Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 What If’s that could’ve redefined LeBron Jame’s first stint

By Chad Porto

LOS ANGELES - AUGUST 30: Basketball player Lebron James' signed ball and jersey August, 2005 at LA Center Stage Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Justin Jay/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - AUGUST 30: Basketball player Lebron James' signed ball and jersey August, 2005 at LA Center Stage Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Justin Jay/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
ORLANDO, FL – MAY 26: Delonte West #13 and Wally Szczerbiak #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrate a call against the Orlando Magic in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Amway Arena on May 26, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL – MAY 26: Delonte West #13 and Wally Szczerbiak #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrate a call against the Orlando Magic in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Amway Arena on May 26, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

What If? – Wally Szczerbiak’s legs weren’t shot

Wally Szczerbiak through his first three years in the NBA was a top 25-player. He could score, play defense, he passed the ball and could rebound well for a small forward. Yet, Szczerbiak’s career would be hampered by knee and ankle problems. Injuries that were so severe that a fourth knee operation at 32 would make it hard for him to live a normal life due to the damaged cartilage in his knees.

So what if Szczerbiak wasn’t hampered by injuries when he arrived in Cleveland? For starters, he was the perfect compliment for a player like LeBron James. He was a dynamic scorer from both inside and out. He was a career 40% three-point scorer at a time when a that was a rarity. Szczerbiak would’ve been a multi-time All-Star with James passing him the ball. That’s if Szczerbiak had ended up on the 2007-2008 squad as is with healthy legs.

What if he landed on that team with Carlos Boozer and Andre Miller still there? That would’ve been the perfect starting five in NBA history. Szczerbiak could play shooting guard at the height of his athletism and would’ve fit in nicely with that team. Miller and Zydrunas Ilgauskas were great mid-range shooters, Boozer and James were the guys who would’ve attacked the basket and that meant that Szczerbiak would’ve been able to take long-range shots more than ever before. It would’ve been the best starting five in Cavs history; if everyone was still there and if everyone was healthy.

A huge “What If?” but had Szczerbiak ended up in Cleveland while he was healthy, then James wins at least one title.

Home/Cleveland Cavaliers