Will LeBron Fire David Blatt?

As discussion from the fallout of the NBA Finals shifts towards what the Cavaliers must do if they’re going to compete with the likes of the Warriors next season, a fascinating element of their offseason is whether David Blatt will be back. The decision, ostensibly, as with most in the Cleveland organization, will rest with LeBron James.

As we’ve discussed, LeBron did not give Blatt a whole lot of respect this season. Whether the coach deserved more credit for the team’s defensive schemes is a matter of debate, but nobody’s opinion on the topic matters more than the superstar, to whom Blatt eventually deferred.

If LeBron does decide that he wants highly touted assistant Tyronn Lue, or someone else, to take over the reins, it will be interesting to see if he directly gives the edict to general manager David Griffin, or if he opts out of his deal and passive aggressively makes the organization guess what he wants amidst the fear of losing him again. (It would be a genuine shocker if LeBron left Cleveland now, but less so if he made a tacit threat.)

While the exact numbers on Blatt’s contract aren’t entirely clear, Woj reported upon its initial signing that it was for four years and up to $20 million. But, that would just be a pill Dan Gilbert would have to swallow to appease LeBron (again, if indeed that is what LeBron wants). With a dearth in major professional sporting events for the next 10 weeks, the NBA offseason will take center stage in the landscape for the next month, and any roster or coaching moves by the Cavs are atop the list of what’s most interesting.