Wait, what? LeBron not ruling out return to Cavs

From Comcast SportsNet
CLEVELAND (AP) -- LeBron James could picture returning one day to the place where his NBA journey began, making an unlikely return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.After practicing in a gym where he refined his game for seven seasons, James said Thursday he would not rule out a return to the Cavaliers, a team he carried to the brink of a title before he spurned adoring fans by leaving as a free agent in 2010 to chase a championship with Miami.Asked if he could play for the Cavs again, James initially paused before giving his answer."It would be great," he said. "It would be fun to play in front of these fans again. I had a lot fun times in my seven years here. You can't predict the future and hopefully I continue to stay healthy. I'm here as a Miami Heat player, and I'm happy where I am now, but I don't rule that out in no sense."And if I decide to come back, hopefully the fans will accept me."James' comments may have been calculated, coming one day before the Cavs host the Heat for the third time since the superstar's messy exit from Cleveland. In mentioning a possible reunion, he may be trying to soften the negative response he'll get Friday from fans who haven't forgotten what he did to them.James said he has made no attempt to patch things up Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, who harshly criticized James in a scathing letter to Cleveland's fans. Gilbert promised to win a title before James, questioned his character and told The Associated Press he felt James quit on the Cavs during the playoffs.James said he has no bitterness toward Gilbert. They have not spoken since James met with the Cavaliers on July 3, 2010, when they were one of several teams courting him to sign with them."I don't have any hard feelings. He said what he said and I've moved on," said James, who is under contract with the Heat for two more seasons. "But there's been no attempt to patch things up."James, however, said he can envision being friends again with Gilbert."I don't hold grudges," he said. "I hold them a little bit, but I don't hold them that long. He said what he said out of anger and he would probably want to take that back. But I made a mistake, too, and there are some things I would want to take back as well."You make mistakes and move on."It wasn't clear if by "mistake" James meant the way he announced his departure from Cleveland or joining the Heat. He insists he's happy in South Florida and committed to winning a title with the Heat, who lost to Dallas in the finals last season.James acknowledged he's changed and enjoying hoops the way he once did."I'm back to how I was in Cleveland, having fun with the game, appreciating the game, loving the game and playing at a high level," he said. "I got away from that last year. It was a difficult year for me last year, making the whole transition, on and off the floor, going through everything I went through."I just got back to how I got to this point, back to playing the way I know how to play."James' comments about a return to Cleveland -- albeit unlikely -- caught former teammate Antawn Jamison off guard."It surprises me that he's saying that now," said Jamison, who played 25 games with James in 2010 after coming over in a trade. "Three years down the road it wouldn't surprise me if he entertains the idea. But hey, after the first go-round, I don't think anything would surprise you as far as scenarios taking place."Cavs guard Daniel Gibson can't envision Cleveland fans ever receiving James warmly again."I don't think he'd be welcome," Gibson said. "Not with the way that went down. It was a pretty tough situation. I'm sure they wouldn't feel comfortable with that at all."For the moment, and for at least the next two seasons, James is with the Heat. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra has seen a renewal in James, who he believes will one day be warmly recognized by Cavs fans for his time in Cleveland."Time heals a lot of things and LeBron had many special years here," Spoelstra said. "There probably will be a time in the future where he will be embraced and acknowledged for the great run that they had here. It's a new chapter for their organization and they've got a bright future ahead."James knows what's coming on Friday. He's prepared for a rough reception, but not as hostile as the one the seven-time All-Star got on Dec. 2 last season. James expects to hear boos, but maybe not as many obscenities."It doesn't sting anymore," James said. "The booing isn't as bad as it was last year so it's not even a big deal."