As Bill Simmons pushes back on the idea of LeBron James going back to the Miami Heat, there's one thing that he gets epically wrong.
He may be right about how it may not make as much sense as LeBron signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers or Golden State Warriors (from a narrative standpoint). He may even be right about the idea that the Heat would still have glaring issues on their roster, even with LeBron.
However, to say that LeBron would be a "terrible fit" is where he's completely missing the mark, and where his "hate" of the Heat may be blinding his commentary. On a recent episode of his podcast, Simmons went off on the Heat as a potential landing spot for LeBron, and how it would be fun if it blew up in their face.
Bill Simmons says LeBron is a terrible fit in Miami
“There’s two reasons I think it’d be fun if he went to Miami. One, I think it’s a terrible fit. Two, their annoying fans and even more annoying media will be going nuts that they think they’re going to win the title and it’s going to be really fun to watch that crash and burn. If he goes there, great. It’s THE most annoying media. They know it. That’s the only way they get attention."
As a notorious Boston Celtics fan, this "rant" or "stance" is not exactly surprising from Simmons. However, the part that should annoy Heat fans is where he says he wouldn't be a good basketball fit.
That's just a flat-out lie.
In fact, LeBron would be a great fit in Miami. On paper, LeBron fills a lot of what the Heat are currently missing on their roster. He'd be a perfect fit as the primary playmaker next to Giannis Antetokounpo and Bam Adebayo, and would give this team a much-needed closer that some believe they're missing.
He also wouldn't have a ton of pressure on his shoulders on the defensive end of the floor, which would be the case for probably the first time in his career. LeBron could float defensively while focusing more on being a playmaker on offense.
When was the last time LeBron was surrounded by this type of supporting cast? Probably never. And, honestly, that may exactly be what LeBron is looking for, from a basketball standpoint, at this point in his career.
LeBron may not sign with the Heat, but it won't be because of basketball
Again, Simmons may be right on some of the other arguments as far as LeBron and Miami. But when it comes to a pure basketball fit, there may not be a better potential landing spot for LeBron than the Heat.
This is not to say that LeBron is guaranteed to sign with the Heat. But if he did sign elsewhere, it would almost certainly be because of the evolving narrative and not necessarily because there's a better basketball fit out there.
And that's where Simmons is completely wrong on this one.
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