Is There Any Place Like Home?

  On Wednesday night, LeBron James returned to Cleveland for the fourth time since he left the Cavaliers in the summer of 2010. Miami overcame a 27-point streak threatening deficit to beat the Cavaliers 98-95. LeBron recorded his 4th triple-double of the season with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. The intensity of the resounding boos had significantly decreased compared to his returns to the Quicken Loans Arena in the two prior seasons. With all the hype of that night being around the Heat streak, did a bigger question fly under the radar? In the 4th quarter of Wednesday's game, a Cleveland fan ran onto the court and pleaded to LeBron to come back and told James that he missed him. Being that many of those same boos from 2 years ago are slowly turning into cheers, is it possible that James will return to Cleveland and retire as a Cavalier?

  LeBron will be a free agent after the 2013-2014 season and has the option to indeed return home. When James exercised his right as a free agent to join the Miami Heat 3 years ago, he was chasing an NBA title; "not 1, not 2, not 3..". Now having one under his belt and making a hard push at accumulating another at the end of this postseason, he has gained intangible skills and experience that can't be taken from him no matter what jersey he wears.  Kyrie Irving is a very dynamic and up and coming guard in this league so to say that those two can't be great together in this last stretch of the James' career would surely be a mistake. The people of Cleveland were definitely hurt by the loss of LeBron and responded by burning jerseys, turning down posters and billboards, and seemingly never-ending slander. Nonetheless I'm sure the majority of them would gladly welcome him back. Still hosting and funding many charity and community events in Akron, LeBron still loves his hometown. Who realistically wouldn't want to finish it all in the city that all of his dreams were conceived? As great of a storybook ending it would be, depending on the angle one is reading from, LeBron will not be going back to Cleveland on account of three non-financial reasons:  his sanity, his comfort level, and his legacy. 

  The hate and scrutiny LeBron James faced in the 2010-2011 season by the entire nation is extremely well-documented and calling it overwhelming is almost an understatement. I don't think LeBron would want to re-live that just for the sake of being home and completing a Cinderella story. There is no doubt in my mind that the same disdain would be reborn if he did leave the Heat to return to the Cavaliers, although likely to a lesser degree. Not to mention the damage it would do to his reputation. 

  People also seem to look over the state of and personnel involved in an organization as it relates to the player's overall happiness. There is no doubt that the Miami Heat organization is first-class and do things the right way. Has everyone forgotten about the letter Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert wrote and released about LeBron after receiving the news of James' "decision". Among other things including bashing James' personal character, Gilbert guaranteed the Cavaliers would win an NBA championship title before LeBron captured one. I wonder how that worked out for him. As a player, if I'm weighing my comfort level of being apart of an organization headed by the legendary and classy Pat Riley and Mickey Arison versus someone who publicly burned a bridge with me after all the good years I gave their franchise in Dan Gilbert, I don't see that as much to think about. It also can't be too difficult playing alongside one of his best friends in Dwyane Wade. 

  Finally, although he publicly apologized for it, there was some truth in LeBron's "not 1, not 2, not 3" statement. This man is trying to be a front-runner in the debate of the NBA's all-time best players. Ultimately LeBron has the highest odds, when weighing just Cleveland versus Miami, to build upon his legacy for now and years to come if he elects to stay in Miami. Not only does the squad have greats in Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Ray Allen, but also consistent role players and growing talent in Mario Chalmers, Shane Battier, and Norris Cole. That doesn't even account for the great talent a team this successful can attract. 

  We will all have to wait until next summer to find out, but I haven't seen or generated any reasons why LeBron wouldn't stay right where he is: his new home.