LeBron Dictates The Future Of The Franchise With His Actions, Not His Words
LeBron James has always been a bit more of a lead by example guy than a lead with words type of player. He inspires the confidence of his teammates more so when he gets that look in his eye and he begins to take over games than he does with anything he says in the huddle during timeouts. Now, that’s not to say LeBron won’t bark out orders on or off the court, because we’ve seen him do it plenty. We saw him not all that long ago grabbing Drew Gooden by the jersey and explaining to him what he should have done in that situation. But more often than not, LeBron is a man who quietly leads by example, takes his teammates upon his shoulders, and leads them to heights none of us could dare imagine this team could otherwise reach.
I know I’m not breaking news here. We all know how great LeBron is and we all know precisely what he means to the team, the city, the community, and the state of Ohio in general. Which is why we all go bat crazy trying to read into the man for clues on his intentions in 2010. We can’t help ourselves. Sometimes we can’t just sit back and enjoy his brilliance on the court because we’re too worried about thinking two seasons ahead. Brian Windhorst wrote an interesting piece for ESPN’s Daily Dime today in which he talked a bit about this practice of reading into LeBron’s words and actions. He writes,
“Even as Cavs fans fill up message boards and pepper talk shows upset that it appears general manager Danny Ferry will let the trade deadline pass without the sort of blockbuster seen in Los Angeles and Phoenix — a major talent influx that could get the Cavs over the hump — LeBron will simply smile and solider on.
James said something about Kidd because he was asked about it. If broached with the same question about Pau Gasol or Shaquille O’Neal, he’d give versions of the same answer. Indeed, he like to play with them and who wouldn’t? But he doesn’t have to stand on a soap box to say it or send it through backdoor channels.
James sent his message loud and clear back in the summer of 2006. He smiled and told the Cavs he’d be glad to take their maximum contract offer … for three seasons. The Cavs’ entire organization relaxed and then took a gulp — they were back on the clock.
Ever since, he doesn’t really need to waste breath or lose sleep over potential trades and free agents. He will almost never put down his teammates. He will shy away from making excuses for the Cavs’ shortcomings. He just produces and carries the Cavs night after night, being the difference-maker in virtually every victory.
Which is why he didn’t even feel the need to shoot Ferry a text message when Kidd’s comments hit the national media. Or to check in to see if the Cavs are close to pulling a roster-shaking deal before next week’s deadline.
His position on the matter is quite clear. He is committed, and fully committed at that, to the Cavs until the summer of 2010 when he will be just 25 years old and about to enter his prime. Then he’ll be able to make another statement about his feelings on the franchise and the roster around him.”
We all feel the weight of this ticking clock every day. It’s frustrating as a fan to watch LeBron have to win games all by himself day in and day out. We know what the stakes are. Every win that LeBron delivers feels like it’s also slicing out a small piece of the probability chart of LeBron staying in Cleveland past 2010. The duality of the elation of victory and the dread of the unknown implications of the win can be staggering.
Which is what made watching Larry Hughes go off for 40 points last night so freaking mind numbing. It was like a tantalizing glimpse into the realm of ‘What Might Have Been’. I’m not going to get carried away here, we never expected Larry Hughes to score 40 points night in and night out. But what it does show us is how much easier it is for this team to win games when Larry Hughes is able to produce at a superstar level. For as long as I can remember, probably since the day Carlos Boozer walked out the back door the Cavaliers opened for him, I have lamented how unfair it is that this franchise continues to lean so heavily on one player, no matter how great LeBron truly is. I, like most other fans, have pleaded aloud, whenever possible and by whatever means available to me, for the front office to bring in some serious help for LeBron.
The trade deadline is rapidly approaching, and Jason Kidd is appearing less and less likely to move this year. I think this is a great thing for the Cavaliers. As I said last week, by the end of next season the Cavaliers will have cleared over $36 million from their payroll. What this means is that there is approx $30 million in expiring contracts next season. If Jason Kidd is not moved before the deadline this year, the Cavaliers may finally find themselves in the position of having something of value to offer the Nets for Kidd’s service.
For now, though, the best we can do is try to not drive ourselves all crazy wondering what LeBron will do in 2010. LeBron’s not going to tip his hand. The best thing we can do is continue to enjoy watching in amazement what LeBron can do for this team on the court, and hope that by next season Danny Ferry will be able to put together a package that will bring in the help LeBron so desperately needs and we fans so desperately crave.
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