Hello LeBron James, goodbye Andrew Wiggins?
The wait is finally over…
LeBron James will be returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2014/15 NBA season.
There was no TV special this time around, just a picture posted on Instagram (and Twitter), and an exclusive interview posted on SI.com that carried his reasoning.
Cleveland fans (and a whole lot of other people) are incredibly happy right now. Pat Riley and Dwyane Wade aren’t, but Chris Bosh should be ecstatic since he can now sign with the Rockets for a whole lot more Benjamins than Miami were offering.
Four number 1 picks?
With three number 1 picks in the NBA draft over the last four years (seriously, how can that be just a coincidence?), the Cavaliers racked up Kyrie Irving in 2011, Anthony “MIA” Bennett in 2013 and now the highly impressive and incredibly exciting Andrew Wiggins this year. With LBJ’s return that gives the Cavs four number 1 picks to throw at any opponents that dare take them on.
But there’s the problem for young Mr Wiggins…
Goodbye Mr Wiggins
In that now infamous SI article, LeBron doesn’t even mention the young fella:
I see myself as a mentor now and I’m excited to lead some of these talented young guys. I think I can help Kyrie Irving become one of the best point guards in our league. I think I can help elevate Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters. And I can’t wait to reunite with Anderson Varejao, one of my favorite teammates.
Not even the slightest indication that Andrew Wiggins will be on the team. Maybe I’m reading too much into this, but think about it. There’s a lot of talk about Cleveland trying to trade for Kevin Love (even before James’ decision was made final), and how the only way they can get him is by trading Wiggins. Kevin Love is an incredible talent and his game would complement LeBron’s immensely, so its highly likely Wiggins would be considered expendable if it would bring in a talent like Love that would help them win now. Either way it wouldn’t be the first time a number 1 pick has been traded before suiting up for the team that chose them.
But perhaps LeBron just gave us the answer in his own subtle way.
Maybe he already knows that he’ll find Love in Cleveland. 
Does number #23 go too?
via Twitter
There is one other little matter too – what number will LeBron wear in Cleveland?
For his seven years there, he wore number 23 (in honour of Michael Jordan).
But when he left… well, let’s just say things got ugly.
Words were said.
Jerseys were burnt. $h!t got real.
And he moved to Miami where #23 wasn’t available even if he had wanted it. This was because Miami had already retired the number – not for one of their own greats who had worn it (there wasn’t one), but instead in honour of Michael Jordan’s contribution to the game. Strange but true.
So we saw LBJ don the #6, say he didn’t mind as he wanted to honour Jordan (again) and then win two championships as part of the big three.
Will he go back to wearing #23 (with the smell of the burnt jerseys still hanging over him), stick to trusty old #6 (with the smell of the burning Heat jerseys even fresher in his mind), or bring in a completely new number just because he can? Well, if there’s one thing this whole story has taught us, its that anything can happen!
If it’s up to me, he’ll be wearing #15 next year!
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