The Cleveland Cavaliers-Chicago Bulls were discussing a trade earlier this week. This is when the Cavs had a general manager. The trade centered around Jimmy Butler going to Cleveland.
All of the sudden the trade was dead as Jimmy Butler declared his desire to stay in the Windy City and lead the Bulls back to the glory days. ESPN radio host Dan Le Batard has a theory and it involves LeBron James and his dysfunctional relationship with Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert.
Le Batard is pretty dialed into Pat Riley and the Miami Heat organization and isn’t afraid of getting Cleveland fans in a huff. Citing an article from ESPN, the radio host points out how angry Riley was with how LeBron handled his exit from South Beach. Riley saying James wasn’t answering texts about free agents, and he thought LeBron swayed Pau Gasol from signing in Miami.
“If (LeBron) already decided that he’s checked out, he would do things like tell Jimmy Butler, ‘Hey don’t go there. You’re gonna get stuck there for many years,” Le Batard said. “He would do stuff that would prevent them from being good right away if he’s already decided that he’s leaving.”
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Butler has multiple years remaining on his contract.
The biggest takeaway is that this feels like LeBron could already be planning another departure from Cleveland and doesn't appear interested in misleading any free-agents looking to make a move to the Cavaliers.