When the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Luol Deng from the Chicago Bulls late on Monday, they took three very important steps in their future development. First, they unloaded Andrew Bynum’s contract, which was inevitable and necessary. Second, they made a significant short-term upgrade at the small-forward position that strengthens their chances at a playoff run. Most importantly, they’ve finally admitted to themselves what everyone else has known all along.

LeBron James is not walking back through that door this summer.

There is absolutely no reason for the four-time MVP and two-time reigning Finals MVP to leave the Miami Heat when he becomes a free agent this summer. He’s in too good a situation with Erik Spoelstra as head coach and Pat Riley making the personnel moves. Returning to Cleveland would have been a terrific feel-good story, but it wouldn’t have been the best career decision for LeBron.

The Cavs did the right thing here: they used Bynum’s cap-friendly contract and a few of the draft picks they’ve been stockpiling to land an impact player, a two-time All-Star who plays at a high level at both ends of the floor and fills their biggest position of need. And in doing so, they gave themselves a Plan B once James inevitably re-signs in Miami.

Keeping Deng isn’t going to be cheap. He asked for between $15 and $16 million per season from the Bulls before the trade, and the baseline for what he can expect to command on the open market is Andre Iguodala’s four-year, $48 million contract with the Golden State Warriors. There’s no guarantee that he’ll stick around. But it’s a lot likelier than luring LeBron back.

If Deng walks, the Cavs will have given up a few given up a few middling picks for a short-term upgrade without screwing up long-term flexibility. If they re-sign him, they have a reliable veteran centerpiece to pair with Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson. There’s no losing here.

And either one of those options is a lot better than putting all of their hopes on a LeBron James return that was never going to happen.