It’s hard to believe it’s been four years since LeBron James made a decision to leave Cleveland and take his “talents to South Beach” and play for the Miami Heat.
The infamous televised decision created bitter backlash from Cavs’ owner Dan Gilbert and his fan base at the time, but it worked out pretty well for the Heat,. which built a juggernaurt with James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and won two NBA championships while making four appearances in the league’s championship series.
But nothing lasts forever and there is a chance that when the dust settles James– the best player on the planet and the most celebrated free agent ever–will be back in his home state, playing for his original team. Cleveland is making a big push for LeBron, offering him the max– $20.7 million– and surrounding him with two young rising stars — All Star guard and likely 2016 Olympian Kyrie Irviing, who just re-signed for $90 million– and 6-8 forward Andrew Wiggins from Kansas, the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NBA draft.
We should all know more by the end of the week after James meets with Heat president Pat Riley in Miami.
Riley will try to sell James on playing at least one more season with the other two members of the Big 3–Bosh and guard Wade– and a team that has shored up the middle of the roster with useable role players– 6-9 forward Josh McRoberts, a 5.3 mid cap exception; and forward Danny Granger.
Bosh would prefer to play with James and keep the big three together, but he is keeping his options open. Bosh’s agent is currently in negotiations with Houston, which is looking for a forward to compliment center Dwight Howard and James Harden and will offer him the max, just in case.
The dominos will not begin to fall until after James decides whether he his heart is in Miami or Cleveland.
Ironically, even if Bosh gets the max from Miami and the injury prone, older Wade, who is willing to take less money– $17 miilion– come back, there is no guarantee the Heat, who must worry about staying under the $81 hard cap, will have enough to win talent it all because it has invested so much money into three players.
The Heat has benefited from playing in a weakened Eastern Confence with the aging Celtics and the disappointing Knicks. There are at least two possibly three teams in the NBA Western Division — San Antonio,.Oklahoma City and Houston–who could beat the Heat in a seven game series
These are all things James will consider as he makes Decision Il.
James could always sign a short term one or two year deal with Miami, then opt out.
Or he show you can go home again, back to became the savior of a franchise that has won just 31 percent of their games since he left..
There is growing speculation that Cleveland management and James are taking steps to make amends with James. Gilbert has taken down the infamous letter he wrote blasting James’ decision from his team’s web site after James’ acrimonious departure and Rich Paul, james agent, has reportedly told friends he had made it his mission to get James back home and urged the Cavs to offer him the max.
Pat Riley can be very persausive, but don’t under estimate the infuence James’ advisors have where LeBron is concerned.
