It was about a year ago that the Cleveland Indians were competing to win their first World Series in almost seven decades, and LeBron James was going bananas in a luxury box. He was wearing a T-shirt that said “Cleveland or Nowhere.” Just a few months before, LeBron paraded the streets of Cleveland, showing off the Larry O’Brien trophy that ended the city’s 50-year championship drought. He won one for Cleveland. He was one with Cleveland.
That was a year ago.
This summer, following the Cavaliers’ loss in the NBA Finals, he’s spent time in Los Angeles (watching Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball) and Miami (saying things like “great memories”), and seemingly more time with old pals like Dwyane Wade than he has his teammates. Speaking of teammates, his brightest co-star Kyrie Irving left for a conference rival.
In Cleveland, the anxiety meter is turned to 11 as a city worries that LeBron may leave a second time. In 12 months, LeBron went from prodigal son who had nothing left to prove, who seemed comfortable in his own skin, home and legacy, to someone seemingly non-committal, to possibly on the precipice of bouncing towns once again.
Having seen this before, the Cavaliers are making plans in case that happens. Trading Irving for Isaiah Thomas’ expiring contract and Brooklyn’s unprotected first-round draft pick is team owner Dan Gilbert’s way of preparing for the worst-case scenario. The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor reported that Gilbert and the Cavs are “operating under the assumption that LeBron will opt out of his contract next summer and leave Cleveland.” Jason Lloyd of The Athletic reported that the Cavs are “prioritizing restocking the cupboards in the event he leaves again.”
It’s better than being blindsided by your franchise player leaving… but is it? Rather than going all out to win a championship (like last season), the Cavaliers are preparing their own funeral. Are they, then, self-fulfilling a prophecy?
Despite losing in five games, the Cavaliers weren’t that far off from the Golden State Warriors. Thomas, if healthy, could be a co-star worthy of LeBron, and the additions of Jae Crowder and Cedi Osman could be the two-way players Cleveland sorely lacked in the Finals. They can still get better by flipping the Brooklyn pick for another star. But the Cavaliers won’t likely trade the Brooklyn pick for anyone short of a franchise player, and that’s probably not happening.
Some view the Kyrie Irving trade as providing options. No doubt, it was wonderful work by new general manager Koby Altman, given the circumstance. But it can also be seen as non-committal, which is in stark contrast to the Golden State’s commitment to winning. Between Door No. 1 of competing for a championship and Door No. 2 of preparing for a rebuild, the Cavaliers have a foot in one and a foot in the other. It’s Buridan’s ass, and the Cavaliers may find themselves treading water until LeBron leaves them high and dry.
We’re far from LeBron writing “My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball.” Everything, now, is about basketball. And even though LeBron decided to return to Cleveland four years ago, this season has the feeling of an arranged marriage. One that might just not be working. (It’s not dissimilar to 2009.)
LeBron, by the way, is playing this right. Kevin Durant joining Golden State changed everything. The pre-Durant Dubs and Cavs were on equal footing. They could have played 10 Finals series and each gone 5-5. Even if the Cavaliers make it to another Finals, they aren’t constructed to challenge the Warriors long term. LeBron only has a few more years of peak powers left (right?!) and wherever he spends his time needs to be worth it.
The 2016-17 season was about “Defending the Land.” 2017-18 is about preparing the reserves, gaining supplies, and improving the defenses in case The King leaves for a new land. With the exception of a minor move here or a Dwyane Wade buyout there, this is the team LeBron is stuck with. The question: Is LeBron good enough to overcome this lack of commitment and relative shortage of talent?
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The answer for most of his career has been Yes, to a certain extent. The Cavaliers may be able to get back to the NBA Finals, and they still stand the best chance against the Warriors. But where last season was a pre-paved road to a finals rematch, this season is diverging on different paths. On one, the challenge of a fourth-straight Finals appearance for the Cavaliers (and the eighth for LeBron). On the other, the possibility of this being LeBron’s last tour in Cleveland.
LeBron’s teams always have distractions, and he has left teams on the heels of success before, but this may be the first time we see it coming from a mile away.
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