LeBron James has promised to bring a championship to the city of Cleveland, and we all know how bad he would look if he left the Cavaliers a second time before delivering on that promise. But is LeBron guaranteed to stick around if the Cavs do win a title?
Stephen A. Smith doesn’t think so.
On a recent episode of ESPN’s “First Take,” Smith said he has been told LeBron would consider returning to the Miami Heat if the Cavs win a championship.
“LeBron James promised the city of Cleveland, ‘I’m coming back to bring you that elusive title that has escaped this city since 1964,’” Smith said, as transcribed by Dan Feldman of Pro Basketball Talk. “He never said anything about staying once he does accomplish that.
“I’m in Miami last week. I’m in Miami a few months ago. Skip Bayless, I’m hearing about a return to Miami if this man wins. He ain’t going nowhere if he loses. But, if he wins, his options are open. LA, but especially Miami, a return to South Beach.”
While we know all Smith likes to drop rumor bombs and create a buzz, that’s actually a pretty interesting scenario. There has been plenty of talk about LeBron potentially leaving Cleveland again if the team doesn’t put a championship-caliber squad around him, but what if the Cavs win a title and James feels some other team gives him a better chance to add to his total?
LeBron would be ridiculed for leaving the Cavs again regardless of the circumstances, but it would look a lot better if he could say, “I brought you your title, what more do you want?” When you read the cryptic tweets he sends and consider how close he is with Dwyane Wade, it certainly makes you wonder.
