Cavaliers Rumors

Poll: Which Team Did Best In Kyrie Blockbuster?

August 23rd, 2017 at 12:24pm CST by Luke Adams

After a month of Kyrie Irving rumors, the Cavaliers and Celtics struck a mega-deal on Tuesday that sent the All-Star point guard to Boston in exchange for a package headlined by another All-Star point guard. In exchange for Irving, the Cavaliers received Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the Nets’ 2018 first-round pick (unprotected).

While there was plenty of speculation about the Celtics being a fit for Irving, it’s still a stunning deal — multiple All-Stars aren’t often included in the same trade, and the two top teams in a conference are often reluctant to deal with one another. So which side came out on top in the swap? Let’s break down the argument for each side…

For the Cavaliers:

After teams received somewhat underwhelming returns for stars like DeMarcus Cousins, Jimmy Butler, and Paul George in recent months, there was some skepticism that the Cavs would be able to land an appealing package for Irving. Cleveland had wanted a return that would allow the team to stay competitive in the short term while building for the long term, but it appeared that the Cavs might have to compromise that stance.

That wasn’t the case, however. Thomas was one of the NBA’s leading scorers in 2016/17, and could potentially replicate Irving’s production if he’s healthy. Crowder, meanwhile, is a talented two-way player on an extremely affordable contract. He’s exactly the sort of player the Cavs will need to match up with the Warriors and Kevin Durant, and he’ll only cost Cleveland about $7MM per season for the next three years.

Zizic is a wild card, and while his Summer League performance showed that he may not be ready for a major role quite yet, there was plenty of enthusiasm for his long-term potential based on his play overseas last season. Finally, the Cavaliers also secured Brooklyn’s 2018 first-round pick. The Nets shouldn’t be quite as bad in 2017/18 as they were last year, but that pick still has a good chance to be a top-five choice, allowing the Cavs to land a young player with star potential.

Throw in the fact that the Cavs generated a modest trade exception (worth about $5.8MM) in the deal and slashed their projected tax bill by nearly $30MM, and that’s a pretty impressive return for a player who wanted out of Cleveland.

For the Celtics:

While the Celtics sacrificed some depth and future assets in the Irving blockbuster, the ability to go from Thomas to Irving is an upgrade in many ways, even if the two players posted similar numbers a year ago. Irving is three years younger than Thomas, making him a better candidate for a long-term, maximum salary contract.

Irving is also under team control on his current deal for at least one extra year (he can opt out in 2019), and is currently healthy, unlike Thomas, who is recovering from a hip ailment. Danny Ainge indicated in his remarks last night that Thomas’ hip injury was a concern for the C’s heading into training camp.

Losing Crowder, a reliable and affordable three-and-D wing, isn’t ideal for the Celtics, but the team added Gordon Hayward in free agency and has youngsters Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum poised to play larger roles — depth at the small forward position shouldn’t be an issue.

Boston likely would have preferred to keep Zizic as well, but he has yet to play a single NBA minute and his long-term outlook remains hazy. In recent years, the C’s have had to move on from a handful of young players that didn’t pan out, including R.J. Hunter, Jordan Mickey, Demetrius Jackson, and James Young — perhaps moving Zizic while he’s still considered a strong prospect will end up paying off.

The Celtics also parted with the Nets’ 2018 first-round pick, meaning Boston fans will no longer have to closely monitor Brooklyn’s position in the standings all season. It’s possible that first-rounder will turn into a future star, but the Celtics have three more first-round picks coming their way in the next two years – in addition to their own selections – and if the Nets take a step forward this season, that pick could end up being good, but not great.

Having traded three guaranteed contracts for one, the Celtics now have an open spot on their 15-man roster, which could come in handy later in the year — perhaps Boston looks to bring back Tony Allen to help replace Crowder’s defense? Even if they go in another direction, the C’s gained some added flexibility by opening up that roster spot.

What do you think? Did one side clearly come out on top in this trade, or did both teams do well? Or would you argue that this swap wasn’t ideal for either club? Vote below in our poll and then jump into the comment section to share your thoughts!

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.

Kyrie Irving Leftovers: Notes, Reactions, More

August 23rd, 2017 at 9:13am CST by Luke Adams

Tuesday’s massive trade between the Celtics and Cavaliers shook up the NBA during a time in the offseason when the news cycle is typically at its slowest. Like an oasis in the desert, the deal – which features a pair of All-Stars in Kyrie Irving and Isaiah Thomas – has provided NBA observers with a fascinating topic of discussion, just when it seemed as if we’d said nearly all we could say about the roster changes made in June and July.

