If only the Cleveland Cavaliers could coax Kobe Bryant to join them in 2016-17 to keep LeBron James in line.
Unfortunately, they can't. And it's becoming increasing clear that they may not win a championship during LeBron's second tour of duty.
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That leaves the Cavaliers with a Sophie's Choice decision to make: stick with James and hope that somehow the disgruntled superstar develops leadership activities at the risk of taking down the entire franchise, or proposing to James that he be traded for the best interest of both parties.
Incredibly, the latter seems to be the better option, even with LeBron being able to opt out of his contract. His return to Cleveland may be born more out of guilt than wanting to lead the Cavaliers, and the team could play on that guilt by talking him into opting in during the summer to allow them to explore a trade that would help them remain competitive.
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James' strange comments on social media and to the media forced meetings each with Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue and general manager David Griffin, according to cleveland.com.
James has posted a series of mysterious social media messages, which have led to speculation that he is trying to distance himself from the franchise and opt out of his contract next summer.
In an interview last month with Bleacher Report, James said that he wanted to play alongside NBA friends Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul for a year or two, cleveland.com added.
Anthony even agreed with James' sentiment, already putting parameters in place for the quartet to unite.
Carmelo says he's all for playing with LeBron, Chris Paul & Wade one say but it would have to be some place "warm." So there's that.
— Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) March 24, 2016
Lue spoke to James after the Cavaliers' blowout loss to the Miami Heat last weekend. When the teams returned to the court after discussing halftime strategy, LeBron spent the rest of the half talking to Wade, rather than warming up with his teammates prior to the star of the second half.
The Cavs coach told cleveland.com what he said to James during their conversation.
"I just told him we can't have that, being down like we were and him being the leader," Lue said. "Just me being a competitor, I didn't like it. We had a long talk about it. It was good. He understood, he apologized, and he's been great."
This is a four-time NBA MVP, two-time NBA champion and six-time NBA Finals member that Lue had to lecture.
No justifiable reason exists for the coach having to lecture LeBron on leadership at this stage of his career, and yet it happened.
The Cavaliers are at best the third best team in the NBA. Getting past the Warriors or Spurs would be considered a major upset, and while the Spurs are known for their stability and the Warriors are just entering their peak, the same cannot be said for the Cavs.
If the game's best player doesn't possess even average leadership skills, there's no way Cleveland can expect anyone else on the team to assume that mantle and have LeBron follow.
There is perhaps one person who could command that respect from James, and he's retiring in Los Angeles at the end of the season.
LeBron should leave Cleveland, but the Cavs should get something for their trouble the second time around.
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