There is no argument against LeBron James being the greatest player the Cleveland Cavaliers have ever employed.

James holds countless franchise records and brought Cleveland to five total NBA Finals appearances through 11 years with the team. The 2016 Finals win will always be cemented in Cleveland sports history, and NBA history at large.

Still, by the time that LeBron left for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, it was time for the two parties to part ways. While James soon won another championship with the Lakers, Cleveland was put in a better position after his exit. James was coming off yet another Finals run with the Cavs against the dynastic Golden State Warriors, his and the team’s fourth-in-a-row. Despite the loss, it was one of James’ greatest playoff campaigns of his career.

When LeBron signed elsewhere, Cleveland suddenly went from a perennial contender to a rebuilding franchise at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Had LeBron stayed, the Cavs may have continued reigning over the East, but it was nonetheless needed.

The beginning of the end

LeBron’s final season with the Cavs was tumultuous at best. During the offseason, Kyrie Irving suddenly demanded a trade. The Cavaliers spent the summer searching for the best trade partner, but inner drama and mismanagement led to Cleveland accepting an underwhelming downgrade for an injured Isaiah Thomas and company.

Cavs fans were left hoping for the best while simultaneously daydreaming about what could have been. The Cavaliers core was aging, and James and Kevin Love were left playing without the expected third star for the majority of the season. Cleveland attempted to build around them with veteran talent such as Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade, but neither former star fit into what the Cavs needed.

By the time the trade deadline buzzer hit, the Cavs had already ended the Thomas experiment, trading him to the Lakers for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance, Jr., two younger prospects with good potential. As for Wade, the three-time NBA champion went back to the Miami Heat for virtually nothing but a handshake. Rose was out for Rodney Hood, and Iman Shumpert was swapped for George Hill.

With an entirely new roster, the Cavaliers lost their core and their supporting cast. They had no true identity any longer, and there were no answers in sight. James and Love still put together a strong performance with one another, but the team was only a contender because of the man wearing number 23.