The Los Angeles Lakers are in the middle of a nine-game winning streak. LeBron James, during this stretch, is thriving as the second-fiddle for the first time in his life. Transitioning into a play-finishing wing next to another ball-dominant star might be the final evolution of LBJ’s career.
But would he be better suited to do this in LA, or back home with the Cleveland Cavaliers?
The answer to that question felt obvious less than two months ago.
Per Sam Amick of The Athletic, executives across the
league were reaching a consensus on LeBron’s future as recently as late January.
“As recently as late January, not long after an ESPN report detailed so much of the dysfunction in James’ relationship with the Lakers organization, the widely-held consensus around the league was that there’s no way he’d be back in a Lakers jersey. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors were, and are, often mentioned by league executives as his most likely destinations.”
Via The Athletic
A lot has changed since then. James has gone from the odd-man-out in LA to fitting in nicely with the rest of his team. He’s emerged from his cocoon as a new player, showcasing that he’s able to embrace a new style even in his 23rd NBA season.
James is averaging 19 points on 60% shooting during the Lakers’ streak. He’s found chemistry with Luka Doncic, who just scored 40 points per game across a four-game stretch. This synergy between James and Doncic could reshape his future.
“It was the lack of synergy and consistent success with James on the court, above all else, that drove the idea of an unavoidable exit,” said Amick.
The Lakers are rolling, and James is fitting in more than fitting out. That’s opened a new door for him to remain in LA, where he already has everything he needs to compete. Of course, he could potentially take on the same role in Cleveland, joining another contending roster and playing off the backcourt of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell.
The fit in Cleveland looks better on paper. James is insulated by better defenders and fills a much larger need for the Cavs than he does with the Lakers. Then, obviously, there’s the storybook ending of winning one final title with his hometown. That’s hard to deny.
A Brief Rant on Social Media
I don’t know what James will do this summer. No one does.
All I can say for certain is that rumors aren’t always what they seem.
If you’ve seen Amick’s story aggregated today on Twitter, you might have assumed James already packed his bags and was ready to leave Hollywood. That’s because a handful of accounts have taken this report out of context, posting that James is “reportedly NOT expected to return to the Lakers.”
That, of course, was not at all implied in Amick’s story. In fact, I’d argue his story does the opposite. James seems more likely to stay in LA now.
I don’t have to explain to anyone why an account would intentionally (or unintentionally) frame the report this way. We all understand the concept of clickbait at this point. And, in fairness, even our lovely Fear The Sword has to blur the lines at times to keep the blog running. But the truth still matters — and there’s a difference between an engaging headline and straight-up lying.
So, let that be a lesson in social media aggregation.
If you read a report that surprises you, take the extra minute to find the original source and read it for yourself. Then take it a step further and mute any accounts that frequently mislead you. That’s what I do, at least.
