Lebron James May Leave Cleveland Cavs

StillWideAwake, Yahoo! Contributor Network
May 16, 2010 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."

On Thursday night Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers became only the second team in NBA history to win at least 60 games in two consecutive regular seasons and not make it to the NBA finals. Coming into the 2010 NBA playoff with the best record in the league, the Cavaliers were ousted by the Boston Celtics 4-2 in the second round, bringing another disappointing season to an end. At times during that series, James seemed to play without the passion and focus that basketball fans have become accustomed to, leading to intense scrutiny and speculation. What makes this loss even more devastating for Cleveland fans is the possibility that it may mark the last time that Lebron James plays basketball as a Cleveland Cavalier. James becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer, which means he is free to sign with any team that he chooses. Considered by many to be the best player in the league, the 25-year-old James would easily be the biggest free agent signing in the last decade. Where will Lebron James end up? As of today, there are around five teams that have the salary cap pace available to make a possible run at James. These five teams are:

1. New York Knicks
The Knicks have been hot on the trail of Lebron for the last few seasons, dumping players and salaries, while sending not-so-subtle messages to James that he would be widely embraced in New York. Notables like director Spike Lee have been working overtime to convince James that he would thrive in the Big Apple, considered by most to be the Mecca of basketball. The challenge with that move is that James has expressed a desire to win right away and New York would probably be in the rebuilding stage for a couple of years.
2. Chicago Bulls
This team would provide an intriguing opportunity as they already have young talent to surround James with in point guard Derek Rose and forward Joakim Noah. The other obvious issue is the fact that Chicago is the team that was led so many years by James' boyhood idol, Michael Jordan. Will playing in Chicago allow James to continue the legacy, or would would the immense shadow of the legendary MJ be too constricting?
3. New Jersey Nets
This team is led by a new billionaire owner and is also co-owned by one of James good friend, rapper Jay-Z. There has been recent talk of moving this team to Brooklyn in the next few years, which would re-make the Nets organization into a major-market team. The challenge with the Nets, who had the worst record in the NBA this past year, is that they too would be a rebuilding effort. Even if they landed two quality players in the off-season, it would take time.
4. Miami Heat
The Heat already has a star player in guard Dwayne Wade. Pairing up James and Wade in the prime of their respective careers could be considered either a master move, or a collision of egos waiting to happen. Some look to Heat president Pat Riley becoming head coach as a possible solution. These two players are very similar, and both require the ball. With only one ball to go around in Miami, some wonder if it would be a good fit for James. That said, Miami has the talent to compete, along with the warm beaches and active nightlife that appeals to young NBA players.
5. Cleveland Cavs
Before we count the Cavaliers out, it is important to understand that James is a native to Ohio, where he played high school basketball in Akron and has been very active in the community. Loyalty may factor into the Cavaliers keeping James, along with the fact that they can offer him the most money. They have already built a solid team around him that has made the playoffs the past several years. Cleveland will be hoping that the emotions of last Thursday do not factor into James' decision, and that the promise to continue making adjustments to the coaching staff and roster can convince James that staying with Cleveland is hi best move. Time will tell how effective they are.