Cleveland Cavaliers

Dwyane Wade was REALLY close to heading west instead of reuniting with his bestie LeBron James this off-season ... so says ex-NBA star Caron Butler.

TMZ Sports spoke with Tuff Juice about his convo with Wade before he made his decision to join the Cavs ... and he says Wade was seriously considering Miami, OKC and the L.A. Lakers.

Butler breaks it down -- L.A. made sense considering Wade's movie star wife Gabrielle Union, OKC would've been a good basketball move, and Miami's his first NBA home.

Good news, Cleveland ... Chris Bosh thinks LeBron James and Dwyane Wade's Cavs reunion will produce championship fruit.

It's no secret, Bosh is very tight with Bron and Dwyane --"they're my guys" -- and was a key part of the squad back in the Miami Heat championship days.

It's gotta suck to be left out of the CLE reunion (health issues), but when we saw Bosh and his wife leaving Craig's restaurant in L.A. on Monday night, he couldn't have been more supportive.

BTW, don't close the book on Bosh's career just yet -- he told us back in July his health is great and he's still thinking about a future in basketball.

LeBron James says people who voted for Donald Trump made a mistake -- but it's okay, because even LeBron makes mistakes.

The NBA superstar spoke with reporters at Cavs media day and refused to say Trump's name -- or even call him the President. Bron repeatedly referred to him as "that guy."

James accused "that guy" of using sports to try and divide the country -- and he says he'll do everything in his power to fight back.

Then he dropped this ...

"If you voted for him or not, you may have made a mistake, and that's okay."

"If you voted for him, it's okay. I mean I've done things for my kids and realized I shouldn't have given my daughter that many damn Skittles. Maybe I shouldn't have done that. She won't go to sleep now."

J.R. Smith was asked about LeBron James ditching the Cavs ... and went COMPLETELY NUCLEAR -- telling the guy who brought it up to get the "f*ck outta here!"

It all went down outside Poppy in L.A. -- one of the hottest new restaurants in West Hollywood -- when a photog hit a nerve by asking if LeBron was gonna leave Cleveland (again) after this season.

Smith, one of Bron's Cavs BFFs, wasn't havin' it -- ripping the dude (not our guy) to shreds ... before blowing up over a question on The King joining the Lakers, specifically.

Photog: "LeBron's gone man. Deal with it."

J.R.: "LeBron's still here. He's still here."

Photog: "You think LeBron's gonna come to L.A.?

J.R.: "I think LeBron's gonna be wherever the f**k he wanna be at!"

LeBron James just smashed all rumors about the Cavs not liking Khloe Kardashian -- because he gave her a big ol' bear hug after a night out with her in L.A. and TMZ Sports has the video.

LeBron hit up Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios on Friday with teammate Tristan Thompson and his girlfriend, Khloe K.

Witnesses at the park say Kourtney Kardashian and Russell Westbrook were also there -- but you don't see them in the video.

After the big night out, the group said their goodbyes at the valet stand -- with LeBron and Tristan sharing one of their famous dancing handshakes before going their separate ways.

Time for a medical update on Isaiah Thomas' hip ... courtesy of his good friend (and former NBA player) Jason Terry.

Obviously, IT's hip has been all over the news -- with the Cavs almost pulling out of a trade with the Celtics due to concerns over the injury he suffered in the playoffs.

So, we spoke with Terry -- who's super tight with Thomas -- and he essentially told Cavs fans to CHILLLLLLL ... the hip is solid.

In fact, Terry says Isaiah is so good, the Cavs should build the whole team around him if LeBron James bails again ... and if that happens, "The Brink's truck WILL come out."

The Kyrie Irving for Isaiah Thomas trade might be on hold right now ... but it's GOING DOWN eventually -- so says Austin Rivers.

Austin hadn't heard of I.T.'s injury holding up the deal ... but told TMZ Sports NBA fans can chill out about it cause the Cavs and Celtics are handlin' business.

"They're just doing their job -- doing their due diligence. I'm sure the deal will go through." Rivers said.

Basically, they'll find a way to make it work -- cause it's a win-win for both squads.

Cleveland Cavs star Derrick Rose just got a brand new family member -- he's adorable, he's furry and he ain't cheap!

TMZ Sports has learned Derrick and GF, Alaina Anderson, brought home a 10-week-old Chocolate Goldendoodle puppy this week from Murphy's Doodles, a high-end breeder in Florida.

We're told ... the couple dropped $4,600 for the pooch -- which they immediately brought out to their home in Beverly Hills.

So far, we're told the dog doesn't have a name -- but they're workin' on it!

Congrats!

Turns out Steph Curry does a dead-on impression of LeBron James in the gym ... and he busted it out at a wedding, in front of LBJ's running mate, Kyrie Irving.

