Cavaliers Knew LeBron James Would Leave For Lakers Back In 2016: Report

The Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly knew that LeBron James would eventually depart for the Los Angeles Lakers years in advance.

James returned to his hometown team in 2014 and made a promise to help deliver the city's first-ever championship. He would eventually deliver on that promise two years later as along with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, he helped the Cavs historically come back from 3-1 down to defeat the Golden State Warriors 4-3 in the NBA Finals.

Since then, however, the Cavaliers would lose successive one-sided NBA Finals to a Warriors team strengthened by the arrival of Kevin Durant, while they were notably swept by Golden State earlier this year, having traded Irving in 2017.

It virtually signaled the end of the James era as it was no secret that he was going to reject his player option in the summer and become a free agent, eventually joining the Lakers in a four-year deal in July.

But according to Jason Lloyd of the Athletic, Cleveland had an inkling that the 33-year-old would leave for Los Angeles a few months after winning the championship in 2016.

He adds that a key factor behind Irving asking for a trade last year was the fact that he didn't want to be left in a James-less team in the future. Irving joined the Boston Celtics and has repeatedly mentioned in the past that he wanted to play for a team built around him.

James recently spoke of Irving's trade request earlier this week.

“Everyone knows that when Kyrie got traded, it was the beginning of the end for everything. It’s not a secret,” James said.

In a more recent interview with The Athletic, he addressed rumors and speculation that Irving asked for a trade so he didn't have to play alongside the three-time champion.

"I never felt like I didn't want to play with him," James explained. "The only thing I tried to do is give him whatever I could and more. I think by the time it got to me he wanted to be traded, I think he was already gone. He was already gone, and it was up to the organization to do their job and try to keep him as well."

"The guy still had two years left on his contract. They didn't have to give him up. It could've been repaired then. Bring him in, let's see what happens. I don't think his stock drops if he still comes to Cleveland, see what happens and at the trade deadline you could still do it then."

While the Cavs still have Love, although he's been injured this season, they are currently an NBA-worst 2-14 in the league right now, with James delivering their latest loss when he returned to the Quicken Loans Arena for the first time since the summer on Wednesday.

They did, however, give him a video tribute before the game to thank him for his effort in his combined 11 years for the team.