On the eve of NBA free agency the Cleveland Cavaliers got some news that might mean nothing in the end but certainly isn’t encouraging in the moment.
LeBron James officially opted out of his player option on Friday and will enter free agency when the month of July kicks off on Sunday. The Cavaliers still have a chance of re-signing James, but teams like the Sixers and Lakers are also in the mix to get the services of the best player in the NBA.
Cavs fans got some bad news on Saturday afternoon when they learned that James will not meet with the Cavaliers before free agency begins. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported Saturday that the two sides will not meet in-person, meaning Dan Gilbert and company won’t get a chance to give a last-second boost to their hopes of James returning.
James said previously that he didn’t want elaborate free agent pitches, but a lack of face-to-face communication could be troubling for Cavs fans.
When NBA free agency officially opens at 12:01 a.m. ET Sunday, the Cleveland Cavaliers will not meet in person with LeBron James or his representatives, sources told ESPN.
James’ camp and the Cavaliers’ front office have maintained a regular dialogue since the season ended, sources said. James’ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, informed the Cavs on Friday morning that the four-time MVP would not opt in to the final year of his contract; he was scheduled to make $35.6 million in 2018-19.
McMenamin does note that Rich Paul will be doing all business for his clients over the phone this year, so that may also mean the Lakers and other suitors for James will have to make their pitches via phone rather than in person. As for the Cavaliers, they don’t have many other options when it comes to free agency given their somewhat disastrous cap sheet. If they lose James to the West Coast, they are no longer a contender for an NBA title. In fact, they might not even be a playoff team.
But it doesn’t mean that the Cavaliers are completely hopeless in free agency. The fact is, James knows exactly what the Cavaliers will try to do at this point. Cleveland is simply a known quantity, and James isn’t making this period a circus as he did the first time he hit the market.
Only James knows where he’s going, and he might not even know that just yet. But until then, any bit of information is going to make fans worry and this doesn’t look great for Cavs fans no matter how you split it.