Of course, we already delved into the blockbuster trade at length on Tuesday night with a discussion post and a cap/roster analysis, but we have plenty more items from around the league to pass along today. Let’s dive in and round up some of the highlights, sorted by Cavs- and Celtics-centric stories…

Cavaliers:

While some Cavaliers players had hoped Irving would remain with the team, the star point guard had let it be known prior to Tuesday’s deal that he would rather not report to training camp than to begin the season with Cleveland, sources tell Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com. McMenamin also reports that Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert had a desire to add a “big-name” player in an Irving trade — Thomas, the Eastern Conference’s leading scorer in 2016/17, fit that bill, despite questions about his hip.
Gilbert issued a much more traditional and respectful statement following Irving’s departure than he did when LeBron James left the franchise back in 2010. As Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com details, Gilbert thanked Irving for his six years in Cleveland and wished him well during the next phase of his career.
James issued a statement of his own via Twitter on Tuesday night, indicating that he has “nothing but respect” for Irving and calling the point guard a “special talent.”
In a piece focused on the Cavaliers‘ long-term outlook, ESPN’s Bobby Marks examines how swapping Irving for Thomas and picking up the Nets’ 2018 first-rounder will give Cleveland some options and insurance in the event that LeBron leaves next summer.
James’ silence on his plans beyond 2018 was a driving force behind the Cavaliers‘ decision to honor Irving’s trade request and plan ahead for the team’s future, writes Sam Amick of USA Today.

Celtics:

After president of basketball operations Danny Ainge finally used some of his top assets and pulled the trigger on a blockbuster trade, the Celtics have signaled that they’re ready to go for it now, not later, writes Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald.
Thomas’ emotional bond with Celtics fans and his role as the team’s leader made the decision to trade him a very difficult one for Ainge and the franchise, as Mark Murphy of The Boston Herald outlines.
The Celtics had 16 players on guaranteed contracts prior to the trade, but now have just 14, leaving a potential open spot for their regular season roster. According to Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe (Twitter link), the Celtics expect many agents to reach out about that opening, but Boston would be comfortable starting the regular season with just 14 players and maintaining some roster flexibility.
As John Schuhmann of NBA.com observes (via Twitter), the Celtics now have just four players returning from last year’s roster, and fall to 29th in Schuhmann’s team continuity rankings. There’s optimism in Boston that the club’s new-look roster has more talent and upside, but the roster turnover will be a challenge for head coach Brad Stevens, particularly at the start of the season.

The rest:

ESPN’s Stats & Information department takes a look at some of the stats behind the trade, while ESPN’s Kevin Pelton (Insider link) assigns grades for the swap, handing out an A to the Cavaliers and just a C to the Celtics.
Tom Ziller of SBNation.com likes the deal for both teams on the surface, but explores how it could go “terribly wrong” for both the Cavaliers and Celtics.
Although the Heat were named as one of Irving’s preferred landing spots, the package the Cavaliers received from the Celtics was one that Miami couldn’t possibly match, says Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel. Even if a Goran Dragic/Justise Winslow package might have intrigued the Cavs, the 2018 Nets pick included by Boston was a “game-changer,” Winderman adds.

Cap, Tax, FA Implications Of Celtics/Cavs Blockbuster

August 22nd, 2017 at 10:17pm CST by Luke Adams

Mid-to-late August is typically a quiet period on the NBA’s offseason calendar, but Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge and new Cavaliers GM Koby Altman certainly weren’t on vacation this week, having reached an agreement today on a blockbuster deal that will send Kyrie Irving to Boston. In exchange for Irving, the Cavaliers will receive Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the Nets’ 2018 first-round pick (unprotected).

Here’s a breakdown of some of the current and future salary cap and luxury tax implications of the swap between the Eastern Conference’s top two contenders:

How salary-matching works in the deal:

According to Basketball Insiders, the salaries changing hands in the trade are as follows:

To Celtics: $18,868,626 (Irving)
To Cavaliers: $6,796,117 (Crowder); $6,261,395 (Thomas); $1,645,200 (Zizic)

In total then, the Celtics are sending out $14,702,712 and taking back $18,868,626. Since the Celtics are a non-taxpaying team, they’re allowed to take back their outgoing salary plus an extra $5MM in this deal. Simply sending Crowder and Thomas to Cleveland wouldn’t have been enough, since those two salaries only total $13,057,512, which doesn’t get them to within $5MM of Irving’s figure. Adding Zizic allows the C’s to surpass that threshold.

