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12/22/2024 04:43:20 pm

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NBA Rumors: LeBron James to Leave Cavaliers Again


It wouldn't be an NBA season without trade rumors that could  potentially shake up the league. The latest rumor circulating around multiple media outlets is that Cleveland Cavaliers start forward LeBron James already wants to move on and will opt out of his contract after the season.  

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After the acquisitions of LeBron and Kevin Love in the summer, the Cavs were projected to be the powerhouse team of the East and be a huge contender to take out Western teams for the championship. However, the Cavs, despite being five games above .500, are still struggling to find their rhythm.

Cleveland has lost 13 of their first 31 games, which isn't bad but certainly doesn't live up to the expectations of the team. They've dropped five of their last 10 games and currently find themselves within the bottom third of the league in defensive rating. 

The rumor that LeBron is already seeking to move on from his hometown after returning for such a short stint began when Chris Haynes, the Cavaliers beat writer for Cleveland.com, mentioned that the 10-time All-Star doesn't plan on committing the peak years of his playing career for a team that isn't a title contender.

"James, who turns 30 today, has no intention of compromising his prime years playing for a sputtering organization," Haynes said in a report Tuesday morning. "He can opt out of his contract at the end of the season and become a free agent."

The Ohio native was vilified by fans for years after he left Cleveland to to join the Miami Heat in 2010, and leaving again so soon would certainly not endear him to the city. However, that wouldn't effect LeBron's decision to leave the Cavs, according to Haynes.

"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," Haynes added.

Whether or not this rumor is true, it's still too early into the season to speculate exactly what LeBron plans to do next summer.

There may be a legitimate argument later down the road if Cavs are still struggling to find chemistry and knocked out of the playoffs, but there's still plenty of time for Cleveland to turn its season - and ultimately LeBron's decision - around. 

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