Will LeBron James’ departure have any effect on the Miami Heat?
Ok, talk a little about your reaction to LeBron James joining the Los Angeles Lakers…
Lauren Gewirtz (@laurengewirtz): LeBron James’s decision to join the Los Angeles Lakers was generally unsurprising to me.
I knew there was no way he would stay in Cleveland and when I looked at the realistic scenarios, he was either going to Los Angeles. or the Philadelphia 76ers. Once his decision was reported, I began to actually think about what it means for James to switch over to the Western Conference. There was a seismic shift in the conferences once he made that move. On top of the conferences seeming so far apart in strength, we probably will not see James in the Finals for the first time in nine years.
That is just crazy to think about.
The contract itself surprised me a little just because of the length. Signing a four-year contract says to me that James does not have extremely serious intentions to win another championship. Do I think it’s possible? Of course, we are talking about James. Is it extremely likely? Not when the Golden State Warriors are in your conference.
Ivan Mora (@ivanmora): I was stunned to be completely honest.
At first, I just simply couldn’t understand from a pure basketball perspective why he would choose the Lakers over the 76ers. Philly has the perfect team formed for James; to the point where he doesn’t even need to be the number one guy or exhaust himself to 40 minutes a game. Ben Simmons could control the pace and Joel Embiid could dominate the paint. Combined with shooters, James’ job would be easier. That was my first reaction and response.
But after researching and analyzing sources’ comments and news regarding his decision, it starts to reveal itself that this is more than a basketball decision. He is placing himself in the best position for post-NBA life and for that reason I completely understand. His son is also starting school in Chino Hills and he is looking out for his family. You can respect that decision. Better than pulling a Kevin Durant or DeMarcus Cousins and joining the Warriors.
I would’ve hated the NBA if that happened.
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.
So in what way do you think James leaving the Eastern Conference will help the Heat?
Gewirtz: As James goes to the West, upon first glance, the Eastern Conference looks almost wide-open with the exception of the Celtics and Toronto Raptors.
It helps the Heat, but also every other team in the conference because the best player in the league is no longer competing to go to the Finals against them.
The Heat will most likely do better in the East than they did last year because not only is James in the West, but they also have Dion Waiters returning and players like Bam Adebayo and Justice Winslow with another year of experience.
There is still room for the Heat to make moves this offseason, but I would say that the team has a chance to be in the top five teams in the East.
Mora: I think James leaving the East will change the landscape of the conference.
New teams will take advantage and you will see a more competitive conference fighting to claim the Eastern throne. Boston and Philadelphia will be the clear favorites, but teams like Toronto and the Indiana Pacers won’t be too far behind.
Even the Heat will be making strides and pulling off upsets.
Teams don’t realize that the Heat have a young roster intact and played half a season with Wade and almost a complete season without Waiters. Waiters is coming back and although Wade’s future is uncertain, if he does come back, he already stated it will be with Miami. They have had post All-Star streaks that jolt them into playoff contention, so we know that won’t be a problem. Once the playoffs start, that’s another story.
I still think the East is going to undergo a major change for the better. Expect Miami to be right in the middle of that transition.
And how do you see Miami stacking up against the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors?
Gewirtz: These two teams will be the biggest challenge for the Heat.
The Celtics have Gordon Hayward returning after losing him in the first game of the season last year, so that will change their game. After finishing No. 1 in the conference, the Raptors still could not find a way to beat James and the Cavaliers, so now might be their chance to at least make it to the Conference Finals.
It is going to take some time for Heat to re-find their groove as a team, but there is an opportunity to actually compete against these two teams.
The downside is that in order for Heat to do so, everything has to go near perfect with the players they are working with now – something that is not ever going to be guaranteed.
Mora: If the Raptors stay with their same roster, then the Heat are below both the Raptors and Celtics.
The Heat, in my opinion, are a good team, but not at the highest level just yet. If I would rank the East, it would definitely start with Boston, Philadelphia, Toronto, Indiana, and then Miami. Which isn’t bad considering they were flirting with the seven and eight seed last season. They weren’t a lock for the sixth until the very last game. So for them to follow up with a fifth seed, maybe even a fourth seed is a step in the right direction.
Like I said, I don’t think getting to the playoffs is the hard part, it’s staying in that’s the struggle.
As the Heat currently stand, that’s a realistic target for next year. If they somehow manage to make one or two more moves in free agency before next season, then it can all quickly change. It all depends on the direction president Pat Riley and owner Mickey Arison want to take the team. By the looks of it, they might stand pat with their young roster and hope their development comes quicker than expected.
Next: Miami Heat: 3 reasons to make a Kevin Love trade
The East may miss you, LeBron James. But you probably did the Miami Heat a favor.