REPORT: LeBron thinks "Strongest Option" to return to Miami

[Sejope]

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/06/25/report-lebron-thinks-strongest-option-to-return-to-miami-league-executives-expect-him-to-stay/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Where’s the fun in talking about free agents staying where they are?

So when LeBron James informed the Miami Heat he was opting out of his contract media reports (including PBT’s) and twitter blew up with the possibilities — Chicago, Houston, Cleveland and a couple teams in Los Angeles. It’s not just fans, pretty much every front office around the NBA started drawing up plans, just in case.

However, the reality from the start has been LeBron almost certainly will stay in Miami. He had to opt out to put pressure on the Heat to make roster changes, make sure Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh know he was serious, and most importantly to sign for less to give Pat Riley room to maneuver.

People close to LeBron don’t think he’s leaving, reports Chris Manix at Sports Illustrated.

Thus, James opts out. But it hardly indicates a desire to leave South Beach. In fact, according to a source familiar with James’ thinking, returning to Miami remains the strongest option. James has tremendous respect for Pat Riley. He has developed a strong relationship with Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. He enjoys playing with Bosh and Wade, and still believes that core can win. It just needs a little help.

What about other executives around the league.

“I’d be surprised if he didn’t go back to Miami,” said an Eastern Conference executive.

Added another, “Why would he go anywhere? He has everything he wants in Miami.”

Much like LeBron opting out in the first place, him likely staying is not really a surprise. Pretty much every story on LeBron’s landing spots have said Miami is the most logical answer (including PBT’s).

That’s not as much fun as drawing up complex trades to get LeBron and Carmelo Anthony together with the Lakers or him and Kevin Love pairing up in Cleveland. We can play around on a trade machine and come up with three team deals and try to convince ourselves why they are likely.

But Miami has always been, by far, the most likely destination. LeBron thinks so. Most people around the league know it.

[Vertical Limit]

That's good and hope the report is true that this is his way of forcing them to make changes in the roster. Not sure what to think of Mario's indirect message anymore.

[HEAT111]

That's good and hope the report is true that this is his way of forcing them to make changes in the roster. Not sure what to think of Mario's indirect message anymore.

Probably because we may just trade him away

[HIF]

well duh!!

[Heat_Fan_87]

No surprise here. Just waiting on bosh and wade to opt out and see who we get. First domino will be tomorrow for the draft.

[DefenseWins]

True true


Wade and bosh gotta opt out and things will advance much faster in the next few weeks

Excited for the draft, we might do something with our pick

Ray Allen I would assume would be back too for a year

[RexBoyWonder]

I might be overly optimistic but im not even worried about Lebron.

Im more worried about our draft pick tomorrow and the free agents we could fetch this summer.

[krikor]

need one thread for rumours , and seperate one for discussions..
its giving me hard time following all post/threads here to get my news.

[DeBrosh]

I honestly believe LeBron will not leave unless we whiff entirely on this offseason (always a possibility as, to be brutally honest, Pat hasn't had the greatest success with free agents until 2010 and then he had the "play with LeBron" selling card to use on Battier, Allen, etc...before the 2010 bonanza our biggest FA addition was Juwan Howard (the first time) and we couldn't get that right).

What makes me uneasy is that now the league is kind of aware we're at least "on notice" and the Heatles aren't necessarily working in conjunction. I think we all expect them to opt-out, come back at a little less annually with a little more guaranteed in total, but I also thought they'd all do it pretty much in conjunction. That it's now a full day after LeBron and Wade and Bosh haven't gives me pause. Additionally, I'm very concerned that now we're telegraphing that unless we make LeBron happy he may leave, and at the same time potentially asking other teams to help us out (like trading up in the draft)...where's the incentive for those teams?

[BDog]

The amount of surprise people displayed when LeBron opted out, really surprised me. I figured it was almost a given that he would opt out so that he could restructure and formulate a longer deal with Miami. I think when people think of professional athletes in free-agency they often disregard the fact that they are human. LeBron and his family seem relatively happy in Miami, his children are reaching high-school age, and his wife recently started a successful business (the smoothie place). To me, it makes no sense to leave Miami especially when other free agents would consider South Beach because they want to play with you. I'm really not worried about LeBron leaving Miami, but at the end of the day it's sports. Anything can happen.

[GetMoney]

but what did woj say tho

[twix2500]

The assumption that the heat are on notice, sigh..... This is not Lebron plan, this is Riley plan. LeBron or any of the players are not putting pressure on Riles. Riley is putting it all on himself.

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[Swiftraven]

Nice, Lebron removed all traces of Miami from his twitter bio already. Must be in free agent mode now.

[twix2500]

It is a good thing if other franchises are making moves or plans in hope of acquiring lebron. Hopefully it distracts them from the free agents that Riley is trying to acquire to put next to the big 3. But from what I'm hearing not one GM believes Lebron is looking else where.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using RealGM Forums mobile app

[2thehoopand1]

Yeah every team that's wants lebron would have to gut their roster in doing so. Miami was his best bet from the start of the season.

[JLop]

Dwyane Wade will also opt out of the remainder of his contract; otherwise, the Miami Heat will be in the position to trade him to any team. I don´t think that Heat owner Micky Arison and President Pat Riley will do such a thing: they all consider Dwyane a family member of this organization. On the other hand, I don´t see Wade on going that far on tempting his good luck. The Miami Heat could make a trade with the Boston Celtics and obtain the picks Nos. 6 and 17 just to mention one example. We could select Joel Embiid (may be) or Dante Exum, and a good bench player (Shabazz Napier?). What´s more important, we could free the amount necessary to bring in Carmelo Anthony plus Pau Gasol if we pick Dante Exum or Kyle Lowry if we pick Joel Embiid.

[GreenHat]

Of course he is staying. Where else would he go?

[thinktellectual]

but what did woj say tho

Why do you care ?

In 2010 he kept insisting Lebron will go for the money and choose NY, and when he didn't, Woj threw a hissy fit like the little bitch he is.

I strongly doubt Woj has sources in Lebron's camp.
Not after the job he did in 2010 on Lebron.

[GetMoney]

didnt realize that

didnt even follow the bron shenanigans in 2010 cause i thought he was staying in cle

[boknoy]

Lebron will be too quiet not to announce the opt out. But to leave Miami will only bring him back, once more to immaturity