Since losing his 5th NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors, all the talk has been about LeBron James’ future in Cleveland. As we all know, LeBron will be a free agent in 2018. Will he stay with the Cavs? Don’t bet on it.
Golden State is built to last and if the Cavs don’t do anything significant to their roster for next season they will once again be heavy underdogs in a series against the Warriors. Instead of making a roster change out of the gate, the Cavs organization decided to make a management change. Cavs owner Dan Gilbert parted ways with general manager David Griffin, the architect of bringing a championship back to Cleveland for the first time since 1964. LeBron was reportedly ‘surprised’ and ‘disappointed’ by the news. He later tweeted “If no one appreciated you Griff I did, and hopefully all the people of Cleveland! Thanks for what u did for the team for 3 yrs! We got us 1.” If that wasn’t a subtweet directed towards Dan Gilbert, I don’t know what is.
If LeBron leaves Cleveland the question, then becomes where will he go? Speaking on his podcast The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski (h/t Pro Basketball Talk’s Dan Feldman) reported the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers may be destinations for James in free agency. LeBron James’ wife Savannah has expressed desire in living in Los Angeles full time, via Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report. Earlier this month, Hall of Famer Jerry West joined the L.A. Clippers as a consultant and could be the guy to help lure James. While sports columnist Bill Simmons believes LeBron will join the Lakers in 2018. “I would say the Lakers have five times a better shot of landing LeBron than the Clippers, maybe 10 times,” Simmons told Colin Cowherd on The Herd.
The San Antonio Spurs have also been a rumored destination for The King. In my opinion this would give him the best chance to win multiple championships to close out his career and would intimidate the Warriors. The most exciting part about this scenario is the LeBron and Pop connection. LeBron hasn’t played for a coach of Greg Popovich’s caliber in his NBA career. You better believe Pop would make his guys play their hearts out each night around LeBron. LeBron & Kawhi with Popovich in command would give the Warriors a major run for its money.
LeBron James made good on his promise and brought home a championship to Cleveland. James has nothing left to prove and owes nothing more to the Cavs. LeBron’s at a point in his career where he’s chasing a legacy and wants to win more championships. He’s not getting any younger and his window of opportunity is getting smaller. James will undoubtedly be on the move once again next summer if the Cavaliers fail to turn things around. Only time will tell.
By Luca Rosano – Waterboy
