With free agency approaching in just under a week, the Cleveland Cavaliers need to start scrambling to ensure that their almost-literal savior LeBron James stays in town. The rest of the team performed abysmally in the 2018 Finals, and without LeBron, each game probably would’ve been a 40-point blowout loss.

Now at age 33, the man has led the league in minutes over the last two seasons. He played a career-high 104 games this year, and is starting to look like another curious case of Benjamin Button. LeBron hit two game-winning shots this year in the playoffs, and averaged 34.0 points, 9.0 assists, and 9.1 rebounds.

On the downside though, is the rest of his team’s performance. Kevin Love, who is now a 5-time All-Star, struggled on the floor and shot just 39% from the field. J.R. Smith notoriously boneheaded Game 1 of the Finals, arguably being the top reason the Cavaliers lost that game. George Hill averaged just 9 points per game, and Tristan Thompson (their primary rim protector) pulled down just 5.9 rebounds per game while only blocking 0.4 shots.

The point is clear. LeBron James had very little help this season. He has cemented his spot as the greatest player of our generation, and giving Jordan a run for his money as the greatest to ever step on a basketball court. The final years of LeBron’s should determine that case, but where he spends them might be an important factor too.

Cleveland needs keep LeBron James if they want to stay relevant in the NBA. In order to do that, the franchise should be active and on the lookout for other stars. In terms of finding a good point guard to play with him, they succeeded very well in drafting Alabama’s Collin Sexton despite reports that LeBron doesn’t want to play with young guys. He’s proved his passing skills but mainly his scoring ability, which would’ve helped the Cavaliers greatly this year.

The team needs to at least attempt to complete a massive trade. This trade would need to bring in another true superstar, one among the likes of Kawhi Leonard, Kemba Walker or DeMarcus Cousins. Bringing a superstar into The Land would be a breath of fresh air, and it would completely rework the team’s framework. LeBron would once again have another running mate, somebody else to compete for another championship with.

If no trade is made, then Cleveland needs to be very active during free agency. They could seek players like Jabari Parker, talented big men who aren’t too expensive. The same goes for Rodney Hood; they ought to renew his contract and keep him, because he’s proved he can ball (despite his absence from a majority of the playoffs). Regarding their backcourt, pairing Sexton with a veteran (they already have Hill and Smith, who aren’t typically bad options) should be good enough. In a best case scenario, the Cavaliers find a way to afford and reel in Chris Paul from Houston, which would immediately make them serious contenders.

There’s another big deciding factor, and it is whether or not the other teams in the mix to sign him can even make their pitch enticing enough. Perhaps the Lakers can’t pull in Kawhi Leonard or Paul George. Maybe Houston really can’t afford him, or the 76ers don’t have enough pieces to deem themselves worthy of throning The King. If none of those teams can pull off what the necessary steps to keep LeBron interested, then the Cavaliers might just end up lucking out.

On a completely different note, there are two other scenarios that keep LeBron in Cleveland. In the past, he’s expressed his desire to own a team. Perhaps they present the chance to get a slice of the franchise to him, something he’d almost certainly take them up on. LeBron would love to be a player-owner, which would definitely important in retaining him.

The other thing that would help keep him is completely out of both LeBron and the team’s hands. It is his family. He’s one of the biggest family men in the league, and if his high-school sweetheart-turned wife Savannah wants him to stay for their family, he will. His oldest son is now growing up, and keeping their home in the same spot would be beneficial for the entire James Gang trio.

Putting all of the factors previously listed into effect, the team has a lot of work to do. If they can’t pull off the right moves, then they better hope LeBron’s heart hasn’t changed. If he leaves, then Cleveland will once again go into the black hole of professional sports. If he does re-sign, then (impending the right moves) the Cavaliers live on as contenders.

Kevin Hervey had been dreaming of hearing his name called in the NBA draft ever since he hit his first half-court shot at age 7. After breaking onto the varsity squad as a junior in high school, Hervey was named to the All-District Team, having averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds per game. A tough knee injury hindered his senior season, but he soon enough found himself at the University of Texas at Arlington.

His dream followed him all the way through his college experience, where he became arguably the most decorated player to ever go through the Mavericks’ program. As a freshman, Hervey averaged 7.1 points while playing in 31 games, starting 16 of those. Sophomore season, a similar knee injury returned. When he was shut down for the remainder of the year, he had been averaging 18.1 points and 9.8 rebounds – good enough for a spot on the Lou Henson Award midseason watch list.

The expectations for Hervey were through the roof by the time the 2016-2017 season rolled around. After being named Preseason Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, he delivered (and more). Hervey started 28 games, averaging similar numbers as his prior year (17.1 pts, 8.5 reb). He was named an AP Honorable Mention All-American, and took home the Sun Belt Conference Student-Athlete Player of the Year. Hervey also was honored with the league’s Player of the Year award, and additionally was named to the all-conference first team. The Mavericks won a program-high 27 games that year, and it had become clear that he was the difference maker.

The dreams of professional basketball were still around when Hervey took the floor at UT-Arlington for the final time, except the difference this time was that they would inevitably come true. He finished his senior season averaging 20.5 points per game, the conference’s second highest figure. The 6’9” forward was named to All-Sun Belt First Team for the second year in a row, which wrapped up an extremely impressive collegiate career.

Sam Presti, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s General Manager, ultimately made the choice to take Kevin Hervey with the 57th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. The pair had a good conversation earlier in the week, and it was just the right fit. Hervey took some time to speak with SneakerReporter.com following his selection, and here’s what he had to say.

SR: What did your time at UT-Arlington teach you?

Hervey: The program guided me from boyhood to manhood. Taught me a lot about how to conduct myself not only as a basketball player, but as a person.

SR: How does it feel to be a part of the Oklahoma City Thunder organization?

Hervey: Got to give credit to everyone who’s helped me along this journey to reach this point. I’ve been an OKC fan since they moved to the city, and I feel this organization best fits me as a player and who I am as a person. I’m looking forward to being able to work with the staff and continuing the hard work that I’ve put in to get me to this point, and continue to reach new heights in my career.

SR: What was your reaction when you found out the Thunder were drafting you?

Hervey: When I found out I was getting picked I was excited, and it is a blessing to have been able to say for the rest of my life that I’ve been drafted.

SR: Describe your game and what you see your role as. What are the things you do well, and what do you need to work on?

Hervey: Hard worker, knock down shooter, good defender. I can shoot the ball very well, underrated passer, high basketball IQ, and a great teammate. But, I need to work on my lateral quickness and overall athleticism.

SR: How do you think your game translates to professional basketball?

Hervey: I think my style of play transitions to the NBA well. I’m a guy who can space the floor, be a threat with my shot making abilities, and be able to guard multiple positions on D.

SR: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Hervey: In 5 years, I see myself somewhere working on my game trying to be the best player I can be. Hopefully on OKC, contributing to the team in whatever way I can – OKC is where I want to be.

SR: What’s your favorite basketball memory?

Hervey: Beating Ohio State and Memphis back-to-back.

SR: Do you have a message to those looking to you as an inspiration?

Hervey: Anything is possible. No matter what people think of you, what they say about you, what they think you are capable of… as long as you have faith in yourself and confidence in your abilities, you can accomplish whatever it is you set your sights on. Nothing in life is easy and if you are willing to work, you can achieve.