Adding to the 3-5 NBA Finals record narrative that was building after the Cleveland Cavaliers feel into a 3-0 hole against the Golden State Warriors, were the rumors of LeBron James finding himself a different place to finish out his career.
Rumors of him going to another big market like Los Angeles started to gain steam, including possibilities that he could land in a Los Angeles Lakers or L.A. Clippers jersey in the near future, even a possible return to the Miami Heat in a reunion with Dwyane Wade.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, those rumors aren't so farfetched after all.
“Not only is there no guarantee he’s coming back, I’m not sure there’s an expectation he’s re-signing there. I think they feel, I think within Cleveland and around the league, they feel that he’s very much in play to leave again and likely head out West to one of the two L.A. teams. The Lakers could very well be a target,” Wojnarowski said in his podcast.
“The possibility of Miami again, based on how they, what that team looks like and where they are. Would Dwyane Wade go back there? But I think the focus, a lot of LeBron’s – his business interests, his Hollywood aspirations, his media ventures are base out there.
And I wrote this last year and said it and believed it: The minute he won that championship in Cleveland he was liberated to leave again. Now, if he had not won a title in Cleveland and then left again, I think there would be tremendous backlash again. But the fact that he came back and did what he set out to do, which was to bring a title to Cleveland.”
Other beat writers like ESPN's Dave McMenamin have confirmed this in different network shows (SportsCenter, Dan LeBatard Show, The Ryen Russillo Show), confirming that James was a man on a mission upon his return to Cleveland, mission that has already been accomplished with a 2016 NBA title.
NBC Sports' Dan Feldman has also pointed out why James could be likely to leave for different pastures in the near future in order to realize his dreams of playing with his friends before his playing career comes to an end.
“1. LeBron has hinted at having eyes for another team. He said he’d take a pay cut to play with Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Paul. If it weren’t already difficult to see that happening in Cleveland, Anthony said they’d want to go ‘someplace warm'. Los Angeles certainly qualifies.
2. LeBron seemingly enjoys the Los Angeles lifestyle. He owns a house there, as does his agent. LeBron has organized offseason workouts there for the Cavs.
3. LeBron wants to keep the Cavaliers on their toes. His return came with terms – a financial commitment from Cavs owner Dan Gilbert. Don’t spend enough, and LeBron could leave. Whether he actually would follow through, LeBron stands to make his Cleveland experience better by having the threat known.
4. It’s fun. LeBron is the best player in the league, and the Lakers the NBA’s most popular team. The Clippers have newfound relevance and play in a large market. It’s just plain fun to speculate on the possibility and the upheaval it’d cause.”
James is still in the books for next season for upward of $33.3 million, but could opt out of a $35.6 million year in 2018-19 to pursue his interests.
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