The Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers both know what it’s like to live life after The King has left town, and in a gesture of grace, having dealt with similar issues after a presidential term from LeBron James, who played for both franchises for four years before departing.
Heat general manager Andy Elisburg called Cavs GM Koby Altman, only to ask that very pressing question he was dying to know the answer to.
“I called him and said, ‘Well, did the sun come up this morning?'” Elisburg said, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. “And he said, ‘Yes, it came up.’ And I said, ‘Well, I just want to let you know it’s going to come up tomorrow too.'”
The Cavaliers were in absolute darkness after James had given them no indication as to what his decision would be. In June 29, he informed them he would not pick up his option for the 2018-19 season after the team had gone through the NBA Draft and selected Collin Sexton with the eighth overall pick.
Cleveland will have to press the reset button and start again after losing their biggest free agent for nothing this offseason, something they’ve had eight years of former experience to prepare for once again.
Just like the Heat have rebuilt their team after James, then Chris Bosh (due to health complications), and ultimately Dwyane Wade left the franchise, the Cavs will be able to start this post-James era with no more lingering questions, but a vast road ahead of them.