NBA Rumors: Cleveland Cavaliers Hint At LeBron James Trade Talks; Tyronn Lue, Kyrie Irving Fed Up With Ex Miami Heat Star's Drama

By Mitch de Leon
LeBron James
Lebron James, USA Olympic Men's Basketball player, listens to the national anthem prior to the start of the USA versus Dominican Republic exhibition game, July 12, 2012, at the Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev. James is the only member of the 2012 Champion Miami Heat team on the Olympic Basketball team this year. Airman 1st Class Daniel Hughes/99th Air Base Wing/Wikimedia Commons

The Cleveland Cavaliers are at the top of the Eastern Conference this NBA season with the Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks trailing behind LeBron James and his team. Despite their dominance, reports have consistently propped up and are continuously pointing out the flaws of the Iman Shumpert squad. Rumors of discord among the key players of the team - LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love - have hounded the Cleveland Cavaliers since the start of the NBA season. With a highly challenging potential championship match up against the Golden State Warriors, fans are worried that the JR Smith squad might once again fall short when they face Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.

To add to all the issues plaguing the Cleveland Cavaliers, another curveball is thrown at the NBA team. Rumor has it that King James plans to leave the squad after this season. If this proves to be true, does it mean that the former Miami Heat star will reunite with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh? Another possibility is that James will pursue his "dream team" which is composed of Wade, Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks and Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers, according to a previous Gospel Herald report.

"Let's be real about this. LeBron James has left franchises in the lurch, twice," pointed out Ty Duffy of the USA Today Sports. He added, "He did it to Cleveland after his first stint. He did it again to Miami with Wade and Bosh on the decline. Both times, LeBron James made what looked like the best objective basketball decision. He went from sad sack supporting cast in Cleveland to form a super team with the Heat, and went to four-straight finals. He went back to Cleveland when Kyrie Irving plus cap room and No. 1 overall pick looked like a stronger option moving forward."

Duffy added, "LeBron did not entirely trust Cleveland to get it right. Instead of signing a long-term deal. He has committed to Cleveland, on basically a year-to-year basis, giving him leverage and a potential out."

The same information is echoed by other sports experts. According to Zach Lowe of ESPN, the Cleveland Cavaliers are confident that James will stay with the team. However, the basketball squad remains vigilant as there is a "slight possibility" that the former Miami Heat star will exit the group soon.

"The organization is confident James won't leave again, but officials acknowledge it would be at least a slight possibility if Cleveland flames out," Lowe shared. He added, "If he stays, James will have the clout to order another reconstruction. People who know James see a 31-year-old facing his basketball mortality -- watching a rival in Oakland seize the league and shorten James' championship window."

The championship this NBA season could be a toss up between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. This is the same match up last season when James and his team fell short in beating the Harrison Barnes squad. With the championship dreams of King James - the same aspiration he had when he entered Miami Heat - and the problems of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the rumored exit of the star might become a possibility soon. Moreover, his speculated rift against Irving and Love could trigger the breakup of the team.

Lue, who is the current interim head coach of the team, also echoed the possibility of losing to the Golden State Warriors once again. This comment came after Irving confidently proclaimed that the Cleveland Cavaliers remain the team to beat in the league. In what could be perceived as a contradiction of the star's comments, Lue clarified that they are not the best in the NBA today. Instead, he pointed out that the Stephen Curry team remains the No 1 in the league.

"Our team is very confident," said Lue. He added, "When he [Irving] says the team to beat, I would say the team to beat in the East. I wouldn't say overall because Golden State won the championship last year so they're the team to beat and they have the best record in the NBA right now. We're confident we can get things done."

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