Report: LeBron James, Cavaliers Brass Haven't Spoken About the Future
LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers have reportedly held no conversations about his future after the Cavs were swept by the Golden State Warriors in the 2018 NBA Finals.
On Saturday, Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com reported there are "no plans right now for the three-time champion other than spending time with his family." James can utilize a player option in his contract to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
"The one thing that I've always done is considered, obviously, my family," James told reporters after the 108-85 series-ending loss. "Understanding especially where my boys are at this point in their age. They were a lot younger the last time I made a decision like this four years ago. I've got a teenage boy, a preteen and a little girl that wasn't around as well.
"So sitting down and considering everything, my family is a huge part of whatever I'll decide to do in my career, and it will continue to be that. So I don't have an answer for you right now as far as that."
Almost immediately after Cleveland fell to Golden State in the Finals for the third time in four years, OddsShark provided betting lines on James' next destination, with the Cavs in third behind the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets:
While noting he is skeptical, Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press reported he felt it was "a little bit" more likely that James returns to the Miami Heat based on conversations with sources following Friday's game.
Meanwhile, Marc Stein of the New York Times noted earlier Friday that "pleading from family members appears to be the only force that could persuade him to extend his second stint with the Cavs."
"James has been on the record many times—including in his coming-home letter four years ago—that he wants to finish his career in Cleveland," ESPN's Brian Windhorst wrote Saturday. "That is still the case. But a difficult year for the Cavs has made this a challenging time for James to consider how he wants to spend his final act."
Regardless, James' decision is going to shift the balance of power in the NBA, as was the case in 2010 when he left Cleveland to join Miami and in 2014 when he returned to the Cavaliers.
Speculation is going to run rampant throughout the summer until his choice is announced. The four-time NBA MVP made it clear back in February that fans should take every rumor with a grain of salt.
"If you don't hear something coming from my voice, then it's not true," he told reporters.
The Cavs are likely headed toward another rebuild should LeBron leave for a second time. But all they can do now is wait until the league's gold standard is ready to discuss his future.
