Recent rumors are out that free agent point guard Norris Cole is eyeing a reunion with LeBron James at the Cleveland Cavaliers as he is still on the market with a little over a month to go before the new season begins.
The 27-year-old Cole had his best year in the NBA so far last season as he averaged career-highs of 10.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 26.6 minutes per game with the New Orleans Pelicans. He had also started in 23 out of 45 games for head coach Alvin Gentry, again a career-high, and shot more than 32 percent form beyond the arc.
Despite his productive season, the Pelicans did not extend Cole's contract as they allowed him to become an unrestricted free agent this summer after ending his one-year, $3 million deal.
However, there seemed to be no takers for the highly-valuable backup point guard as he is still on the free agent market weeks before NBA teams enter their respective training camps.
Cole was known to be a fire starter off the bench ever since his glory days with the Miami Heat where he won two NBA titles. He continued with that role in New Orleans, where he had been "a stable force behind an inconsistent and rarely healthy backcourt", as per Fansided.
The report noted, though, that Cole's measured inconsistency in both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor is what makes teams hesitant to sign him up for next season.
Still, his link to the Cavs had been circling around the rumor mill at the moment just because he was an integral part of James' supporting cast when they won back-to-back championships with the Heat in 2012 and 2013.
Chat Sports Net indicated that should Cole join Cleveland, "he would surely know how things would work in Cavs with him as the point guard" due to his familiarity with James and his game.
The article also mentioned that with Mo Williams retiring, it would make sense for the Cavs to sign Cole as his replacement since it would not take a long time for him to adjust with head coach Tyronn Lue's system.
Furthermore, Cole is not lacking in championship or playoff experience and has the toughness that can fill-in for Matthew Dellavedova, who also left Cleveland this summer to join the Milwaukee Bucks.