The Cleveland Cavaliers have a dream of signing LeBron James in free agency to team up with Kyrie Irving for years to come and with King James likely hitting the market this summer, the Cavs could try and clear some space for him by trading names like Tristan Thompson, Dion Waiters, Anderson Varejao or Anthony Bennett.
These moves are unlikely and James is almost guaranteed to stay in Miami, but the Cavaliers and their fans would love to dream and if they found a way to get him back, all would be forgiven in the city. James is looking to win another title with Miami and if he gets that he is likely staying. The Cavaliers were shopping Waiters all season and he did not get along with Kyrie Irving and that is one reason why he could be traded. The team traded for Luol Deng during the season and that didn't work out and now the future of Irving is up in the air.
The Cavs got the number one overall pick in the draft this year and what the team does with that pick could dictate what Irving does. The team could try and trade the pick for Kevin Love along with some of the players mentioned and that has been looked at as a possibility, as the team has received numerous calls about the number one pick. Love has reportedly said he will not go to the Cavaliers and that likely puts them out of the running and this year they have the chance to add a top prospect in Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker.
This summer there are some teams that could have a realistic shot at James even if it's unlikely, as the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets have strong teams that are a couple pieces away from being championship contenders. To have any chance of signing James though, those teams will have to make some big moves to clear space for his contract and that is why Miami is where he likely will end up. The Bulls have Carlos Boozer to amnesty or trade along with Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson and that would give James the chance to team up with Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose as the Bulls try to win a title. Yeah, the Michael Jordan comparisons wouldn't get crazy if that happened or anything.
The team messed up their draft pick last season with Anthony Bennett and while it's too soon to say a player is a bust, Bennett sure looks like one. Kyrie Irving is the best player on the team and one of the best point guards in the NBA and any chance at getting James down the line means keeping Irving somehow. This past season Irving appeared frustrated with the constant questions about his future and one reason he likely was so defensive is because he knows what everyone else does: he likely will leave just like LeBron the first chance he gets.
The Cavaliers won the number one overall pick for the second time in a row and now they have the chance to add a very solid prospect to their team, as the draft class is considered very deep in 2014. Irving will be watching very closely, as he is set to be a free agent soon and with contract extension questions coming, he will have to make a decision on his future. The Cavaliers want to sign Irving long term, but there is a good chance he will want to test the market, especially after being on a four year contract worth just over $20 million, as he can make a max deal in his next contract.
Last season the team went just 33-49 and missed the playoffs again and they ranked just 22nd in the league in scoring behind Irving. The team went just 7-9 against their division and was ranked 20th in assists per game, 16th in points allowed and 11th in rebounds per game. The Cavaliers now have received the number one overall pick four times since 2003 and for the third time in four years since picking Irvin from Duke. The team feels it has the chance to turn around with the young talent they have, but they will have to show Irving they are for real.
The Cavaliers think they have a chance to bring back James and hey, good for them, as they got the number one pick in the draft for the second year in a row. It likely would take a lot more than just that to get James back, but people can dream. The Cavaliers need to show that they are not a mess and getting James to come back would be the ultimate move, but it is nearly impossible to see that happening this summer. James may return as an elder statesman, but not in his prime and now when the Cavaliers are still hanging around the draft lottery.
