Cavaliers 'Not Counting' On LeBron Returning

Post #1 » by **RealGM Wiretap** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 4:11 pm

The Cleveland Cavaliers will have enough cap space to sign a maximum free agent, which has triggered speculation that LeBron James could return.

The Cavaliers could be an attractive destination to James due to the presence of Kyrie Irving and several other young, talented players. James also maintains a home in Akron.

"I guarantee you the Cavs are not counting on building around LeBron again," wrote Mary Schmitt Boyer, who covers the Cavaliers. "They have positioned themselves to have money to spend next summer when there's a huge free-agent class, which happens to include LeBron. But at this point, the Cavs are keeping all their options open."

Via Mary Schmitt Boyer/Plain Dealer

captlopez0012 · Post #2 » by **captlopez0012** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 4:38 pm

they better start focusing on a way to lure lebron back. hes their best hope (and probably their only hope) at a championship in the near future.

burritoKURUMA · Post #3 » by **burritoKURUMA** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 4:53 pm

captlopez0012 wrote:they better start focusing on a way to lure lebron back. hes their best hope (and probably their only hope) at a championship in the near future.

Start? They've practically been doing that since the day he left. They've had 4 top-5 picks in the last 3 years, and they haven't used any of them on their biggest position of need (the one LeBron vacated in 2010).

That said, I think they're just making sure not to rule him out. Not necessarily putting their sights on him, but making sure he would still be a viable option, should he want to return.

But it's almost pointless to talk about, since he won't return.

wizkid27 · Post #4 » by **wizkid27** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 5:25 pm

I don't see how this would even be a remote possibility after the love letter that Gilbert wrote to Lebron while he was on his way out of town. Their best chance would probably a change in ownership...

Roseventyfour · Post #5 » by **Roseventyfour** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 9:16 pm

Shouldn't they be more worried about keeping Irving long term? Gilbert burned that bridge real good. Lebron would be a big idiot to even think about going back there.

Rated T By CBRA · Post #6 » by **Rated T By CBRA** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 10:16 pm

Too many stories about LeBron going back to Cleveland...just like there were too many stories of the D12 saga in LA - he knew he wasn't going to stay in LA, we knew it and so did the Rockets - move on to another player with these news stories please.

captlopez0012 · Post #7 » by **captlopez0012** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 2:19 am

burritoKURUMA wrote:They've had 4 top-5 picks in the last 3 years, and they haven't used any of them on their biggest position of need (the one LeBron vacated in 2010).

i dunno about that. seems to me tristan thompson and anthony bennett both play lebrons position. those were 2 pretty high picks. if they brought lebron back, one would have to be traded or relegated to the bench.

Post #8 » by **tsherkin** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 3:02 am

Thompson at least looks like he belongs more as a 6th-man anyway, but in principle, he's more of a combo forward, so you could play them alongside one another. Lebron's got the versatility to play either forward position or even shooting guard (although ideally a F slot), so a few minutes here and there overlapping with another forward in the 6'7 - 6'9 range isn't a huge deal. He does it in Miami with Battier all the time.

Knighthonor · Post #9 » by **Knighthonor** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 12:06 am

Imagine what will happen when the Cavs get Wiggins in 2014