Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 moves to make with LeBron James leaving
By Ryan Piers
LeBron James has left the Cleveland Cavaliers, inking a major contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. Here’s what the Cavs need to do now.
The rumor mill churned at breakneck speed. Odds makers tossed around numbers like baseballs. The buzz surrounding LeBron James enlistment in 2018 NBA free agency was predictably loud. Then, almost anticlimactically, James announced he signed a four-year, $154 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Cleveland Cavaliers fandom now must lick its wounds. The franchise, nay, the city has been here before. This departure, however, is more predictable as Cleveland anticipated its prodigal son staying in town before he jetted to South Beach in 2010.
This time around, Cavs fans were acutely aware that James may trade in his crimson red jersey. The pill went down easier knowing he helped bring home The Land’s first NBA championship. Of course, everyone and their mothers’ wanted the Cavaliers to hold onto their prodigal son.
James was unlikely to link with either Chris Paul or Paul George as part of a super-team after both inked gigantic contracts with their current squads. The possibility of him joining with Kawhi Leonard on the Philadelphia 76ers had legs, and maybe the two will pair in L.A.
Of course, the Lakers remain a popular destination. From the outside, it seemed like LeBron had been leaning towards Los Angeles since May, but only James truly knows that.
Now is not the time to sulk, Cleveland, nor remind Dan Gilbert he’s “lost LeBron twice.” Now isn’t the time burn jerseys or throw your fandom behind the Lakers.
Dan Gilbert botched the LeBron era in Cleveland
Dan Gilbert losing Lebron twice is one of the worst ownership gaffes in modern sports history & now he's talking out the side of his mouth about winning a championship.
Posted by Nick Wright on Tuesday, June 12, 2018
It’s time to build and hope the remaining pieces have potential. The Cavaliers must take a new direction going forward. Here’s how general manager Koby Altman should proceed after losing LeBron James.