Stephen A. Smith: "James back to Cavs better than 50% chance"

[Eddie20]

That was on First Take. He said this what people have been telling him. He also said that the 3 teams he's hearing are Miami, Cleveland, and NY. And that James is not interested in LA.

Take it for what it's worth, but he did call the Doc to LAC a few months back.

[kg is king]

I say it's a no brainer. Playing with a very young Irving, or playing with an aging D-Wade with Amare like knees? Seems like an easy choice for me sweetened by the whole "bring a championship to Cleveland" idea.

[Monkhouse]

Why would Lebron go back to a city that has hated him, burned his jerseys, and doesn't have anything great about their city? Terrible FA agent destination, and not much of a bright future. If the Cavs had drafted Drummond, then Kyrie, I can see LBJ going back there. But at this point, what would benefit him going there?

I say it's a no brainer. Playing with a very young Irving, or playing with an aging D-Wade with Amare like knees? Seems like an easy choice for me sweetened by the whole "bring a championship to Cleveland" idea.

Disagree completely, why leave the team you won 3 chips with? Plus they can either trade Bosh or maybe try to get some trades around... Either way a healthy Wade, and their entire bench with a injured LBJ/Bosh is better than half of the teams in the league.

[Donoghus]

Why would Lebron go back to a city that has hated him, burned his jerseys, and doesn't have anything great about their city? Terrible FA agent destination, and not much of a bright future. If the Cavs had drafted Drummond, then Kyrie, I can see LBJ going back there. But at this point, what would benefit him going there?

Personal redemption.

LBJ returns to Ohio after burning the organization he started with.  Brings them a championship.

That's one helluva storyline. 

[Fafnir]

Cleveland is such a dumpster fire, I think they had to show something for him to go back.

[KCattheStripe]

Won't believe it until Broussard says it. The only reason that man is employed is because of his access to Lebron.

[fairweatherfan]

Why would Lebron go back to a city that has hated him, burned his jerseys, and doesn't have anything great about their city? Terrible FA agent destination, and not much of a bright future. If the Cavs had drafted Drummond, then Kyrie, I can see LBJ going back there. But at this point, what would benefit him going there?

Personal redemption.

LBJ returns to Ohio after burning the organization he started with.  Brings them a championship.

That's one helluva storyline.

Yeah, but "LBJ can't win in Cleveland, runs off to the beach with 2 HOFers, wins 2-3 rings, then comes back to Cleveland and again can't win" is a helluva storyline that LeBron would want no part of. 

And I can't imagine things are copacetic between LeBron and Gilbert.  Just doesn't seem likely to me.

[Monkhouse]

Why would Lebron go back to a city that has hated him, burned his jerseys, and doesn't have anything great about their city? Terrible FA agent destination, and not much of a bright future. If the Cavs had drafted Drummond, then Kyrie, I can see LBJ going back there. But at this point, what would benefit him going there?

Personal redemption.

LBJ returns to Ohio after burning the organization he started with.  Brings them a championship.

That's one helluva storyline.

It is, and I don't care what people say about LBJ. Hes a genuinely nice and funny guy from what every NBA player says about off the court, and on the court hes also chill. I don't respect his flopping, but I seriously just don't see the benefits of LBJ going back to a city that has hated him so much just to relive being knocked out once again. Plenty of scrutiny was on LBJ for not winning the rings, but the FO is a mess, and Mike Brown isn't fit to coach the NBA.

The only plus to this is maybe LBJ feels bad, or may come back if they pick up better players, and Mike Brown is still there due to some familiarity.

[manl_lui]

I think it all boils down to this season, if Miami wins another chip - Lebron stays

even if they lose, I don't see Lebron going back to Cle. That's just a very poorly managed organization.

[indeedproceed]

Why would Lebron go back to a city that has hated him, burned his jerseys, and doesn't have anything great about their city? Terrible FA agent destination, and not much of a bright future. If the Cavs had drafted Drummond, then Kyrie, I can see LBJ going back there. But at this point, what would benefit him going there?

Personal redemption.

LBJ returns to Ohio after burning the organization he started with.  Brings them a championship.

That's one helluva storyline.

Yeah, but "LBJ can't win in Cleveland, runs off to the beach with 2 HOFers, wins 2-3 rings, then comes back to Cleveland and again can't win" is a helluva storyline that LeBron would want no part of. 

And I can't imagine things are copacetic between LeBron and Gilbert.  Just doesn't seem likely to me.

WHY? Are you saying Dan Gilbert can't forgive and forget??

[Clench123]

I think it all boils down to this season, if Miami wins another chip - Lebron stays

even if they lose, I don't see Lebron going back to Cle. That's just a very poorly managed organization.

I don't see him leaving if he wins the third one.  If he doesn't, there's a big chance he'll leave.  I think everything boils down to championship.  I think that will ultimately be the deciding factor

[Donoghus]

Why would Lebron go back to a city that has hated him, burned his jerseys, and doesn't have anything great about their city? Terrible FA agent destination, and not much of a bright future. If the Cavs had drafted Drummond, then Kyrie, I can see LBJ going back there. But at this point, what would benefit him going there?

Personal redemption.

LBJ returns to Ohio after burning the organization he started with.  Brings them a championship.

That's one helluva storyline.

Yeah, but "LBJ can't win in Cleveland, runs off to the beach with 2 HOFers, wins 2-3 rings, then comes back to Cleveland and again can't win" is a helluva storyline that LeBron would want no part of. 

And I can't imagine things are copacetic between LeBron and Gilbert.  Just doesn't seem likely to me.

Of course he could fail.  He could also fail in NY or not win another title in MIA.  Who knows?

The CLE plotline is the intriguing one, though.

[Kane3387]

Why would Lebron go back to a city that has hated him, burned his jerseys, and doesn't have anything great about their city? Terrible FA agent destination, and not much of a bright future. If the Cavs had drafted Drummond, then Kyrie, I can see LBJ going back there. But at this point, what would benefit him going there?

Personal redemption.

LBJ returns to Ohio after burning the organization he started with.  Brings them a championship.

That's one helluva storyline.

Yeah, but "LBJ can't win in Cleveland, runs off to the beach with 2 HOFers, wins 2-3 rings, then comes back to Cleveland and again can't win" is a helluva storyline that LeBron would want no part of. 

And I can't imagine things are copacetic between LeBron and Gilbert.  Just doesn't seem likely to me.

Of course he could fail.  He could also fail in NY or not win another title in MIA.  Who knows?

The CLE plotline is the intriguing one, though.

If he wins In Cleveland then that story becomes a movie. The prodigal son returns.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Who says LeBron is hated in Cleveland? They've been campaigning for his return for a while now. Of course they "hate" him for leaving, but they'd take him back in a nano-second without any second thought to it.

[GreenWarrior]

in the real world I just can't see Cleveland welcoming bron back. regardless of what he brings to the table.

has everyone(including LeBron) forgotten the owner's public hate filled interviews?

personally I couldn't see myself walking back into such a scenario.

never mind the joke of an event "the decision" was. as I feel pretty confident that it wasn't really up in the air as much as he would have had you believe as to where he was going. Cleveland was never really an option imo.


and if I were Cleveland fans I would petition, beg and plead to the organization to not bring him back. if I were a Cleveland fan i'd feel insulted if he thought he could just come back as if nothing happened. pretty pompous imo.