Perhaps LeBron Knows He's Better Off Staying

Okay, I want to make a deal with everyone who loves the Cavs and reads this blog. I'll take back all those things I said about Mike Brown being a limited coach, his job being in jeopardy, and Brown's lack off offensive pedigree being responsible for that team's stagnant sets. Now you all admit I was right about how important Delonte West would be, how lacking that team was on one end of the court apart from LeBron, and why this deficiency might have been enough to drive a superstar out of town.

The Cavs are so for real it should make the whole world happy, because finally LeBron looks at home on the court for most of the game (except when a unit resembling last year's five is in). It's kind of like what happened with Kobe last season, except Bron's always had more potential to catalyze an entire team with his passing, mismatches, and boundless variety of skill. These aren't just heady times in Cleveland, they're great days for all basketball fans. Big Z looks like a man reborn; Mo Williams and his bright and shining dog tattoo have completed the puzzle.

That's why, as Ziller wrote yesterday, we should definitely pay attention to Bron's suggestion that he might re-up with Cleveland this summer. That's right, no more 2010, but as Tom notes, a way of staying with a franchise indefinitely while keeping them on their toes. Not a "put up or I'm gone" but the ultimate faithful superstar leverage. I don't see any place offering James a better foundation right now than the Cavs, and they're about to come into a virtual goldrush of cap space.

If you're thinking the slightly disgruntled Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire could in due time end up in Cleveland as a low post scoring threat, you're hardly dreaming. Cleveland's good now, and could well challenge Boston and Los Angeles for the title. Looking down the road, they're in a position to improve by leaps and bounds. Why exactly would James go to a mediocre big city team when he's right in the thick of an emerging powerhouse?

Windhorst reminds us that LeBron's "I could stay" was more a gauge of his feelings at the moment then an official pronouncement. But still, compared to the statements he's made in the past that indicated a clear desire to pursue all options to the fullest, this particular window into James' thinking does have implications for Bron-watch 2010 (2009?). Just the fact that he mentioned a summer signing, even in passing, tells you a lot about how he likes his situation right now.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.