When it comes to the worst fear for most Cavalier fans, it’s a repeat of what took place on July 8th, 2010, when hometown hero LeBron James bolted the Cavs for the Heat.
It was a betrayal that took years for some Cavs fans to get over – some didn’t until he made the decision to come back to the team in July of 2014.
Two years into his return and it hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. Sure the Cavs are winning, but they already are on their second coach, and it seems like not many days go by without some story that someone on the team, or James himself, has a problem of some sort or is unhappy.
Tuesday James put out a couple of tweets that made headlines, talking about how ‘it’s ok to know you’ve made a mistake, be ready to live with whatever that comes with it and be with those who will protect you at all cost!’
James Thursday at practice wasn’t in the mood to answer the questions about the tweets and what they meant or who they may have been meant for, which leads to an interview Thursday with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who told Jorge & Izzy on ESPN Radio that the Cavs had better not take James for granted, and that it’s not a for sure he’ll be with the Cavs forever.
“I think it’s one of those situations right now, and it’s not just about Kyrie, it’s about (Dan) Gilbert, and the residue from what their relationship turned out to be because of 2010, because there’s still folks in LeBron’s inner circle that can’t stand Dan Gilbert, because of what he said,” Smith said.
“There’s David Griffin, you have to respect him but he’s a Dan Gilbert guy, obviously, and they partially blame him for not being able to get them a viable backup point guard to Kyrie Irving when they are relying on Matthew Dellavedova, who obviously can defend but is limited offensively, and that was your point guard for most of the NBA Finals.
“These are the kind of things they pay attention to, and one of the things LeBron’s inner circle religiously said is ‘yeah he’s back, but don’t you think for one second that he’s going to sit idly by, and watch this franchise take him for granted, and put too much excess weight on his shoulders, the way that they use to, when he was in Cleveland the first go-around, think that he’s permanently going to stay if you want to, do not try him.
“Yes he’s committed in trying to bring a championship back to Cleveland, and it does seem like something that he would never do again, but don’t rule anything out when it comes to LeBron James.
Smith wasn’t exactly ready to say James was going to leave the Cavs, even go as far as saying that he has ‘been told on numerous occasions emphatically that he has every intention of staying in Cleveland and is committed to bringing a title back,’ but even throwing the notion of James leaving out there has to make Cavs fans nervous.
It sounds like from the tone of Smith that if there’s a reason that James would leave the Cavs it would fall on the shoulders of Gilbert, who for awhile had a rocky road with James after he left the Cavs in 2010.
Smith said Thursday that Gilbert is probably the biggest reason James may once again leave for greener pastures.
“The exception is when you bring up Dan Gilbert, you bring up some of the things they could do in terms of religiously working to help him deliver a championship, and what everyone close to him continually reminds me of is don’t you dare take this guy for granted and think for some second this guy is trapped with staying in Cleveland just because he decided to come back,” Smith said.
It’s all about respect, and as long as the Cavs keep giving James what he wants, and the team makes runs at NBA titles it sounds like all will remain well in Cleveland.
If there’s a sign of disrespect or more issues between James and the Cavs, it will give just that much more fodder for people like Smith and others to speculate upon the two-time NBA Champions future.
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