Report: LeBron James "Won't Hesitate" to Bolt Cleveland "If Hand is Forced"
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When LeBron James took his talents back to Cleveland last July, the assumption was he never, under any circumstance, could leave his hometown state for a second time.
Today, that assumption is being tested. With the Cavs sitting at a disappointing 18-12 and fifth in the Eastern Conference, The Plain Dealer jarringly reports a rumor that this may not be the case if Cleveland continues to struggle.
"There is immense pressure to keep The King happy.
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."
Does that truly mean he'd consider leaving again?
With 52 games remaining in the marathon NBA regular season, there's plenty of time for them to turn it around. But there's legitimate issues going on with the Cavs on the court, issues the Heat didn't experience in their first year of the LeBron Era in 2010. It starts on defense. Cleveland currently ranks 23rd in defensive efficiency, according to ESPN. Compounding the issue is losing one of their best defensive big men for the season last week in Anderson Varejao to a ruptured achilles.
History shows it's immensely difficult to survive the NBA playoff gauntlet without a stout defense. Of the 20 teams in the last 10 NBA Finals, only three ranked outside of the Top 10 in defensive efficiency during the regular season. Only one of those teams won an NBA championship, coincidentally the Miami Heat in 2006 (17th). Barring another extreme outlier, the Cavaliers have a hike to reach contender status.
Providing another hurdle is the youth and inexperience of Cleveland's core outside of LeBron. Kyrie Irving is 22 and Kevin Love is 26. Neither has played in a playoff game.
Despite the fact LeBron is on a one-year deal, the question remains whether he would be willing to become the villain again, as he did when he shockingly left the Cavs for the Heat back in 2010. Leaving Cleveland for a second time would unquestionably shatter his image, sticking a knife in his "coming home" letter, regardless of how many championships he would go on to win. Yet he's proven his unpredictability in the past.
LeBron James turned 30 today, and his story remains as polarizing as ever.
Follow Josh on Twitter @JoshBaumgard