Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 obstacles to contending in 2017-18
By Ryan Piers
1. LeBron rumors
The rumors of Lebron’s imminent departure began swirling after the Cavs won the NBA championship. With the win, LeBron completed his quest, fulfilling the prophecy foretold upon his draft day. He ended a decades-long championship drought in Cleveland. He could finally leave if he wanted to without fans burning his jersey.
The rumors picked up in August, with some reports hinting that LeBron may leave following the season, while others boisterously claiming he was already out the door.
Don’t expect these rumors to die down when the regular season tips. They’ll likely be a distraction the entire year, potentially even dictating how the Cavs approach the trade deadline.
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But the success of the team may be depend on what extent they allow rumors to impact their play. Will the players block them out? Or will they allow them to become a distraction? If the Cavs stumble out of the gate, the rumors likely intensify. How the players handle them could partially dictate the outcome of their season.