Wade: LeBron 'loves it' in Cleveland

Any sign that LeBron James is content with being a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers is a major positive when factoring in his unrestricted free agency next summer.

Dwyane Wade - who joined the Cavaliers last month after being bought out by the Chicago Bulls - has a longstanding friendship with James, and perhaps knows him better than anyone on the roster.

"I think he loves it here," said Wade to Cleveland.com's Joe Vardon.

"I could see his mood and being around these guys and everyone that's here. Obviously we've gotta win ball games, everything's gotta go right and we gotta stay together to continue to have that mood, but right now he's in a great place."

The cloud hanging over Cleveland that was Kyrie Irving's trade request quickly subsided when he was shipped off to the Boston Celtics, bringing back a king's ransom of assets in his stead. The additions of Isaiah Thomas (expected to return from a hip injury in January), Jae Crowder, and Ante Zizic, along with other offseason acquisitions in Wade, Jeff Green, and former league MVP Derrick Rose, provides James with undoubtedly the deepest and most varied roster he's ever had surrounding him.

James has advanced to the Finals seven years in a row with both the Cavaliers and Miami Heat and has three championship rings to show for it. While the Los Angeles Lakers are believed to be a heavy favorite to land him should he decide to leave Cleveland for a second time, winning a second title in three years for his hometown squad would make it increasingly difficult to want to pack up and go away again.

The Cavaliers open the 2017-18 campaign on Tuesday against Irving and the Celtics at Quicken Loans Arena, with James' status for the highly-anticipated showdown up in the air because of a sore left ankle.