Speculation: LeBron James Could Return to Cavs

I know this is out there and you probably think I’m crazy for posting it, but let’s keep in mind that the NBA is the place where crazy happens. If I had told you three years ago that LeBron James would end up in Miami with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, you would have thought I was nuts, right? OK, so bear with me on this one.

There is some chatter that LeBron James is unhappy with the Miami Heat organization and that he may consider opting out of his contract following the 2013-2014 season. Sam Amico writes at FOX Sports Ohio that James would consider opting out if Pat Riley remains in control of the Heat. Amico also says LeBron would be looking closely at returning to Cleveland.

On top of that, in a Fact or Fiction game posted on the Heat Index at ESPN as a preview to the Cavs-Heat game Tuesday, two writers said they believed LeBron would end up playing for the Cavs again. Brian Windhorst, who covered LeBron in Cleveland and followed him to Miami, laid out this convincing argument:

Insane you say? Never? Impossible? Too much bad blood, right? Not in professional sports, where you can always go home again. And when it does happen the Cavs fans, for the most part, will welcome him back. Don’t believe me? They’re building a statue in Cleveland to Jim Thome right now and he ditched Cleveland for straight cash back in 2002. Not today and not tomorrow but someday James will consider it because time heals wounds, it just does. The Heat will not be championship contenders forever. James has outs in his contract after the 2014, ’15 and ’16 seasons for the record.

So maybe someday LeBron James could end up back in Cleveland. Do you really think in four or five years the fans wouldn’t be ready to forgive him? I don’t. If he wants to come back, they would definitely have him.