The Cleveland Cavaliers’ offseason has not gone according to plan. After losing the NBA Finals in five games, most expected the team to revamp its roster, including speculation that they would pursue Paul George amidst rumors of his impending departure from Indiana.
Instead, the team moved on from its general manager, still hasn’t hired one (reportedly due to a lowball offer to their candidate), and has (at least on paper) downgraded its roster.
This is all happening as LeBron James approaches free agency in 2018 and there have already been whispers that the superstar forward may be looking for greener pastures.
Those whispers are only going to get louder. According to Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY Sports, the King is “concerned” about the direction of the Cavaliers:
LeBron James, the NBA’s most powerful player and biggest star who brought the Cleveland Cavaliers their first NBA championship, is concerned about the Cavaliers’ offseason, a person close to the situation told USA TODAY Sports.
Expecting an aggressive offseason approach that would close the gap on the champion Golden State Warriors, James soon found his anticipation and optimism diminished after Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert dismantled the front office, declining days before the draft and free agency to bring back general manager David Griffin and vice president of basketball operations Trent Redden.
Zillgitt mentions the Lakers as a potential destination but that’s noise that has been circulating for some time.
The same report also mentions that the Cavaliers were nearing a trade for Jimmy Butler the day GM David Griffin was effectively fired.
The Cavaliers are in danger of losing their franchise star for the second time; their offseason has done nothing to earn his good graces.