How the Cavaliers will use a traded player exception and create a new one:

Heading into Tuesday, the Cavaliers had three traded player exceptions at their disposal. Those three TPEs were worth $4,837,500, $2,194,500, and $980,431. Trade exceptions can’t be combined with one another, so Cleveland can’t use any of those TPEs to absorb Crowder or Thomas — both of their salaries are a little too big. However, the Cavs can – and likely will – use that $2,194,500 TPE to acquire Zizic.

Having applied an existing trade exception to Zizic, that means that the Cavaliers are sending out Irving’s $18,868,626 salary and taking back $13,057,512 in Crowder and Thomas. The difference between those totals is $5,811,114, which is the amount of the new traded player exception generated by Cleveland in the deal. The Cavs will have one year to use that TPE.

How Irving’s waived trade kicker affects the Celtics’ cap situation:

Irving had a 15% trade kicker that would have added an extra $5,845,172 to his contract — 15% of his total salary for the remaining two years on his deal. However, if that kicker had taken effect, the Celtics would have had to include even more outgoing salary in the deal in order to meet the CBA’s salary-matching requirements.

The CBA allows Irving to waive that kicker if he so chooses, and his willingness to do so – a decision that will cost him several million dollars – is a strong signal that he wanted out of Cleveland by any means necessary.

How the deal clears up the Celtics’ roster logjam:

The Celtics had been the only NBA team with 16 players on guaranteed salaries under contract. Having sent out three of those players in their deal for Irving, the C’s have sliced that number to 14, giving the club the flexibility to go out and sign another player to a guaranteed contract.

Based on reported signings, the Celtics had also reached their offseason roster limit of 20 players, but now should have two openings to fill.

How the swap will impact the Cavaliers’ projected tax bill:

With 15 players (13 guaranteed) under contract before the Irving deal, the Cavaliers had a team salary of $142,055,672, per Basketball Insiders. Cleveland is a repeat taxpayer, so the club will face more punitive luxury tax penalties in 2017/18 — the projected tax bill for that team salary would have been nearly $79MM.

However, not only did the Cavs shed $4,165,914 in salary in their trade with the Celtics, but they’ll also now likely waive Kay Felder‘s and Edy Tavares‘ non-guaranteed contracts at some point, since they picked up two extra guaranteed contracts in today’s deal.

If Felder and Tavares are waived, the Cavs would trim their team salary to $135,562,294. The projected tax bill on that amount would be about $49.26MM, nearly $30MM lower than Cleveland’s previous projection.

What the next contracts will look like for the four players involved in the deal:

Irving will be eligible for a contract extension, but the Celtics’ ability to give him a market-value raise via extension or renegotiation will be extremely limited as long as the team remains over the cap. It’s more likely that Irving will become eligible for unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2019 — he can opt out of his contract at that point. Boston will hold his Bird rights, giving the team the ability to offer him five years and 8% annual raises, while other teams could only offer four years and 5% raises. Irving would be eligible for a maximum contract worth 30% of the cap.

Thomas, who will reach unrestricted free agency in 2018, will also be eligible for a maximum contract worth 30% of the cap, and the Cavaliers will hold his Bird rights. The Eastern Conference’s reigning scoring leader has made some noise about seeking a max deal when he hits the open market, but his recovery from a hip procedure and his performance this season in Cleveland will go a long way toward determining whether that kind of offer will be out there for him. With LeBron James‘ contract also set to expire next summer, it remains to be seen whether James and/or Thomas will stay in Cleveland for the long term.

As for the other players headed to Cleveland, the Cavs will have them on affordable salaries for the next few years. Crowder’s deal runs through 2019/20 and is worth less than $22MM in total. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent in 2020. Zizic, meanwhile, just signed his rookie contract and will be extension-eligible in the 2020 offseason, assuming his third- and fourth-year team options are exercised. If he’s not extended, he’d be eligible for restricted free agency in 2021.

How future drafts will be affected by the inclusion of the Nets’ 2018 pick:

The Cavaliers had previously traded their 2019 first-round pick to the Hawks. That prevented Cleveland from trading its own 2018 first-round pick in any deal, since teams can’t deal future first-round picks in back-to-back years.

