LeBron James rumors: Kyrie Irving recruiting LeBron to Cleveland Cavaliers
Although most expected Miami Heat forward LeBron James to opt out of his deal and become an unrestricted free agent, next to no one expected him to leave the Heat.
More from Cleveland Cavaliers
- NBA insider: Cavaliers should consider trading Donovan Mitchell
- Predicting NBA’s Christmas Day Schedule: Lakers, Warriors highlight slate of postseason rematches
- NBA Rumors: 3 teams that should trade for Joel Embiid
- NBA rumors: How Donovan Mitchell could wind up on the trading block
- The new NBA flopping rules explained
The Heat are still the very to retain James, but there is as good of a chance as ever he will be moving on. Plenty of teams, including the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns are thought to be players for James in at least some capacity, but if James does wind up leaving the Heat, it will likely be to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team he left in favor of the Heat in 2010.
Since then, the Cavaliers have been among the worst teams in the league but acquired plenty of talent. They have drafted three number-one overall picks (All-Star Kyrie Irving, who just agreed to stick with the Cavaliers on a five-year max deal, forward Anthony Bennett and the number one pick last month’s draft, swingman Andrew Wiggins) and two number four overall picks (Guard Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson).
According to Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio, Irving has made a recruiting pitch to James.
Kyrie Irving has made recruiting pitch to LeBron James, sources say. ESPN reports Kyrie as saying Cavs will get LeBron all the help he needs
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) July 7, 2014
Irving put up 20.8 points, 6.1 assists, 3. rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 43.0% from the field, 35.8% from beyond the arc and 86.1% from the free throw line. James averaged 27.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 56.7% from the field, 37.9% from three and 75.0% from the charity stripe this season.