The Cleveland Cavaliers are optimistic. Despite the jersey burning, the public letter of hate and the removal of all things saying "Witness", the Cavaliers fully believe LeBron James is considering signing with the team in free agency. The divorce between the Cavaliers and James was not exactly an easy one as many assumed James would never wear a Cleveland jersey again despite being the hometown hero. However, are recruiting pitches from Kyrie Irving and Andrew Wiggins swaying James back to Cleveland?
No one expected James to leave the Miami Heat in free agency, but the longer he waits to sign a contract the more other teams believe they stand a chance at signing the star forward. James' agent has met with several teams including the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns, but James himself has not taken any personal visits. Set to meet with Heat president Pat Riley as early as Tuesday, several Cavaliers players are making recruiting pitches to make sure James keeps Cleveland in the running.
According to Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio, both Irving and Wiggins have made recruiting pitches to James, saying the Cavaliers can get James all the help he needs for another championship. Wiggins has already stated during the NBA Draft that he wants to win and if James wants the same thing then they should play together. However, are Wiggins and Irving enough to sway James to return to Cleveland?
Since his departure, the Cavaliers have been one of the worst teams in the NBA altogether. They have three No. 1 overall picks in Irving, Wiggins and Anthony Bennett. They also have two No. 4 picks in Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson. Add in some additional cap space and Irving is right to say the Cavaliers can get James all the help he needs. However, a max contract for James likely means at least one of those players is dropped. The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that if James hints at a potential signing with the Cavaliers, Waiters is the likely trade piece. There is some interest in the guard and letting him go for James is not a bad trade off.
ESPN reports that if James comes, the Cavaliers will look to acquire Ray Allen as well who is a free agent. Allen intends to play at least two more seasons and Cleveland could offer him a favorable deal. Like Chris Bosh, Allen ideally wants to remain a teammate of James' so signing with the Cavaliers would be an option. Sporting News is reporting that the Cavaliers would also like to be in the market for a big trade that might include the likes of Roy HIbbert or Al Horford in exchange for Waiters and possibly Anderson Varejao.
The Cavaliers have plenty of options in front of them. James is the priority and the remainder of the offseason will fall into place once the forward makes his decision.
