still lives in Ohio. That’s why he has to return and, in the final volume of his long and storied career, retire as a Cav, whether he signs for one year or one day.

LeBron’s story began with a city and a hope in Ohio amidst struggle and his dreams were realized when the lone NBA franchise in Ohio did everything possible to make sure they could draft the hometown kid,.

Sure, the Cavs— led by former owner Gordon Gund and former general manager Jim Paxson (brother of Chicago Bulls president of basketball operations John Paxson) — loves drafting potential prep-to-pro stars in that time and LeBron seems like he should have been a no-brainer pick but there was a player named Carmelo Anthony that some thought could go first overall.

Per Mike Vacarro of the New York Times:

"Here’s what the GM of one playoff-bound NBA team said the other day.“It’s funny, but suddenly one of the best places to be is the second spot in the draft, because you are guaranteed of getting a franchise player no matter what the first team does. The Bulls picked Jay Williams last year and everyone thought that was a no-brainer. Tell you what, if we were in the lottery, I wouldn’t mind being the guy who picked Carmelo Anthony at No. 2. I think he’s a guy who’ll make you look awfully smart awfully quick.”He paused.“Of course, maybe you’ll look even smarter if you go ahead and pick him No. 1. The way he’s played this year, that isn’t a crazy idea as it sounded a few months ago.”"

Luckily for the Cavs, Paxson wasn’t that general manager. While Carmelo has had a Hall of Fame career, it doesn’t compare to LeBron’s at all in terms of awards, rings or statistical dominance.

More importantly, the Cavs kept faith in LeBron and so began the love tale between he and Northeast Ohio.

He brought them out of the dungeon of the despair that was the Ricky Davis era then led them to their first ever NBA Finals appearance at just 23-years-old. He became the best player in the league by the time he was 25-years-old and though the franchise didn’t attract marquee free agents, LeBron brought national attention to the Cavaliers.

When he left in 2010, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert wasn’t the only one who acted like a spurned lover. Fans burned his jerseys in the streets, their anger boiling over and leading to long nights at the bar.

LeBron “almost had tears in his eyes” when he made the decision to leave, though. Ohio wasn’t the only one hurt.

After 26 years, James was leaving for the first time. Four years later, he wanted to come back — despite having held a grudge with Gilbert for “The Letter” — because he missed the place he loved.

Why should the next four years with the Lakers play out any different?

Just like when he was with the Miami Heat, fans will have signs asking him to come back. Nice weather won’t keep him away and after four years he’ll have the blueprint he needs from Magic

He knows he’s genuinely beloved by Northeast Ohio and, after hearing they’ll retire his jersey, the Cavs franchise. The same can’t be said about the fans in Los Angeles.

Personally, I would enjoy if LeBron re-signed in Cleveland for one final year and went on a “fairwell tour.”

He’s the franchise’s all-time leader in games played, minutes played, field goals, free-throws, rebounds, assists, steals and points.

He is the Cleveland Cavaliers.

It would be poetry — at it’s finest — for the King to return to Cleveland at the end of his reign.