NBA Rumors: LeBron James Returning to Cleveland Would Make Him a Hero Again

LeBron James has never appeared comfortable playing the role of a villain. It's something he should have considered before ditching the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat last summer, but he would become a hero again by returning to the Cavs in 2014.

While it might seem like an outlandish possibility right now, Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio reports it might not be as crazy as you think.

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Now, there is talk that James is less-than-thrilled with certain aspects of the Heat organization. Sources in Miami say that while James still thoroughly enjoys playing alongside fellow stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, he doesn’t particularly care for the heavy-handed and disciplined style of team president Pat Riley.

James can opt out of his contract at the end of the 2013-14 season, and speculation is he will strongly consider it if Riley remains in his current role. And the team James would be eyeballing most in free agency, say those close to the situation, would be the Cavs.

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James was one of the most beloved sports figures in Ohio history. The diehard sports fans watched him grow as a budding superstar in high school and supported him through the first seven seasons of his NBA career. Therefore, it was no surprise they felt betrayed when he made the decision to bolt for South Beach.

However, they would welcome him back in a heartbeat. The building-sized 'Witness' poster would be put back up, season-ticket sales would go through the roof and the people who didn't burn their No. 23 jerseys would feel like geniuses.

There's obviously a lot that can change in two years, and James' final opt-out choice will probably be based on how many rings, if any, he has won. That said, by the time 2014 rolls around, the Cavaliers will be back on the road to contention.

Kyrie Irving looks like the real deal at point guard and Tristan Thompson has a boatload of potential. Those two players alone would serve as more support than James received during his first stint with the Cavs.

That's the main reason he left. James wants to be remembered as one of the greatest players to ever play the game. He has an immense knowledge of the NBA's history and wants to be a major part of it. Championships are a crucial piece to that puzzle.

He didn't feel like the Cavaliers front office were providing him with enough support to get the job done, so he left. The opportunity to play with two rising stars that will be near their prime, however, could be enough for him to give Cleveland another chance.

The best part for him would be getting treated like King James again. It would be viewed by the casual sports fan, most of which turned against him after his move, as righting a wrong. His first game back in Cleveland would draw massive ratings and the fans would go bonkers when he was introduced.

It's too early to start planning a welcome back parade, but it's definitely something for Cavaliers fans to think about if the team is unable to keep pace in the playoff race.

LeBron in Cleveland. It just sounds right.