Steph Curry mocks LeBron's workout, and Kyrie is laughing about it lololol

(via ryanonlyryan/IG) pic.twitter.com/Tpyc4U9C5H

A bunch of the Golden State Warriors were at their former teammate Harrison Barnes' wedding when Steph decided to show everyone what he'd been working on in the off-season. The fact, Kyrie was also there made it way more entertaining.

Irving reportedly wants to be traded so he can get out of LeBron's shadow -- and, of course, Steph and the Warriors just took the Championship from them.

To the victor goes the spoils?

Cavaliers superstar Kyrie Irving arrived at his reported decision to ask out of Cleveland the same way Justin Bieber chose to end his tour -- through long chats with pastor Carl Lentz of Hillsong Church ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Church sources tell us Kyrie, who's been an active member for a long time, met with Lentz earlier this month about his desires to step out of LeBron James' shadow. We're told Lentz didn't tell Kyrie to "leave Cleveland" -- instead he listened to Kyrie's concerns, and encouraged him to make the decision he felt was best.

There's a reason it sounds so similar to Justin's Purpose tour shocker -- Bieber, Lentz and Irving all hung out together in L.A. just over a week ago. You could say they were on Kyrie's turf ... playing pop-a-shot at Dave & Buster's.

We're told Kyrie and Carl have been close for years, but Justin and the NBA star are more like acquaintances.

NBA fans have been baffled as to why Kyrie would want to leave a team that's been to the NBA Finals 3 years straight. Now we know -- it's God-approved.

NBA champ John Salley ain't buying into the rumors that LeBron James is unhappy with the Cavs ... but if the King decides to bail on Cleveland again, he's got the perfect destination in mind -- L.A.!!

We spoke with the ex-Laker about the news of LBJ's frustration with the Cavs' lack of off-season moves ... and, although Salley doesn't believe it, he still makes a pitch to get Bron to join the Purple & Gold in 2018.

It's been rumored that King James would end up in La La Land, especially since he owns a home in Brentwood ... and Salley says it would be an "unbelievable plan."

Chauncey Billups might wanna put his consideration for the Cleveland Cavaliers front office job on hold ... 'cause he is KILLIN' it in Ice Cube's BIG3 League.

Chauncey played a game Sunday night at the Spectrum Center in North Carolina, and he looked like his old self ... draining 3's and setting up his teammates to score.

As we reported ... the ex-NBA baller was offered a front office job with the Cavs, and he's reportedly still mulling that over. He told reporters Sunday after his game that a decision should come in the next few days.

The only potential snag ... if Chauncey takes the job, he might have to ditch Cube's league mid-season. And as Cube said, he's got a contract with the guy. Problem?

9:25 AM PT -- Multiple reports Monday allege Billups has turned down the Cleveland job.

Even President Donald Trump wants to know what's going on with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers ... so, he went right to the owner and asked him.

Dan Gilbert happened to be at the White House Wednesday -- along with the Chicago Cubs (who are in town to play the Nationals) and Trump brought them all together for a high level introduction.

While introducing Gilbert to guys like Joe Maddon, Kris Bryant, Jon Lester and others ... he turned to Gilbert and asked how he's doing with LeBron James.

It appeared Gilbert responded, "Good, yeah."

Interesting situation for two reasons -- First, Bron isn't a Trump fan. Second, there's talk LeBron could leave Cleveland after next season.

Gilbert didn't drop any bombshells ... it was just interesting watching him handle that situation.

Mason Disick is no fair-weather fan because he's still wearing Tristan Thompson's No. 13 jersey.

Kourtney Kardashian and her 8-year-old tag teamed it Tuesday in Calabasas both looking sporty.

We're guessing Mason's jersey was a gift from Aunt Khloe, who's been dating Thompson since last Summer. His aunt's bf pick clearly came with perks, including seats to Finals games.

Could be worse ... like still rooting for the Lakers during last year's 26-56 season.

Moments after the Warriors beat the Cavs, the official NBA Store was selling a 2017 Finals pin commemorating how Golden State took the series 4 games to 2.

Problem ... considering that's not how it went down.

At first, we thought the 4-2 was a reference to the #42 the team rocked on their jerseys this season in memory of Warriors legend Nate Thurmond who passed away last year.

But today, we noticed the 4-2 pin had been changed -- and now sports a 1-4, a clear reference to the number of games each team won in the Finals.

The whole thing begs the question ... WAS THE NBA IN ON A CONSPIRACY TO EXTEND THE SERIES TO 6 GAMES FOR RATINGS?!?!?!

Probably not ... but the pin -- and the refs -- didn't do the league any favors.

Jim Brown is a huge fan of LeBron James -- saying he's not only a "great champion" ... but a hero off the court.

We saw the Cleveland Browns legend at LAX Monday and asked for his thoughts on LeBron's home getting vandalized with racist graffiti. Brown boiled it down to a matter of right and wrong.