A post-LeBron James iteration of the Cleveland Cavaliers would look very different, and not just because of the obvious.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, if James leaves the Cavaliers in free agency, the entire roster would become available, forward Kevin Love first and foremost.
“There isn’t one player on that roster who is guaranteed to be back next year,” Windhorst said on the Hoop Collective podcast, via RealGM. “I think the No. 8 pick is the most likely player (to be with the Cavaliers next season.)
“They start over. They fully make Kevin Love available. I bet they would look for a first round pick in that trade. He’s on the last year of a deal so they don’t want to take on money.”
The Cavaliers would, however, keep trying to win a title.
“Dan Gilbert believes that he can build a championship without LeBron and I believe he’s looking forward to trying,” Windhorst said. “I don’t think he necessarily wants it to be next year. I do believe that Dan Gilbert would like to make a run of it.”
James didn’t have an answer about his future Friday night, but he’ll have no shortage of recruiting pitches. It sounds like a number of other players’ futures hinge on his decision.
