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Report: LeBron hasn't already decided to leave Cavs

Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / Getty

A report that LeBron James has already decided to opt out of his contract and leave the Cleveland Cavaliers after this coming season isn't true, sources told Cleveland.com's Joe Vardon.

Longtime NBA journalist Chris Sheridan tweeted Wednesday, citing an NBA source, that James is "100 percent leaving. Relationship with owners beyond repair." Vardon, who's covered the Cavaliers for the past three seasons, then followed up and reported that three sources close to James say the rumor is "100 percent false."

James does not view his relationship with the Cavs and owner Dan Gilbert as irreparably broken, according to Vardon's sources, although he was unhappy when general manager David Griffin was let go in June. James has had a turbulent history with Gilbert since the billionaire mortgage lender bought the Cavs in 2005.

The Cavs were having a rough offseason even before Kyrie Irving reportedly demanded a trade. In an NBA where everybody is chasing the Golden State Warriors, Griffin's departure was followed by the signings of Derrick Rose, Jose Calderon, and Jeff Green. This has led to speculation that James could flee northeast Ohio for the second time in his career by opting out of his contract next year.

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