Eastern Conference Exec Says LeBron James Leaving Cavs Would be a 'Surprise'

In the 11th hour of the NBA trade deadline earlier this month, the Cleveland Cavaliers worked out a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers that sent Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson to the Cavs in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye, and their 2018 first-round pick.

With the trade, Cleveland ran the risk of signing off on their funeral by allowing the Lakers to free up enough cap space to offer a max contract to two superstars this offseason, one of which could be LeBron James, who has been rumored to be entertaining the possibility of heading West to a team in Los Angeles. However, after some games with the revamped Cavs roster, it appears that the addition of Nance Jr. and Clarkson, among others, may have enticed LeBron enough to keep him around for one more year.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he stays in Cleveland now," a high-ranking Eastern Conference team executive toldThe Undefeated's Marc J. Spears. "The Cavaliers put a really good team around him. The Cavaliers have made it really tough for him to decide to leave Cleveland again. The Lakers might have helped them keep LeBron."

If LeBron's goal as he nears the twilight of his NBA career is to win championships, then it's probably in his best interest to stay in the Eastern Conference. The Cavs have shown once again that they're willing to pull out all the stops to keep The King around for another season. It's only right that LeBron stays right where he is.