The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Plan B reportedly isn’t looking too grand if they lose out on LeBron James.
The Cavs have been considered one of the favorites to land James once the dust settles on his free agency excursion. But the team is reportedly preparing for the scenario that Akron’s very own choose somewhere farther from home.
According to Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, pursuing free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga is considered the team’s “primary backup action” in the scenario James spurns his hometown team. The 23-year-old forward became a free agent last month when the Atlanta Hawks opted to decline his $24.3 million team option.
Fedor also pointed out that the Cavaliers would need to overcome two significant hurdles to land Kuminga. One would be financial, given that the team would need to part ways with a few of its veterans to make room for Kuminga’s desired salary in the $15 million to $20 million range. Another would be the possibility of the polarizing Kuminga “disrupting a highly cohesive” Cavaliers locker room.
Coincidentally, the Cavaliers’ biggest competition for Kuminga’s services is reportedly the same Los Angeles Lakers team looking to replace James this offseason. Cleveland would gladly yield Kuminga to Tinsel Town if it meant James was donning the wine and gold again.
But based on a recent social media post from the Miami Heat, James may be thinking about a different homecoming.