With Brooklyn’s 2018 pick now in hand though, the Cavaliers are once again free to move their own ’18 first-rounder if necessary. Of course, if the Cavs want to make an even bigger splash, they could also flip that Nets’ pick — they’d just need to hang onto their own selection (or acquire a separate ’18 or ’19 pick) to ensure that they still have at least one first-rounder in the next two years.

As for the Celtics, they’ll lose the potential crown jewel of their draft-pick stash, but they’re still well-stocked. Boston will acquire the Lakers’ 2018 first-round pick if it falls between Nos. 2 and 5, and will get the Kings’ or Sixers’ 2019 first-rounder if that Lakers pick doesn’t convey in 2018. The Celtics also have extra 2019 first-round picks from the Grizzlies and Clippers, along with all their own future first-rounders.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Community Shootaround: Kyrie Irving Drama Just Starting

August 22nd, 2017 at 9:46pm CST by marksuleymanov

Kyrie Irving has a new home as the disgruntled Cavaliers All-Star was traded to the Celtics as part of a four-player trade that also sends the Nets‘ unprotected 2018 first-round pick to Cleveland. On the surface, it seems that the Irving saga is over; all involved parties can move on, and things can retain a sense of normalcy.

Wrong.

This latest chapter is just beginning as the trade and its ramifications will be examined under a microscope that won’t even reflect Isaiah Thomas’ alleged growth spurt. Thomas, who will head to Cleveland as part of the trade, will do so with questions surrounding his hip — the same hip that caused him to miss most of the playoffs in 2016/17. Celtics general manager Danny Ainge spoke to reporters, including ESPN’s Jeff Goodman (Twitter link) on a conference call Tuesday night and indicated that Thomas’ troubled hip played “some” part in the decision to consummate a deal.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets that the Celtics expected a mix of rehab and rest would bring Thomas back to full health. Now, the Cavaliers plan with Thomas is to “monitor closely” as he recovers, adding that the team is “anxious” to give him a physical. However, Wojnarowski adds that Cleveland has “no short term concerns” with Thomas’ hip and instead view him as a player entering his contract year with extra motivation.

Thomas indicated multiple times this offseason that his goal is to land a maximum contract in free agency. In an interview with Stephen Hewitt of the Boston Herald earlier this month, Thomas said he feels confident about landing a max deal.

“Very confident,” Thomas said. “I deserve it. I put the work in, and you can put me down against any guard in the NBA. . . . My numbers are up there with the best players in the world, and my team is winning. So, I mean, you have to reward that.”

Thomas, 28, is not the only player in the deal who will reach free agency soon. Irving is set to hit the open market in 2019, but Wojnarowski reported that Irving is “thrilled” to join Boston and that the Celtics made the deal with a “great chance” to re-sign him (Twitter Link).

“Kyrie is one of the best scorers in the NBA. He has proven that on the biggest stage, the NBA Finals, the last three years,” Ainge said in a press release announcing the trade. “He’s been an NBA champion, an Olympic Gold Medalist, and a four-time All-Star. For all he’s accomplished, we think his best years are ahead of him.”

Factoring in the rest of Cleveland’s return (Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the aforementioned draft pick), the team secured a sizeable haul in exchange for a player who, for all his talented, reportedly wanted out. Pairing a healthy Thomas with Crowder’s defense along with LeBron James, Kevin Love and lower-tier talents like Derrick Rose and Tristan Thompson makes for a dynamic team.

Likewise, adding Irving to a group that includes Gordon Hayward, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Marcus Smart, and Jaylen Brown gives Boston a young, athletic, and yet still seasoned core of talent.

Whether or not that draft pick lands Cleveland a game-changing talent, Thomas or Irving re-sign with their new teams, or if any of the secondary pieces pan out will the be major storylines to watch. The analysis of this trade will take on a new life when the Cavaliers welcome the Celtics to Cleveland on opening night October 17.

Do you think this trade works out well for both sides? Do you think Thomas’ hip injury will be an issue? Will Irving cement himself as Boston’s primary option? Sound off in the comments below!

Cavs, Celtics Swap Kyrie Irving For Package Including Isaiah Thomas

August 22nd, 2017 at 9:39pm CST by ChrisCrouse

9:39pm: The trade is official, the Cavs confirmed in a press release. The Celtics also issued an announcement confirming the deal.

