Report: LeBron James ‘100% leaving’ Cleveland
By Joe Romano
Rumors are swirling about what the future holds for LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, but a parting of ways is looking likely.
Add another log onto the burning fire of LeBron James-to-Los Angeles rumors. Chris Sheridan shared a tweet today with information from an NBA source.
NBA source said today: "This will be LeBron's final season in Cleveland. He is 100 percent leaving. Relationship with owners beyond repair."
— Chris Sheridan (@sheridanhoops) August 16, 2017
This past summer has been a particularly rough one for the King in Cleveland.
Rumors were swirling at the NBA Finals that LeBron wants out of Cleveland once his contract expires at the end of this upcoming season. The Ringer posted this story right in the heart of the finals. Kevin O’Connor did not mince words either.
"Rumblings across the league suggest that LeBron will consider taking his talents out West, as Bill Simmons and I discussed this week on The Bill Simmons Podcast. The LeBron noise echoes what The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski wrote last year: With a Finals victory for Cleveland secure, James could get to “run off with his buddies again somewhere warm.”"
LeBron James is not one to shy away from putting his voice out there. Which makes his silence on the next move of his career all the more damning. James has yet to give the rumors any attention.
It is no surprise to hear that the primary reason for LeBron to leave Cleveland is his relationship with the owner. Few can forget Dan Gilbert’s infamous Comic Sans letter after The Decision.
LeBron has been quiet about most of the rumblings around his team. He did express frustration over the Cavaliers off-season. Seeing his current rivals, the Golden State Warriors, adding talent for another championship run irked LeBron enough for this report to get out.
The Kyrie Irving trade saga has also been playing out in the media this offseason. Yet all we saw was possible sub-tweets from James. Although his situation and possible escape to L.A. may be the number one reason an Irving trade has not happened.
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If LeBron again decides to take his talents elsewhere, and the Cavaliers are clearly aware of that, then it changes the entire market for the Kyrie trade. It also opens the door to others being traded. Cleveland lacks significant assets for a rebuild after going “all-in” for championships during LeBron’s tenure.
LeBron James won the city it’s first championship in 50-plus years. Leaving for a second time would be tough to swallow for Cavs fans. Cleveland is again facing the possibility of losing the city’s greatest athlete.