NBA Trade Rumors: With Warriors Core Intact, Will LeBron James Seek New Superteam?

By Erik Pineda
LeBron James
Atlanta, GA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) controls the ball against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half in game three of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Cavaliers defeated the Hawks 121-108.  Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The reports are in - the Golden State Warriors will remain the same team that won the NBA Finals 2017. Kevin Durant took pay cuts and is happy about it as his sacrifice allowed the GSW front office to preserve the core of the champion team and some. The ball is on LeBron James now as he will face the same crew that frustrated his two Finals attempt. It is time to jump ship, again?

The Warriors will enter Season 2017-18 with KD still playing alongside Stephen Curry, the latter a happier superstar following his $201 million supermax deal that guarantees a five-year stay in the Bay Area. Rejoining the duo are Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and the reliable veterans Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala. Clearly, the Warriors as a Superteam are largely intact that for King James is not a good thing.

Possibly the 2018 NBA Finals will be a repeat of the 2017 edition - the Cavs headlined by James will meet the GSW anew and most likely it will be a no-sweat for the Warriors, they will win again. Looking at the prospect of another humiliating defeat, will James switch uniform again? Will he actively pursue a new Superteam with a better chance of stopping the GSW juggernaut?

It's hard to predict what's playing on James' mind at the moment. ESPN said the face of the Cavaliers is keeping a low profile and not actively participating in the ongoing free agency. It seems James has elected to watch things unfold from a safe distance as he mulls on his options.

If rumors are true James' next move is to wear the LA Lakers jersey by July 2018. The city of angels is no doubt tempting as the rising star Lonzo Ball will be there though the Lakers adding Paul George to their roster is unlikely to happen anytime soon. Still, winning another NBA ring as part of the Lakers should sound exciting for James. Or is it?

A report by the Cavaliers Nation is convinced otherwise. The report said King James has too many reasons to remain in Ohio and play out his career there. And one is the Cavaliers are already title contender and one proof is since James rejoined the club they've consistently appeared on the Finals and even won one championship. For sure, the team will have a couple more of shots at the Larry O'Brien in the years ahead and likely take home the trophy again with the perfect combination of players.

Surely too, James enjoys the level of control that the Cavs front office afford to him. He might find the same privilege with a new team destination but there is no assurance the generosity displayed by Dan Gilbert would be replicated by other team owners.

Lastly, the idea that James is the Cavaliers and vice versa will likely never be seen again in the event of another team switch. As the Cavaliers Nation pointed out, the Cavs will always be a LeBron James brand in the same way the Chicago Bulls will forever bear the Michael Jordan signature. In such a case, it's for the best that King James stick it out with the Cavaliers, which he can always shape into a Superteam of his liking anyway.

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