Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert wants to "sell the team," and that is the main reason LeBron James is not going to "capitulate to anything that Dan Gilbert wants to do" regarding his playing future, according to ESPN's Stephen A. Smith. The Cavs are "more viable as a commodity if LeBron James is on your squad, as opposed to if LeBron James leaves." That is "one of the reasons why Dan Gilbert wanted him to commit to 3-5 years. Within that time span, you sell the team, you get money out the wazoo” ("First Take,” ESPN, 1/24). Crain's Cleveland Business' Kevin Kleps cited a source as saying that there is "zero" to Smith's speculation on the Cavs possibly being for sale. Gilbert "isn't selling, and there has been no such discussion." ESPN's Darren Rovell also cited sources as saying that Gilbert "has not had any discussions to sell" the franchise (TWITTER.com, 1/24).
HOME IMPROVEMENT: Cavaliers officials said that a $140M renovation project for Quicken Loans Arena "will begin next month." They added that the project's initial phase "will focus on the outside of the building and affect entrances and exits for fans attending events at the arena." There also will be "changes in vehicle traffic patterns in the arena area that will last" until approximately mid-'19 (AP, 1/24).
