CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It is scary to think about how much of what the Cavaliers have accomplished is due to the pure, dumb luck of a ping-pong ball bouncing the right way and delivering the messiah-(still)-in-waiting, LeBron James. Seven years, two general managers, two head coaches and one interim coach later, James is still here, until he decides otherwise....
From the day the ping pong balls bounced their way, LeBron James has been the team's "king".
Seven years, two general managers, two head coaches and one interim coach later, James is still here, until he decides otherwise.
It is unfair to judge a player or a person by his single worst moment, so only fleeting mention will be made of LeBacle, the Game 5 surrender against the Celtics by James and his teammates that sealed coach Mike Brown’s fate.
If you’re scoring at home, not making the playoffs James’ first two years sealed Paul Silas’ fate, and the debut of Dan Gilbert as owner meant interim coach Brendan Malone was just passing through.
Jim Paxson was gone as GM after the playoff misses too, and Ferry is packing up because he knows he won’t call the shots in personnel now.
But it was James’ team before this, and it is so now more than ever.
A name change to Cleveland Kings could happen if King James seeks it. What is the Sacramento franchise to insist on the name and stand in the way of basketball royalty?
Chris Grant, Ferry’s top aide, will have to know the score as he assumes the GM title. That means he must know how to grit his teeth as the LeBron courtship jamboree tours cities whose panting fans will be eager to forget Game 5 ever was played.
And there is no doubt that whoever gets James will be a contender. He is that good, despite the warts that have appeared and the egomania everyone has tried to downplay for so long. It is worth remembering, however, that he publicly signed off on every Ferry move, both those that worked and those that didn’t.
Even if he leaves, Gilbert will do anything humanly possible to create a winning team. He has too big a stake in James to part ways without the full breadth and depth of his considerable powers of persuasiveness coming into play.
Also, very significantly, the Gilbert-owned gambling casino downtown could open as soon as next year, by some forecasts. The owner needs 20,562 fans pouring out of The Q on a regular basis and heading for his wagering emporium, either looking to celebrate or to forget their troubles.
Does this mean Kentucky’s John Calipari, ace college recruiter, so-so to less-than-so coach in an NBA trial years ago, and a close friend of James, might come here as head coach?
It would be foolish to bet against any associate of James right now.
James has the most power over a franchise ever, in any sport, although Brett Favre’s NFL diva act is close. Even in previous seasons, James has seldom been reticent in his opinions about prospective Cavalier player acquisitions. One day, however, he ducked questions by saying, "I’m not the general manager?"
The writers walked away, saying to each other, "When did he ever stop?"