Who says you can’t go home again?
Certainly not the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are growing more and more resolute in their boasts that four-time league MVP and boyhood native LeBron James could soon find himself back in Cleveland and in a Cavs’ uniform.
Three years, seven months, and 27 days after James rendered “the decision” pronounced around the world, paving the way for him to bolt for South Beach and prompting Cavs’ owner Dan Gilbert to ether him in “the letter,” all seemed forgiven Saturday night as both converged on Quicken Loans Arena to fete Zydrunas Ilgauskas during his team jersey retirement ceremony.
James actually spent part of the evening roaming the Cavs’ sideline and sitting on their bench, laughing with ex-teammates and giving hope to all the commoners who yearn for the day when he might again regularly grace them with his dominating presence.
Certainly, James still seems to have as many ties within the organization he does throughout the community, where his one-time high school gym now bears his name and likeness, not to mention a $1 million refurbishing courtesy of his personal donation. And then there is Ilgauskas, the man he credits with being his mentor during his formative NBA years, who is now an assistant GM in the organization. Close friend and agent Rich Paul also serves in the same professional capacity to second-year forward Tristan Thompson.
James took great pains to be on hand for Ilgauskas’ big night, planning a charter flight to and from Chicago, where the Heat were set to battle the surging Bulls in a Sunday afternoon matinee. And the people of Cleveland were sure to let him know they too were feeling the love, as cheers and applauds for the Prodigal Son were every bit as boisterous as they were for Ilgauskas, who dutifully spent the first 12 years of his career as a central cog in the organization.
And though they’ve massively underachieved this season, the Cavs now believe they have the master plan that could lure James back to his roots as early as this summer. With All-Star guard Kyrie Irving already in the fold, the franchise has targeted free-agent-to-be forwards Kevin Love and LaMarcus Aldridge to anchor the team’s frontcourt. The do-everything James would be counted on to do all the rest.
Does it all remain an improbable, ever-elusive longshot? Perhaps, but certainly stranger things can and have happened. Who could have imagined Saturday night happening just three days, seven months and 27 days ago?