6:23pm: The Celtics and Cavaliers have reached an agreement on a deal that will send Irving to Boston in exchange for a package headlined by Thomas, reports Shams Charania of The Vertical (via Twitter). Brian Windhorst of ESPN first reported (via Twitter) that the two teams were on the verge of a deal.

According to both Charania and Windhorst, the Cavs will receive Crowder, Zizic, and the Nets’ 2018 first-round pick (unprotected) in addition to Thomas. Charania also tweets that Irving will waive his trade kicker so that the deal can be completed. Here is Charania’s full story.

5:47pm: Boston center Ante Zizic is also expected to be part of a potential deal with Cleveland for Irving, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Bobby Marks of ESPN adds (Twitter link) that receiving Thomas, Crowder, and Zizic for Irving would save the Cavs $19MM in taxes. The team’s projected tax bill would lower from $78.4MM to $59.2MM.

5:30pm: The Cavaliers and Celtics are actively discussing trades centered around Kyrie Irving and Isaiah Thomas, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical (Twitter link). ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski adds that the two sides are discussing the inclusion of Jae Crowder as well as the addition of future draft picks heading from Boston to Cleveland.

Irving requested a trade from Cleveland last month and included a short list of destination which he would prefer to be dealt to should the team honor his request. Boston was not on that list, but all of the teams—Spurs, Heat, Wolves, and Knicks—with the exception of New York have strong coaching structures in place. The Celtics also have that element with Brad Stevens running the show, so it’s possible Irving would be open to a trade to the New England area.

Of course, Irving does not wield a no-trade clause, meaning the Cavs could ostensibly deal him anywhere they prefer. However, it was previously reported that the team was working with Irving to find a solution that worked for both sides.

Thomas is entering the last season of his contract, one that will pay him just over $6.26MM for the 2017/18 campaign. He should see a massive raise with his next contract, possibly approaching the max, which is something that could negatively impact his trade value.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Clippers To Hire Trent Redden As Assistant GM

August 21st, 2017 at 10:24am CST by Luke Adams

Former Cavaliers executive Trent Redden is poised to join the Clippers’ front office, according to ESPN’s Kevin Arnovitz, who reports (via Twitter) that Los Angeles will hire Redden as an assistant general manager.

The addition of Redden represents the latest move in a series of front office changes for the Clippers. Earlier this summer, the team removed decision-making authority from Doc Rivers, who had been the club’s president of basketball operations. Although Rivers remains the team’s head coach and will still have a voice in personnel matters, Lawrence Frank has assumed control over L.A.’s basketball operations.

With Rivers focusing on coaching, the Clippers have been filling out their front office with other seasoned executives, having reportedly offered the general manager job to Thunder assistant GM Michael Winger. As Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN observes (via Twitter), Winger and Redden previously worked together in Cleveland, and are now set to work alongside one another under Frank.

Redden previously worked for the Cavaliers as their senior VP of basketball operations, giving him a significant role in the club’s front office under David Griffin. However, when Griffin’s contract as general manager wasn’t extended by the Cavs, Redden also parted ways with the franchise.

Cavaliers Notes: Griffin, LeBron, Merchandise

August 20th, 2017 at 7:48pm CST by marksuleymanov

Blake Griffin is no stranger to rumors swirling at an impending free agency as the Clippers‘ longtime forward hit the open market this offseason but ultimately re-signed with Los Angeles on a lucrative five-year deal. Next offseason, LeBron James is set to hit the open market and has been rumored to be interested in L.A. (Clippers or Lakers), a place he has referred to as “home” this offseason and owns a home.

In a recent podcast appearance on View from the Cheap Seats with the Sklar Brothers, Griffin gave his thoughts on James possibly heading out west. While Griffin claimed to have no direct knowledge, he said he doubts that the three-time NBA champion will not go to Los Angeles and feels New York would be a more viable destination (via Complex).

“Honestly, I don’t see him coming to L.A. period. Listen, again, I have no idea. I think something is brewing with him and his group of guys. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I think something’s brewing and they’re going to try to make that work,” he said. “I could see him going to New York before L.A. I still think, when you go to the Garden, it’s a completely different feeling. The energy, there seems like there’s just a consistent buzz the entire game … even last year when you go play them, it’s still there.”

James’ future will be a hot topic in the next 12 months and players around the league will be among those to weigh in with their thoughts.

