As most hoops fans know, Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James can become a free agent at the end of this season. Will the three-time champion ride off into a Wine and Gold sunset with the Cavs, or will he take his talents elsewhere, as he did in the past? Basically, it’s the question everyone is asking.
ESPN’s Marc Spears recently sat down with Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype for a wide-ranging discussion. During their podcast, Kennedy asked Spears to comment on James’ impending free agency.
Kennedy: What do you think LeBron will do? If you had to make a prediction: Do you think he re-signs in Cleveland? Or does he go to Los Angeles, Houston? What do you think he does?
Marc Spears: I think it depends on how he finishes. I believe the way they lost at the end last time—or perhaps he decided earlier—but it seems like both of his departures came after hard season endings, although his mind may have been made up before. Like, for example, no one probably would have mentioned [Philadelphia] beforehand, but now Philly is interesting, right? People would have assumed the (Los Angeles) Lakers before, but now ‘oh, no, he wouldn’t consider the Lakers.’ With him, I think it’s fluid. And I also think that if the Cavs were to get the No. 1 pick, you know, get a top top pick with that pick, that potentially he could get a young guy—like, what if he was able to get a top-three pick there? It might be more attractive to stay. With him, to be honest, I don’t know that there’s a good prediction to make because there’s too many different scenarios going on that could affect what he decides.
As of today, James, now 32 years of age and in his 15th season of NBA service, has shown no signs of displeasure with the Cavs. In fact, he’s currently posting some of the best statistical figures of his career. In his 34 games played this season, the former No. 1 overall pick of the 2003 Draft has turned in averages of 28.1 points on 56.5 percent shooting from the field (40.6 percent from beyond the arc), 9.1 assists (career-high), and 8.1 rebounds.
As Spears said, a prediction with regards to James’ free agency is difficult to set in stone. To be frank, there is no one on Kyrie Irving’s flat Earth who knows the King’s intentions at this point. Let’s just enjoy the ride while it lasts.