A second LeBron James exit out of Cleveland is picking up steam.
The Cavaliers star could bolt again from his home state if he feels like his organization again is taking him for granted or if he doesn't believe that he can lead Cleveland to an NBA title, according to ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, via The Big Lead.
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"What everybody who's close to him continuously reminds me of is: 'Don't you dare take LeBron for granted or think he's trapped into staying in Cleveland just because he came back," Smith said. "Don't put it past him that he'll get so annoyed that he'll leave again if he feels like he's being taken for granted, ran into the ground and, essentially, misused."
Except for its choice of head coach in David Blatt, the Cavaliers have done little to make LeBron annoyed in his return to Cleveland. The team brought in Kevin Love to assist James and Kyrie Irving in getting the Cavs to the NBA Finals in 2014-15.
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With both Irving and Love sidelined for Finals (Kyrie did give it a go in Game 1), the Cavaliers ran out of gas against the Warriors.
This season, the Cavaliers have preserved their status quo, but the Warriors seemingly have elevated their game and are chasing the regular-season wins record. The Spurs, meanwhile, also have elevated themselves with the offseason signing of LaMarcus Aldridge.
That leaves Cleveland as the third best team in the league, perhaps, leading to James' potential wandering eyes.
"I will tell you this: LeBron never once promised to retire a Cleveland Cavalier," Smith said on ESPN's "First Take," via USA Today Sports' For the Win. "His mission is to come back and deliver a championship to the city of Cleveland, I don't see him departing before that happens unless he believes there's no hope or something else happens with Dan Gilbert."
There doesn't appear to be much hope for the Cavaliers leapfrogging the Warriors or Spurs unless Cleveland gets creative in free-agent signings -- and James restructures his contract to allow the team to bring in better free agents.
James will pay close attention to the arms race that is developing between Golden State and San Antonio in the offseason -- especially if Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant signs with the Warriors after the season. James working out with Dwyane Wade also has produced speculation that LeBron could return to Miami.
If LeBron is going to play for less money, it would just make sense that he believes he'll sacrifice with the franchise that gives him the best chance to win another title.
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