Below you can read up on several tidbits of Cavaliers news:

Charles Curtis of USA Today breaks down why the Cavaliers will not trade James before his hits free agency despite the uncertainty of his future. Curtis notes that James has a no-trade clause, teams’ skepticism of trading for a player departing in one year, fielding a competitive team even without Kyrie Irving, and the reputation of the NBA’s best player.
In a separate USA Today, Alysha Tsuji writes that a store in James’ native Akron, Ohio, is selling merchandise asking James to “Stay Home” to stay past the 2017/18 season.
Sam Amico of Amico Hoops writes that unless the team begins its transformation project of Quicken Loans Arena by September 15, the Cavaliers will not be considered for an NBA All-Star game in 2020 or 2021.

Kevin Durant Weighs In On Cavaliers’ Situation

August 18th, 2017 at 4:38pm CST by ChrisCrouse

It may seem like the Cavaliers have a unique problem on their hands with Kyrie Irving requesting a trade. However, Kevin Durant tells Chris Haynes of ESPN.com that trade requests routinely occur behind the scenes without the media learning of them.

“It’s just a regular NBA problem, right? A lot of teams have gone through this before,” Durant said. “They’ll figure it out. That’s a great organization, a championship organization. They’ll figure it out.”

Having a deal in place by the time training camp begins would avoid a potential distraction. However, if Irving isn’t moved by then, Durant believes Irving and LeBron James would eventually work out their differences.

“It’s not the end of the world,” Durant said. “Both of those guys won a championship together. They love each other. If Kyrie wants to do something else, that’s on him. I’m sure whatever happens, it’ll work out for the best for both of them. But it’s just a normal NBA problem. It’s just two big stars that it’s happening to.”

Earlier in the week, Durant played pickup basketball with James and Carmelo Anthony among others. The 2013/14 MVP downplayed the event.

“If somebody wants to hoop, we just hoop. We just went out there and played, bro. Nothing too serious,” Durant said.

Jefferson Explains Why Williams Won't Return

August 17th, 2017 at 2:14pm CST by Arthur Hill

Richard Jefferson offered some insight on his Road Trippin’ podcast about why Deron Williams is unlikely to return to the Cavaliers, relays Daniel Rappaport of Sports Illustrated. Jefferson said the veteran guard’s “eyes did not light up” about coming off the bench in Cleveland, but joked that the Warriors’ “eyes lit up” whenever Williams checked into the Finals. Williams didn’t turn out to be a good fit for the Cavs after joining the team in late February in the wake of buyout with the Mavericks. He was particularly bad in the Finals, shooting 2 of 16 for the series and averaging 1.0 points and 1.2 assists per game. Williams’ contract with Cleveland expired after the season, and he remains a free agent.

Conflicting Reports On LeBron’s Future With Cavs

August 16th, 2017 at 8:08pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Speculation of LeBron James leaving Cleveland has persisted all summer and it revved up last week after he called Los Angeles “home” in a tweet. Between James’ friendship with Lakers team president Magic Johnson and the turmoil surrounding the Cavaliers’ organization, it’s easy to envision a scenario where LBJ heads west to play for the Lakers next season.

Chris Sheridan of Sheridan Hoops (Twitter link) doesn’t mention Los Angeles, though he hears from a source that James has already made up his mind on his future with the Cavs.

“This will be LeBron’s final season in Cleveland. He is 100 percent leaving. Relationship with owners beyond repair,” the source said.

LBJ’s camp has since denied these reports with three sources close to James telling Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com (series of tweets) that they are 100% false. The sources told Vardon that James does not view his relationship with ownership as something that is unrepairable.

Chris Broussard of Fox Sports (Twitter link) hears that LBJ has not yet made a decision on his future in Cleveland and he won’t make one before the end of next season.

While James’ camp did its best to quickly shoot down the rumors, the fact remains that James has not publicly or privately expressed willingness to commit to the franchise long-term.

If the Cavs knew LBJ was leaving, perhaps the team decides not to trade Kyrie Irving. If they knew James was going to stay, they could confidently acquire a package full of win-now veterans for the point guard. Without a certain future, the organization sits in an awkward position, one that could shape the franchise for years to come.

It’s a tough situation for new GM Koby Altman to be in. The threat of a superstar leaving is the theoretical tax you pay to have him as the face of your franchise. With James likely hitting the free agent market next summer, nearly every team in the league will line up to try to get an opportunity to foot that bill.

Do you think LeBron stays in Cleveland or do you think he leaves his home state for another franchise? If he bolts, where does he go? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. We look forward to what you have to say!

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