Factory Of Sadness
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3 reasons why it makes no sense to go after LeBron James in 2023

By Chad Porto

Mar 21, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) defends Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) in the second quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) defends Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) in the second quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 23, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23), guard JR Smith (5), and guard Jordan Clarkson (8) sit on the bench during the fourth quarter of Boston’s 96-83 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in game five of the Eastern conference finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
May 23, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23), guard JR Smith (5), and guard Jordan Clarkson (8) sit on the bench during the fourth quarter of Boston’s 96-83 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in game five of the Eastern conference finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

LeBron James disrupts teams

One of the big issues with LeBron James is that he changes the way a team plays. Right now the Cavaliers are running through Darius Garland and eventually Ricky Rubio off the bench (when he’s cleared). That combo led the Cavs to have one of the best four records in the East before injuries caught up with the team.

Bringing in James, a historically average off-ball shooter would change the dynamic considerably. James has to have the ball in his hand to really be effective, or as close to as effective as possible as he used to be. James isn’t young anymore and his body is breaking down.

He’s not capable of having a team built around him anymore and we’ve never seen a team get James as a second or third option, so we don’t know if he’d be willing to take that role. Would he be willing to take a back seat to Garland? Seems unlikely, as there’s no historical precedent.

If he doesn’t, will that affect Garland’s ability to develop? He’s only in his fourth year. The team can’t afford to have him regress, literally. They just paid him gobs of money with the idea that he’s the franchise guy. If James comes in, does he hinder Garland? Look what playing with James did to Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, and Kyle Kuzma.

The minute they left they found their place. Garland, Evan Mobley, and others may be nerfed due to James wanting to play the game his way; through him.

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