LeBron James

Finnan On Cavs, Varejao, Draft Targets, Speights

Bob Finnan of The News-Herald hears that Cavaliers GM Chris Grant could be looking to deal Luke WaltonDaniel Gibson, Omri Casspi (all expiring contracts), or even Marreese Speights (citing ESPN's Marc Stein) by the February trade deadline. He also shared a few more noteworthy tidbits in his NBA Notes piece: 

  • One reason why the team won't look to move Anderson Varejao is that he could be one of LeBron James' preferred counterparts should the current Heat star look to eventually return to Cleveland. 
  • Indiana's Cody Zeller, Kentucky's Nerlens Noel, and Maryland's Alex Len are among the top talented big men that the Cavs could target in June's NBA draft. Finnan adds that the addition of Marreese Speights has no bearing on the team's interest in drafting a big man during the offseason.
  • Due to his ability to veto his inclusion in a trade, Speights lost his Bird Rights, which essentially prevents Cleveland from being able to exceed the cap to re-sign him. The 6'10 forward owns a $4.5MM player option for next season, but could end up pursuing a multi-year deal this summer if he plays well for the rest of the year. 

Odds & Ends: Prigioni, Hawks, Kupchak, Bonner

Here's news from around the league on a busy Sunday, with one month and a day to go before the trade deadline:

Odds & Ends: LeBron, Miles, Harrington

With LeBron James currently slated to become a free agent in 2014, Mary Schmitt-Boyer of The Plain Dealer thinks that speculation about a possible return to the Cavaliers could become a hot topic over the next 18 months. Don't count former Cleveland guard Mo Williams among those who thinks about the notion much, telling Schmitt-Boyer when asked about the possibility of LeBron's homecoming: "I don't know, I don't know. I think that is a question for him only." Here's more links from the rest of the NBA tonight:  

Central Links: Cavaliers, James, Pacers

The latest news and notes from around the Central Division on Tuesday night:

  • Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer opines that even with all the recent LeBron James talk with regard to the summer of 2014, the Cavaliers must put a winner on the floor next year to prove to everyone they're not the perennial doormat they've been of late.  We've heard the team will do nothing to jeopardize their 2014 financial flexibility, but Pluto warns against putting all their eggs in that basket.  
  • Meanwhile, Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio writes that while the Cavs aren't remotely banking on James returning to Cleveland, there seems to be a lot of arrows pointing in that direction.  Amico says, depending on the development of the pieces in Cleveland, it could be a perfect fit and based on what he hears from around the league, the animosity over "The Decision" won't be nearly as big an obstacle as one might think.
  • Grantland's Zach Lowe breaks down the dominant Pacers defense, which he describes as "potentially historically great."  However, Lowe says, no team as offensively challenged as Indiana has been this year has ever won the NBA title.  The imminent return of Danny Granger should help, but to have a chance at dethroning the Heat, the Pacers will probably need other players, like Roy Hibbert, to step up without losing much on the defensive end of the floor.

Poll: Will LeBron James Return To Cavs In 2014?

Anyone who has either visited Miami or has the good fortune of living there knows that it's the kind of place that you don't want to leave.  Fantastic weather, Cuban sandwiches, pretty girls, the ability to wear an abundance of white without getting made fun of – Miami has it all. LeBron James has gotten to toss the Labor Day rule to the wayside while enjoying all of the roast pork he could ever want for two years and change while being at the center of one of the league's most dominant teams.  It's inconceivable to some that James would leave Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh by opting out after the 2013/14 season, yet some league executives and agents are absolutely convinced that he will use the opportunity to make a face turn and reverse the infamous "Decision" by returning to Cleveland in that summer.

On the surface, it seems incredibly unlikely that James would walk away from one of the strongest teams in the NBA in order to join forces with a team that still may be under construction in 18 months, even with a blossoming superstar in Kyrie Irving.  And while some superteams have reportedly dealt with locker room drama (we're looking at you, Dwight and Kobe), the Heat have by and large stayed as a cohesive unit and found enough shots for everyone.  

