How Has LeBron James' Departure Affected Cleveland's NBA Chances In 2019?

For fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers, seeing Lebron James head to Los Angeles was a sad sight for more than one reason. Not only are they not going to see the 14-time All-Star, four-time MVP and three-time NBA finals MVP every week but they can kiss goodbye to any hopes of winning the NBA title in 2019.

"Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Dallas Mavericks" (CC BY 2.0) ;by: EDrost88

Just as the Los Angeles Lakers chances of winning the 2019 NBA Championship were slashed, making them second favorites, the latest betting odds saw Cleveland go from contenders to 200-1 outsiders. James's impact is such that a single player can turn a team with no chance into a potential champion and vice-versa.

It's no surprise the 33-year-old's move West has caused such a big shift in the expected fortunes of the Lakers. After all, James has starred in eight consecutive Finals since 2011. The move will also inevitably see a shift in power within the Eastern Conference with the Cavaliers expected to be playing catch-up behind the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers.

"LeBron James" (CC BY 2.0); by: EDrost88

James leaves behind a legacy at Cleveland few will get close to matching. He not only helped deliver the city its first Championship in over half a century, he did so by conjuring the resources to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 victory. The Cavs were the first team in NBA history to come back when trailing 3-1. Even better: they did it against the all-concurring Golden State Warriors (who had ended the regular season with a record-making 73-9 record).

Some commentators have said the Cavs are in big trouble citing the difficulty the franchise will have recruiting talent around Kevin Love. Other free agents are likely to be put off by the proposition of playing alongside the veteran playmaker. A lack of experience in other areas compounds the Cavs troubles. When you look at the roster going into the 2019 Championship, you wonder just how much these players improved when playing alongside James. Without him, they look rudderless.

Of course, Love is a proven All-Star, his high-class rebounding and 3-point shot accuracy gives Cleveland a man of skill and experience. And with other quality players like Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr and Collin Sexton, optimistic Cavs fans will hope for a play-off place.

But keeping Love this year might actually leave the franchise worse off. He does have a tendency to spend time on the sidelines through injury and his concussion issues mean it's unlikely he'll be a consistent starter. Trade him now, factor in another few losses throughout the season, and, with the benefit of a higher draft pick, work towards rebuilding the team for the years to come.

Indeed, James' move to the Los Angeles Lakers may signal the moment for Cleveland to suck up their pride and accept this season is going to be difficult. However, with Channing Frye agreeing to a one-year deal worth $2.4 million and Love signed on an extension worth $120 million, it appears the team's hierarchy aren't ready to relinquish a run to the play-offs just yet.