Trouble in Cavadise?
LeBron James departed from Miami after winning two championships and MVP awards to become part of a newer, younger, and at this stage in their careers, better big 3 in Cleveland. Kyrie Irving, whom the Cavs selected with the #1 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, and Kevin Love–whom the Cavs acquired after sending their 2014 #1 pick, the highly coveted Andrew Wiggins, to Minnesota–would join King James in his home state of Ohio as he made his dramatically undramatic return to Akron, Cleveland, and the team that drafted the planet’s best player. On paper, LeBron, Kyrie and Kevin are more formidable than LeBron, Wade and Bosh. The Cleveland trio can all claim to be either the best player in the league at their position, or second/third best at worst. Wade played the best basketball he’ll ever play years ago, and Bosh isn’t the dread-headed guy that put up Hall of Fame numbers in Toronto, though he’s more than capable of carrying a team, evidenced by the Heat’s hot start. However, LeBron might not have that big 3 for long.
A report from Sam Smith of Bulls.com is stating that “indications are he will seriously consider” opting out of the contract he signed with the Cavs after coming over from Cleveland, which is the worst-case scenario for all parties involved, except Love himself. Should he opt out and re-sign with the Cavs or go to another team, Love stands to make almost $2 million more per season under the league’s raised salary cap which goes into effect next summer, and should things not work out in Cleveland, he’ll have a bevy of options to choose from, including New York and Los Angeles. For the Cavs, it would be a lose-lose. Not only would they be letting the league’s most skilled power forward walk while getting nothing in return, but their decision to trade away Andrew Wiggins, regarded by most basketball minds to be a once-in-a-generation talent, will most certainly come back to bite them. According to Smith:
Indications are he will seriously consider the opt out and has his eyes on a return to Los Angeles, where he attended college and where the Lakers long have had him on their free agent wish list …
Somehow, some way, Kobe Bryant may have the last laugh. How does it always happen that way?…
