In sports, much like in life, there is never any such thing as a sure thing.

Look at the horse racing triple crown. How many times since 1978 has a horse won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, only to fall short at the Belmont Stakes? (The answer is 12, by the way).

That's why when the biggest star in the basketball world is up for grabs in free agency this summer, one should not assume that his return to the team he made into an almost-dynasty is a given.

LeBron James is a man who controls his own destiny. And after winning two NBA world titles, four league MVP trophies, and 10 straight NBA All-Star selections, really, why shouldn't he? He's the ultimate game-changer in basketball, the equivalent of hitting the lottery, a rare once-in-a-generation talent that can make an okay team into a title contender, and a title contender into a dynasty. He's that good.

And yet, surprisingly, James has never been the highest paid player on his team. Ever. Not even when he single-handedly lifted his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers from the outhouse to the penthouse of the NBA. Not even after "The Decision," when he formed the most powerful trio in sports with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to net four straight NBA Finals appearances and two back-to-back world titles with the Miami Heat; Chris Bosh was the highest paid player on the Heat during that stretch.

Now, fresh off a stinging Finals loss to the San Antonio Spurs, he looks to regroup for another bid to recapture his spot as king of the NBA mountain next season. And while the Heat look like the odds-on favorite, and perhaps the logical choice, one cannot discount the recent push that the Cavaliers are making to get King James to bring his throne back home to where it all began.

And here's why:

1. The Cavaliers are Better Than Before

Granted, nobody's giving these guys a chance of making the Finals in their current state, but is this a better team than it was back when James last donned crimson and white for the Cavs? Absolutely, and for one key reason: Kyrie Irving.

After a scintillating Rookie of the Year season, Irving has developed into a legitimate star in the league. A terrific playmaker, a lethal shooter, a fearsome scorer and a finisher in the clutch, Irving is the kind of star that LeBron needed, but didn't have, when he played in Cleveland. The closest thing he had to a scoring partner was an older, slower Shaquille O'Neal, and that wasn't enough to cut it when chasing the likes of the Spurs and the Big 3-era Boston Celtics. Their roster is also young and getting more talented, especially with the addition of the highly-touted Andrew Wiggins via the NBA Draft.

More importantly, their roster is flexible salary cap-wise; the Cavs are committed to only $33.6 million next season, and they only have one guaranteed contract, $6.3 million for the versatile Jarret Jack, in 2015-16. There's room to grow and add more talent, more stars. And who wouldn't want to team with a duo as scintillating as LeBron and Irving? Which brings us to the next point...

2. Kyrie Irving Has More Upside than Dwyane Wade

Wade and James have made beautiful music in Miami, their passes and alley-oop lobs becoming a staple on ESPN for years. The problem is, Wade isn't as healthy as fans want him to be, or possibly, as the Heat need him to be. While the stats show that he's still the Dwyane Wade of old, his knees have started to become problematic, and at age 32, time is not on his side.

Irving, on the other hand, at 22 years old has a very bright future. He's a very good player on the verge of being great if he stays healthy and continues to evolve his game. Want proof? Look at the two straight All-Star appearances, the last one in which he won game MVP. Already, he's one of the best point guards in the game; in a few years, he may become one of the top five in the league. Period. Could hitching his star to a younger, sleeker model net James more championships down the road?

3. There's No Place Like Home

Yeah, it's hard to think that statement could be uttered regarding James, especially after "The Decision." The sight of jaded and furious Cleveland fans burning James' jersey and angrily cursing his name after he elected to "take his talents to South Beach" is one that lives on in Cleveland sports infamy. And Cavs owner Dan Gilbert's angry letter lambasting James certainly made that divorce even uglier.

But a lot can change in four years; case in point, Gilbert's letter suddenly and mysteriously disappearing from the Cavs' website.

At the core, despite the championships and the palm trees and the gorgeous weather and the winning culture established in Miami under team president Pat Riley's watchful eye, home is home. James was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. He's a product of Ohio, from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School to his days with the Cavaliers. He has family there. His roots are there. That's hard to compete with. Added to that, he's done virtually all there is to do in Miami. There aren't that many challenges to accomplish there.

The one challenge left? Do what no other player in NBA history has ever done: bring a world title to the city of Cleveland for the first time.

At this point in his career, he's met every challenge there is to face and conquered them all. All but one, that is: the one he started and left unfinished when he started in Cleveland in 2003. As it is, LeBron's legacy is secure as one of, if not arguably the greatest player in his generation. But if he brings a title to Cleveland, he'll be beloved forever. And make no mistake about it, the thought of that has to be lurking somewhere in James' mind. James is one of the fiercest competitors in all of sports. But what good is a competitor when he runs out of challenges to face and obstacles to overcome? For that reason, the thought of closing the book on unfinished business in his hometown may be too tempting for the King to pass up.