Free agency in the NBA is just days away, with Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James among the most highly sought players that are expected to be on the market. The Cavaliers are eager to re-sign the veteran, but his unwillingness to engage with the team’s front office about other free agents and trade scenarios appears to be putting the team at a disadvantage.
The ESPN trio of Adrian Wojnarowski, Brian Windhorst and Ramona Shelburne offered information on different teams angling for key players, including James. When it came to the Cavaliers, this sobering assessment was noted in their article:
“The Cavaliers have been working on several trade and salary-cap-clearing possibilities to be aggressive in free agency, but they have been stymied in attempts to meet or discuss scenarios with James, league sources said. James had been clear that he wouldn’t engage with the Cavaliers throughout the pre-draft and pre-free-agent process, and he has stayed consistent with that posture.”
The bind that this situation puts the Cavs in relates to trying to find a way to bring in the right combination of players to upgrade the team. Last week, the Cavaliers selected University of Alabama guard Collin Sexton, though even a talented rookie won’t be enough to sway James’ ultimate decision. Further complicating the challenge are the salary-cap problems the Cavaliers have in attempting to make such an upgrade.
Last year, trade talks to acquire Paul George from the Indiana Pacers faded because he refused to make a free-agent commitment beyond this past season unless James did the same. This year, the assets that the Cavaliers have available are likely not enough to acquire disgruntled San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard.
Such uncertainty is likely to ratchet up the tension regarding the possibility of James once again leaving the Cavs in free agency.
