LeBron James is one victory away from delivering an NBA title to Cleveland, but his stay there could once again be a temporary one.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, there is a belief among NBA franchises that James will eventually leave the Cavaliers again, particularly if they win a title. There is no indication when it might happen, but it is noted that James’s inner circle has not tried to dispel the notion.
Wojnarowski also notes that there’s no great warmth from James toward owner Dan Gilbert, who infamously trashed him in an open letter after his departure for Miami. It is characterized as James performing despite his owner, not for him.
James is on a rolling one-year contract to maximize his leverage, and it would give him an easy out if the day came when he decided enough was enough. He has openly floated the possibility of joining up with his superstar buddies to play on a superteam. Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony will be free agents within two years, and they aren’t getting any younger, so it’s definitely plausible that James will ultimately seek greener pastures. If Cleveland wins the title, James has accomplished what he came back to do, and you’d imagine that if he delivers a title and leaves, Cleveland fans will be a lot more accepting of that decision than they were last time.
