This time of year, NBA free agents are wined and dined by teams looking to procure their services. Impactful players get to determine whether to re-sign with their current clubs or whether to buy in to promises of more money, more playing time or more wins from slick talking GMs. Just over a week into free agency numerous transactions have been made, jerseys have been swapped and zip codes have been changed – but looking at the landscape you’d never know it. Why? Everybody is waiting on LeBron James.
James is not only the king of the court; he’s the king of being courted. To his credit, this time around the four-time league MVP isn’t holding any self-serving grandiose ESPN specials to announce his decision.
However, the silence and complete lack of real, substantive information out of the James camp is making people go crazy with rumors, theories and conjecture. Meanwhile, many league execs are playing the waiting game, trying to keep as much salary cap space clear as possible in case King James comes calling.
So far, much of the focus has been on either a return – either to Miami or Cleveland.
In Miami, James could return to the beautiful, star infused South Beach area where he cemented his legacy with back-to-back championships.
The team’s canvas is nearly blank with co-stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh also on the open block in free agency and everybody else not named Norris Cole kindly shown the door.
On one hand, the team’s immense financial and player flexibility could be exactly what the doctor ordered.
James could easily use his clout to help decide who he’ll play next to next season. The Heat recently signed Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger to deals, but those contracts won’t hinder any future signings whatsoever.
There has been talk of James wanting to play next to the second most popular free agent of the season, Carmelo Anthony.
Unlike James, Anthony has publicly flirted with numerous teams, taking trips to Houston, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles. You would have to believe though that Anthony would have some interest in joining James in Miami if one of James’ co-stars left the island.
Bosh could be that star. Word on the street is that the Houston Rockets have offered Bosh a four-year, $88 million max deal. While it’s Bosh’s preference to stay in Miami alongside James, he certainly won’t be offered max money in Miami. After modest postseason averages of 14.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, Bosh just might receive a letter stating “we’re just not that into you” from James and Pat Riley. If you’re going to have a tall guy that shoots a lot of threes, you might as well have one like Anthony that isn’t afraid to post up too.
A Bosh departure would open the door for Anthony or Los Angeles Lakers power forward/center Pau Gasol, who would instantly shore up the Heat’s post deficiencies. Then again, Gasol is attracting major attention from his old coach, Phil Jackson, now president of the New York Knicks, as well as the title contending Oklahoma City Thunder and Chicago Bulls. Gasol is also reportedly open to returning to L.A. if the team can lure another big star, such as James or Anthony.
Going back to James, the best places for him to play also seem like the least likely. The Dallas Mavericks have cap space and a contending team that would instantly become title favorites with James on the roster. Can you imagine a starting lineup of Raymond Felton, Monta Ellis, LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki and Tyson Chandler? What a great mixture of offence, defense and matchup hell. But sadly, owner Mark Cuban has a history of not taking care of his star players (Steve Nash, Chandler) and puts his foot in his mouth far too much for this to be a viable reality. The Houston Rockets also would field a heck of a trio with James, Dwight Howard and James Harden. Still, the fact that the Rockets already have offered Bosh a max contract may seem like a slap in the face to James, who likes being the belle of the ball. Chicago would be a great fit, but does a man who clearly cares about legacy and brand, really want to be in Michael Jordan’s shadow? I think not.
What about Cleveland? As a great a feel good story as it would be, I’m not sold. Yes, the Cavaliers have a stud in Kyrie Irving and a potential stud in number one pick Andrew Wiggins, but it’s still a you and unproven team.
Does James really want to go back home to try to build a winner from the bottom up after four straight trips to the NBA Finals? I’m think it would take another star veteran player in Cleveland before that move would be in serious consideration.
As you can see, the scenarios are endless. There are plenty of free agent stars, but none shine as bright as James.
There will continue to be transaction congestion until the best baller on the planet makes up his mind. Unlike during The Decision, I have zero criticism for the man taking his time to make up his mind. It has to be stressful deciding on whose multi-million dollar overtures to accept. Seriously, James has earned the right to take his sweet time on Decision 2.0.
I’m tabbing at a Miami return as the most likely choice, but it’s anybody’s best guess. I’m just guessing the other free agents out there are hoping he makes his decision soon, so they can get a little love too.
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