Could LeBron James still return to the Miami Heat?
On the brink of 2018 NBA free agency officially beginning, some news broke: LeBron James will indeed become a free agent this summer.
James had the choice of opting into a $35.6 million player option via the Cleveland Cavaliers next season, but instead chose to walk away from both the money and most likely the organization.
While it’s still possible that the superstar remains with the Cavaliers on a new contract, it seems unlikely. Especially given reports that owner Dan Gilbert is “fine” with the idea of losing his headliner.
"“According to a couple of owners I’ve spoken to and a few executives I’ve spoken to, Dan Gilbert is known for not being particularly fond of LeBron James,” said ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. “He doesn’t mind the thought of LeBron James leaving at all. As a matter of fact, I had one executive tell me, ‘Excuse me, I can’t wait until he leaves, because I’ll get my team back.'”"
It’s sort of hard to imagine those two parties moving forward together.
So the question now becomes, where is James headed?
Had he taken the player option, the destination pool would have grown larger. Not only would it have increased the chances of a return to Cleveland, but it would have allowed more teams to try and land James for 2018-19.
Because if the three-time champion was still a part of the Cavaliers, a number of teams could have offered up a trade for him.
Now, his suitors are stuck simply signing him to a new deal via free agency.
Which unfortunately makes it harder for a reconciliation with the Miami Heat to happen.
Currently, the Heat owe around $118 in salary cap space to 10 different players, in large part due to contracts like Tyler Johnson‘s, James Johnson‘s and Dion Waiters‘. It doesn’t help that Hassan Whiteside was given a maximum deal two summers ago either.
This means unless president Pat Riley can somehow move the majority of the current roster in exchange for smaller deals, the team simply can’t afford James; it would take moving about $55 million (and getting back much less) to make room for No. 23.
Something that not only is near impossible but would leave Miami without some valuable assets in guys like Goran Dragic and Josh Richardson.
Who can afford James?
Out West, the Los Angeles Lakers still appear to be the front runners, while the Eastern Conference Philadelphia 76ers could also have a shot.
While the Lakers have enough cap wiggle room to probably sign not just James but another star to boot, the 76ers would only have to get rid of maybe $10 million to welcome the forward aboard.
It’s true that anything can happen in this league, so one can’t completely rule out James finding his way back to South Florida. However, fans definitely shouldn’t count on it happening either.
Next: 3 reasons why the Miami Heat need to sign Trevor Ariza
James to the Miami Heat? Probably not.