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Miami Heat 1-on-1: How will James’ departure affect the Eastern Conference?

By Lauren Gewirtz

The Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade (3) and the Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James hug after the Heat defeated the Cavs, 98-79, at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami on Tuesday, March 27, 2018. (Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald/TNS via Getty Images)
The Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade (3) and the Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James hug after the Heat defeated the Cavs, 98-79, at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami on Tuesday, March 27, 2018. (Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald/TNS via Getty Images) /
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SAN ANTONIO, TX – JUNE 15: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat looks on against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Five of the 2014 NBA Finals at the AT&T Center on June 15, 2014 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX – JUNE 15: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat looks on against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Five of the 2014 NBA Finals at the AT&T Center on June 15, 2014 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

How do you feel it’s similar and different to when he left for the Miami Heat?

Gewirtz: Compared to when he left the Cavaliers the first time to join the Miami Heat, it was obviously a lot less dramatic.

There was no ‘The Decision’ or introduction at The Staples Center. It was very low-key looking at it from the Lakers’ perspective. The City of Cleveland was also a lot less angry this time around, as was Dan Gilbert. There was no jersey burning. The Cleveland Plain Dealer, the city’s newspaper, did a wonderful sports cover commemorating James leaving with a giant headline saying, ‘Promise Kept.’ I think the majority of people knew James was leaving, so there was a lot more gratitude to go around.

The only real similarity was that he is going to a place with lots of sun and palm trees, like Miami. James is a very different player than he was in 2010. I would not have expected it to be anything like it was that summer. No free agency decision ever will be.

Mora: It’s completely different and you can immediately decipher it.

When he moved to Miami, he was desperate and didn’t see a future with Cleveland after so many first and second round exits with no changes on the horizon. The second best player on that team was Zydrunas Ilgauskas. He knew something needed to change. I think mentally the defeat at the hands of the Boston Celtics was also something he could not overcome. Seeing Boston form their Big Three and win a championship ring the following year made him realize that he could also become part of a similar situation. His loyalty would always remain with Cleveland, and he would prove that coming back to keep his promise; but at that time he needed a different environment and change of direction. He formed an experiment with his friends Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and the rest is history.

His move to Los Angeles is about more than basketball now. With his other options available on the table, him choosing the Lakers says more about his new direction in life than attempting to join a superteam for an easy way out; something that is starting to become the norm now.

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