National Basketball Association: Cleveland Cavaliers
CLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James wont be picking any players during Thursdays NBA draft.
At least not directly.
With the trajectory of their franchise riding on where he decides to play next season and beyond, the Cleveland Cavaliers will enter this years draft not knowing if theyre choosing a player to help them and James contend for another championship, develop a prospect for the future or potentially take a player to trade.
Its a guessing game.
James has until June 29 to exercise his $35.6 million contract option for next season or decline it and become an unrestricted free agent, officially making him the planets best and most coveted player.
The 33-year-old is not expected to reveal his intentions until after the draft.
By that time, the Cavs, still stinging from a Finals sweep at the hands of the Golden State Warriors, hope to have chosen a player that makes them more appealing to the three-time champion, who is mulling whether to leave them and his Northeast Ohio home for the second time in his career.
Anything seems possible at this point. James and his representatives have kept an air-tight lid on their plans.
The Cavs, too, have been secretive while general manager Koby Altman prepares for his first draft by consulting with his staff on what to do with the No. 8 overall pick, the one they received last summer in the seismic trade that sent All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics.
Its quite a quandary for Cleveland, and James isnt helping the Cavs by keeping them in suspense.
Its also possible that James hasnt made up his mind.
Following Game 4 in the Finals, James said hell factor in his familys well-being along with his thirst to win more titles into a decision that once again has Cleveland edgy.
I still want to be in championship mode, he said. I think Ive shown this year why I will still continue to be in championship mode.
And while there are numerous unknowns, there is one indisputable fact: the Cavs must upgrade their roster to have any chance of keeping James and continuing a relationship that was resurrected in 2014.
After yielding to Irvings request and trading him, the Cavs spent all last season trying to replace him. They never came close, and without a dependable second scoring option or a guard, James was forced to shoulder a heavier load than ever. He succeeded in getting to his eighth straight Finals, but was then over-matched by the deeper Warriors.