On the other hand, we already know that LeBron doesn't have any reservations about following his heart and changing zip codes if he feels that it's the best move to make.  When LeBron is faced with the first of his two-opt out years with Miami, he'll be closing in on his 30th birthday and hearing the chatter about his legacy and place amongst the all-time greats more than ever.  Winning a title with a Cavs team that likely won't have the same top-heavy roster as the Heat would be a massive plus for his resume.  Nuggets coach George Karl is a believer.  Are you?

Cavs Want 2014 Max Player, Possibly LeBron

Anderson Varejao is expected to be sidelined through the February 21st trade deadline, meaning that the standout forward likely will remain in Cleveland for the remainder of the year.  The struggling Cavs could conceivably use other assets to get a healthy piece for the future, but Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal writes that league executives and agents around the league are convinced the Cavaliers won’t do anything to jeopardize their ability to sign a free agent to a max contract in the summer after next season.

Of course, 2014 is the summer where LeBron James can again become a free agent if he exercises his player option.  While it may seem farfetched for a number of reasons, more and more people around the league believe there is a strong possibility James will return to Cleveland after next season.

If the Cavs feel strongly about keeping their financial flexibility for that offseason, then they won’t pull the trigger on any players with three-year deals.  The Cavs may not be stacked with assets, but they do have Luke Walton’s $6MM expiring contract and about $10MM in cap space to dangle to teams looking to move long-term commitments.  In a largely cap-conscious league, those two things could fetch a significant piece in a trade, but it sounds as though the Cavs are looking for something much bigger.

Odds & Ends: LeBron, Wall, Pacers, Rose

The latest news and notes from around the NBA on Friday evening:

Winderman On LeBron, Lewis, Anthony

The defending champion Miami Heat closed out 2012 with a dramatic overtime win over the Orlando Magic. Here are the latest rumors surrounding the team from Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

  • Winderman is not worried about LeBron James leaving Miami in 2014 as a free agent, if the Heat win another championship in the next two seasons.
  • In a different column, Winderman writes that Rashard Lewis is not frustrated with his lack of playing time, with the veteran stating that he understands his role with the team.
  • Winderman adds that center Joel Anthony has been happy with his new involvement in the Heat's offense.

Odds & Ends: LeBron, Balkman, Magic, Millsap

The teams with the best records in the NBA are hosting the only two games on the schedule tonight, as the 21-6 Thunder, facing the Mavericks, will look to bounce back from a Christmas Day loss, while the 22-6 Clippers set sights on their 15th straight win with the Celtics in town. As we look forward to those contests, let's round up a few odds and ends from around the NBA:

LeBron Considering Cleveland Return, Cavs Inquired On Love?

According to a new report from Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal, LeBron James is open to the possibility of returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers if he chooses to opt out of his contract with the Miami Heat after the 2013/14 season. Lloyd writes that James is friends with Cavs players Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson, and his new agent, Rich Paul, has local ties.

Lloyd adds, however, that Cavs GM Chris Grant is aware that the team must improve considerably in order to be considered a viable option for James. Grant is reportedly aggressively exploring options to add another impact player. Lloyd reports that Grant asked about trading an Anderson Varejao-based package for Kevin Love following Love's recent comments critical of the Timberwolves, but was rebuffed. He has also inquired on the possibility of trading for the Blazers' LaMarcus Aldridge, the Grizzlies' Marc Gasol, and the Lakers' Pau Gasol.

Lloyd writes that although the Cavs are still open to moving Varejao, who is having an outstanding season, it doesn't seem likely because his recent play has raised their asking price and no team thus far has been willing to meet their demands. A trade of Varejao to the Thunder for Perry Jones III, Jeremy Lamb, and Toronto's protected 2013 first-round draft pick has been discussed, but both sides have concerns about the players they would get back.