Cavs Likely Wouldn’t Jump At Chance To Bring Back LeBron James

CLEVELAND — It’s been a pleasant surprise of a season for the Cavaliers, a team that was expected to go nowhere but is in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Then came All-Star Weekend and some comments from old friend LeBron James, now of the Lakers.

By now, you’ve heard all about it. James told Jason Lloyd of The Athletic that he hasn’t “closed the door” on a return to the Cavs.

And why not? The Cavs are an exciting young team with, in the words of commissioner Adam Silver, “a really rosy future.” Meanwhile, James and the Lakers are an old team — the oldest in league history, in fact. They are really struggling, fighting to qualify for even the play-in tournament out West.

The Lakers’ Big Three of James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook has not been a match, especially Westbrook. Davis still can’t stay healthy and James is 37-years old. 

But the Cavs’ boast a fearsome threesome of their own in Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. All are young and on the way up.

It’s also more than just those three. Newcomer Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro, Lauri Markkanen, Cedi Osman and oh yeah, Collin Sexton, are no older than 27. Along with that, senior basketball citizens Kevin Love and Rajon Rondo are clearly having the time of their lives, especially Love. And J.B. Bickerstaff is the perfect coach.

Basically, why would the Cavs want to change a thing?

Yes, that includes bringing back James, who alongside the likes of Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson and Love, delivered the Cavs their lone title (2016). But as gifted as James is, the Cavs would have their reservations.

Truth is, wherever James goes, drama follows. That comes straight from James himself. He has said it on multiple occasions. He can be polarizing. He can want roster shakeups. His presence can lead to coaching changes.

That’s just life as the biggest basketball superstar of his generation. Unlike Michael Jordan, James has never had a Phil Jackson. Some around the NBA will tell you it’s because James would never allow a coach as much sway as Jackson had with Jordan.

Either way, the Cavs may not be willing to find out. Word is, they may not be all about bringing back James if James really ever wanted to return. That is something we’re hearing at Hoops Wire and something veteran NBA insider Marc Stein wrote over the weekend.

“In conversations with people that I had in Cleveland, I think it’s just assumed that the Cavs would jump at the chance to get LeBron back … and I really don’t think that’s the case,” Stein wrote in his The Stein Line newsletter.

Makes sense if not. The Cavs look like they’re on their way to very big things. Their success this season has been all about fit. They have managed to stay in nearly game with defense. James is still an incredible scorer, but defense is not his strong suit. Not at the age of 37.

So if the Cavs wouldn’t want to bring a player who will be 38 in December … and is generally the man who coincides with major roster change … well, you couldn’t blame them.

For the first time in more than two decades, they are cruising along just fine without LeBron. That’s something that would need to be considered before welcoming him back.

You don’t want to mess with success, even if it means strongly considering letting the game’s biggest name play somewhere else.

For more on James with the Cavs, vote in our poll on Hoops Wire right here.