I’m not having a press conference or a party. After this, it’s time to get to work.
-LeBron James essay to Sports Illustrated
LeBron James return to Cleveland could not possibly be any better timing for the King. This time around, LeBron will get to work and can actually develop something that not only will impact this season but the future of the NBA all together. LeBron James is the first domino to fall in the 2014 free agency frenzy and this move by the Cavaliers is a huge step forward.
In 2010, when he first left the Cavs, the biggest star on the team besides LeBron was a 37 year old Shaquille O’Neal. Then after that it was a 33 year old Antawn Jamison. J.J. Hickson was expected to be taking the helm inside from Shaq and Jamison to be the next big thing in the post in the NBA, but he never panned out as expected. Mo Williams was LeBron’s biggest help at the time. Williams was 27 and could score from outside and help LeBron when he could get the ball. LeBron didn’t understand the facilitating game quite yet and didn’t have any trust for many players. Since he went to Miami, he’s learned to give it up once in a while and allow other guys to help you out.
James average 29 points per game in the 2010 playoffs, followed by Jamison’s 15 points per game and Williams 14 points per game. 29 points per game with no help. LeBron then goes to Miami and has a plethora of shooters and guys who can score. Wade, Bosh could easily create their own shot and when needed, LeBron could kick it out to Mike Miller, Ray Allen, Mario Chalmers, Rashard Lewis, Shane Battier and even James Jones to shoot a big three. LeBron learned while in Miami and now it’s his time to teach the youth about how it gets done.
LeBron knows that he won’t win right now. We all should know he wont win right now, but in his letter, LeBron expressed the importance to everyone that read his essay to Sports Illustrated that the time might not be now, but it will be soon.
I’m not promising a championship. I know how hard that is to deliver. We’re not ready right now. No way. Of course, I want to win next year, but I’m realistic. It will be a long process, much longer than it was in 2010. My patience will get tested. I know that. I’m going into a situation with a young team and a new coach. I will be the old head. But I get a thrill out of bringing a group together and helping them reach a place they didn’t know they could go. I see myself as a mentor now and I’m excited to lead some of these talented young guys. I think I can help Kyrie Irving become one of the best point guards in our league. I think I can help elevate Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters. And I can’t wait to reunite with Anderson Varejao, one of my favorite teammates.
That all sums it up, amongst other options. “La Familia” is what Irving, Thompson and LeBron all are apart of and LeBron will be sure to mentor this team that includes Andrew Wiggins as well, which might be the biggest piece to the future puzzle. Imagine if Michael Jordan left the Bulls, went to the Lakers and began to mentor a young Kobe Bryant? This might be a situation that can happen for any fan of the future of the NBA or the Cavs.
Now Kevin Love isn’t a sure thing in Cleveland. Based off that, the current roster Cleveland has right now is a roster that can not only dominate for years to come but it can keep LeBron going for years to come. LeBron has said before that he would definitely want more time off during the season to prepare him for the playoff push and this young team has the pieces currently to do that. With talks about Ray Allen, Mike Miller willing to join the Cavs now that LeBron has signed, it will just add more and more firepowers to keep LeBron fresh.
Although I don’t think Kevin Love is needed in Cleveland due to the youth and expected potential for the players right now on the roster, everyone else believes that they need Love. The team that can be developed now, along with the three first-round picks in 2015, set up for a big time move in the future. The 2015 NBA Draft is headlined by standout high school star and Duke commit, center Jahlil Okafor. That could mean if future plans come to fruition for the Cavs, they could have a team that can contend for years to come.
Kyrie Irving just signed an extension for five more years and LeBron has already said he believes that Kyrie will be a top point guard in the NBA. Irving just needs to develop a long range consistent shot and get better defensively and you can see Irving being the best point guard in the league. Dion Waiters is a great shooter, solid defender and is a career sixth-man since his days at Syracuse, so coming off the bench will be no problem for Waiters. He should stay with the team and help out coming off the bench. Tristan Thompson is a double-double machine and he doesn’t need to score coupled with showcasing so much athleticism since being drafted out of Texas. Thompson is also a favorite of LeBron’s so I don’t think he’s going anywhere.
Andrew Wiggins has all the potential, skill set and talent right now to be an impact player in the NBA. For a very long time, Wiggins was considered to be the next LeBron James but drawing Tracy McGrady comparisons now is not a bad thing either. Learning under LeBron how to win and how to handle himself in the NBA will be huge for Wiggins’ development and Wiggins can be the next guy to take over in the NBA along with Jabari Parker. Now with Wiggins and Parker in the same division, it will be interesting to see them go head-to-head potentially for years to come.
A lineup of Kyrie Irving, Andrew Wiggins, LeBron James, Tristan Thompson and Anderson Varejao will be a lineup that can definetely contend in the East. As far as contending against the West, the verdict is still out but for the future, this is a nice setup for LeBron and the Cavs. Be sure to lookout for this team and their future because LeBron will be more of a teacher than a star now, but it may all be worth it.
