After making four consecutive NBA Finals appearances during his time with the Miami Heat, LeBron James decided to return home by signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers this past off-season. Since then, the Cavaliers have struggled with a 18-12 record despite trading for Kevin Love to go along with Kyrie Irving.
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With LeBron signing a two-year deal in anticipation of the NBA’s new TV deal in 2016, the two-time champion could leave the Cavaliers in free agency once again according to Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com:
James, who turns 30 today, has no intention of compromising his prime years playing for a sputtering organization. He can opt out of his contract at the end of the season and become a free agent.
Given the massive scrutiny he would endure if he departed Cleveland a second time, if his hand is forced, I’m told he won’t hesitate to make the appropriate business decision if it means bolting.
After signing a short contract with the Cavaliers, there were concerns LeBron could potentially leave again next summer depending on how the 2014-15 NBA season transpired. However, the four-time Most Valuable Player said numerous times during the off-season that he would not leave his hometown again and understood it would take some time.
If LeBron does decide to opt-out of his contract and leave the Cavaliers for the second time, the Los Angeles Lakers are projected to have as much as $30 million in cap space to pursue him again. This past off-season, general manager Mitch Kupchak met with his agent, but the Lakers did not get to make their pitch directly to James.
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