The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
James’ future with the Cavs is all about business, writes Columnist Jeff Schudel.
LeBron James was smiling and upbeat Sept. 25 on Cavaliers media day, ready to get practice rolling when training camp begins Sept. 26 in Independence.
He says he is feeling better than ever after a rigorous summer of working out, inspired by his sons in their AAU basketball program.
James didn’t shy away from any subject, except the most important of all as far as Cavaliers fans are concerned: Will James be with the Cavaliers in 2018-19, or will he be wearing the uniform of another team?
A portion of that segment of the interview went like this:
“When you came back three years ago, you said on several occasions you intend to finish your career here,” the reporter said. “Has that feeling for you changed?”
“It hasn’t changed,” James answered. “That’s why I sit up here today, still in this uniform, still ready to lead this franchise to a championship, put us in a position where we can be successful.”
Well, that is encouraging, but then he added:
“Obviously, you guys know me. Any time I’m able to be a free agent or my contract is ending, then I’ll approach that when the summer comes. I won’t ever cheat my teammates or cheat the fans or be in a situation where I’m worried or talking about free agency all year long. I’m not going to give energy to something I can handle in the summer time when I should be focused on what I need to do on a day-to-day basis to help this franchise compete for a championship, because that’s what this front office wants.
“If that wasn’t the case, they wouldn’t have made the deals they made to bring this group of talent…to have championship level talent. It’s my obligation to go about it that way, and when the summer comes, I’ll approach that.”
But if his intention to finish his career with the Cavs hasn’t changed, as he repeated on media day, then why the drama that, whether James likes it or not, is going to surround him and the Cavs until he makes a decision?
“At the end of the day, I have a contract,” he said. “I will fill out that obligation, which I’ve always done … I’ve always handled it in the most business-like way. I will do that with my (advisory) team and we’ll handle that in the summer time, as we always have.”
James could make more money re-signing with the Cavaliers than he could by signing with any other team — but Cavs owner Dan Gilbert doesn’t have to offer him a max contract. The maximum James can sign for won’t be determined until after June 30, 2018, but in July, James Harden of the Houston Rockets signed a four-year deal that could total $228 million. The contract James could sign is expected to be slightly higher.
James addressed other topics in his 42-minute news conference.
• On his readiness for the season: “The Basketball Jones and basketball fever was put back in me early in July. It’s crazy to say my 12-year-old and my 10-yearold can inspire me, and they did. Their teammates inspired me to get in the gym.
“I always get better in the offseason. I always work on my game and work on my body throughout the offseason, but something was just different this offseason. I’m not here to talk about it, because that’s not what I do. I’ll put it on the floor.”
• On Irving demanding a trade: “I had a ton of emotions. I was wondering if there was something I could have done better to make him not want to be traded.
“Was it the way the season finished? Was it me coming back in the first place? Was it the coaching change or GM change? I tried to do whatever I could to help the kid to be the best player he could be, to help him be a better leader, a better scorer, a better floor general. I tried to give him as much of the DNA as I could. At some point, when he was ready to take over the keys, I was ready to them to him.
“The only thing I’m upset about is he took a lot of the DNA and blueprints to Boston. Other than that, I wish the kid great health.”
“If my son went to another team and we were playing against him, I’m not giving him (anything),” James said, smiling. “He could come home and eat dinner, but he’s not getting any advice from me. That’s just the way it goes.”