The Blueprint

In 2010, LeBron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers. That same year, Jason Lloyd began to cover the team for the Akron Beacon Journal, LeBron's hometown newspaper. The story he uncovered started as a tragedy but ended in incredible triumph. Back in 2010, starting in the days, weeks, and months after LeBron left, the Cavs hatched a plan to get LeBron back. The plan was daring, audacious, and spectacularly successful. It incorporated several losing seasons, some highly risky draft picks, and an entirely new understanding of how championship teams are built and maintained. And the best part of the plan is that it worked, culminating in the most exciting Finals series in NBA history. And, most important, the end of the Cleveland Curse. Jason Lloyd, a true Northeast Ohio (as in Cleveland and Akron) insider, tells the story of how the NBA really works, and how everyone—from the front office to the stars on the court to the new generations of coaches—works together...