LeBron James Coming Home: Announces Return to Cavs

LeBron James is coming home. Rejoice, Cleveland fans, as your chosen one has decided to come back to the place where it all started. As reported by Sports Illustrated’s Lee Jenkins, James has forgiven Dan Gilbert (perhaps not forgotten) and has decided to take his talents from South Beach back to Cleveland.

The speculation is over and James will now team with Kyrie Irving and No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Andrew Wiggins. Las Vegas had suspected this — the odds of the Cavaliers winning the 2015 NBA Finals had dropped all the way down to 6-to-1 as recently as Friday morning. Will LeBron bring the Cavaliers their first title in franchise history? There’s work to be done, but the first major domino has fallen.

I always believed that I’d return to Cleveland and finish my career there. – LeBron James

It’s not hard to see why Cleveland was a draw for LeBron. He’s always spoken fondly of his home, regardless of how they treated him when he left the first time. James has recognized that the decision he made back in 2010 wasn’t the wrong choice, he just executed it poorly. Perhaps James has realized that everyone makes mistakes and that Gilbert was simply one of the emotional fans who happens to also own the team.

All is forgiven and although all will never be forgotten, it’s time to start a new chapter in Cleveland.

What are the Cavaliers getting? How about the best player in the NBA. However, that’s not going to be enough to simply sow up the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers have already been working on a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves in an effort to secure a trade for All-Star power forward Kevin Love. They’ve also been reaching out to former Heat teammates Mike Miller and Ray Allen.

One would think the Wolves would be hesitant to give up Love unless they had an opportunity to bring Wiggins to Minnesota. While that may still happen, the trio of Love, James and Irving would cement the Cavaliers as one of the Eastern Conference favorites.

We’ll have to keep an eye on the other free agent pieces certain to fall — namely Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. What’s going to happen in Miami? After four straight trips to the NBA Finals, you’ll have to excuse us for not caring too much about a rebuild there (but that’s what’s going to happen).

If you think the media circus is over, think again — it’s only just begun. The Heat open up the preseason schedule in Rio against…the Cavs.