Fansided

LeBron James: 5 reasons why “The Essay” feels phony

By Bryce Olin

Nov 27, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Miami won 95-84. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Miami won 95-84. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 14, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (right) greets shooting guard Mike Miller (left) during the first half against the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 14, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (right) greets shooting guard Mike Miller (left) during the first half against the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

 LeBron James: Player/GM

Mike Miller is one of James’ guys. James Jones is one of James’ guys. Strange that they both ended up in Cleveland with James, huh?

Obviously, Gilbert and general manager David Griffin are going to cater to James’ wishes. Of course, James wants to play with people he likes, but there’s a fine line between bringing in players James likes and letting him run the organization. Cleveland is teetering back and forth on that line right now.

Who knows, maybe, James is a great player/general manager? We’ll find out shortly.

This is the most egregious evidence against James’ main point of returning to Cleveland just because he loved the city, which is definitely true. But, it wasn’t the only reason like James’ would have us all believe.

Above all else, Cleveland offered James something Miami could not: total control.

James has Cleveland wrapped around his finger. They worship him. Regardless of whether James wins a championship in Cleveland, everyone in the organization has job security. The city will be buzzing again. An economist, LeRoy Brooks, projected James would bring $500 million to the city in tickets, hotels, bars, restaurants, you name it.

As long as Gilbert is in charge, James will have everything and anything he could possibly wish for in Cleveland. And, he probably should get everything he wants. Other than the weather and one city being really awesome and the other not so much, that’s only the difference between Cleveland and Miami for James. Gilbert and Cleveland is willing to let James run the franchise.

In Miami, though, James didn’t have final say over Riley. Of course, James had some say in some of the roster decisions and who the Heat brought into the organization, but ultimately, it was always Riley’s call. That wasn’t going to change.

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