Life after LeBron James

Not sure if you heard…

Earlier this summer, LeBron James absconded his Northeastern Ohio throne for the bright lights of Hollywood. Maybe it was the fresh start and clean cap sheet he found so enticing. Or the enhanced off-court opportunities of being in Los Angeles and getting mentored by Magic Johnson he desired. Hell, it could have just been the weather.

Whatever the reason or combination was, James did no wrong in embarking on the new chapter of his career. He exercised his prerogative after playing at an MVP-level and bringing home a championship in his second stint with the Cavaliers. But now that’s part of the past and life has to go on for Cleveland. The king departed and the team must find its way in the fallout.

Gone are the days of primetime games and playing the Warriors on Christmas Day. In fact, the Cavaliers went down to just two nationally-televised contests this year from 27 last season. Cleveland won’t be in the spotlight of preeminent league storylines or constantly hold the attention of the casual fan. That territory’s reserved for the elite contenders. While they don’t occupy that space anymore, they won’t be a dystopian wasteland either.

Life after LeBron could come with a more egalitarian look. James was fifth in usage rate last season, leaving a canyon of opportunity for other players to step into and fill.

Kevin Love is the only star left and becomes the new heart of the team. It’d be foolish to presume he can ascend to his former heights as the offensive focal point like during his Minnesota days — He’s entering his age-30 season and the tribulations of the past four years definitely did some irrevocable damage to his body and psyche.

But he’s not some charred husk who casts a countless thread of thousand-mile stares. Love still comes equipped with killer outlet passes and finished 12^th in rebounds per game while draining 41.5 percent of his 3’s last season. Hopefully, he can reclaim 75 percent of the player he was, assuming Cleveland finally uses him correctly for the first time in his tenure there. IT’S KEVIN LOVE REDEMPTION SZN, BABY!

While the Cavaliers will certainly be Love-centric, Collin Sexton enters the fray after getting drafted eighth overall. Sexton is an assertive guard who can play right away for a team with a glaring void for a lead ball-handler. He should fit seamlessly in a featured role next to George Hill or JR Smith, and provide a shot of youth and excitement.

And we can’t count out Cedi Cedi Bang Bang picking up the mantle and leading this team like the multi-faceted weapon of destruction he is.

The Cavaliers will drop out of the spotlight, but they might be, dare I say, fun. The constant need to take advantage of a closing window no longer chomps in the back of their collective subconscious. Alleviating that pressing burden could unlock better play from both the supporting cast and the starters as they step into bigger parts.

The Eastern Conference is weak and this team can absolutely get back into the playoffs. The economy of Cleveland and the ceiling of the Cavaliers are both brought down with LeBron’s exodus. But unlike the first time he left, the post-LeBron redux won’t be a smoldering pile of rubble.