This Miami offseason continues to Heat up after last week’s blockbuster trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Who will be the next on the Heat’s offseason radar?
Making a move like Antetokounmpo demonstrates Miami’s desire to immediately compete for an NBA championship. For all Antetokounmpo brings to the table — the two MVP, a title, a Finals MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year award — the 31-year-old superstar will need some serious help by his side to make Miami a legitimate contender.
That brings us to LeBron James, who is set to enter unrestricted free agency tomorrow as multiple reported suitors prepare to make a pitch.
With the Latest Out of L.A., Miami Heat Very Much in Position to Land LeBron James
GettyMIAMI, FL – JUNE 21: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat answers questions from the media next to the Larry O’Brien Finals Championship trophy and James’ Bill Russell Finals MVP trophy during his post game press conference after they won 121-106 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Five of the 2012 NBA Finals on June 21, 2012 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida.
After spending the last eight seasons in Los Angeles, James’ path to leaving the Lakers appears to be as wide open as ever. According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst, James and the Lakers have yet to interact despite free agency commencing Tuesday night.
“(The Lakers) reached out to LeBron’s representative Rich Paul and said ‘we’d like to have LeBron Back.’ But there have been no further talks. From what I understand, the Lakers have not made an offer. But LeBron, from what I understand as of today, when I got this update, LeBron has not made himself available to meet with the Lakers yet.” (h/t Bleacher Report)
For months, it has been reported the Lakers have interest in retaining James — but how much, perhaps no one other than the Lakers knows.
Little interaction between the Lakers and James’ representation has led to intense speculation linking the 41-year-old star to the Heat and Golden State Warriors.
While both franchises have their perks for James, where the Heat standout is, of course, by presenting James a reunion opportunity. The 22-time All-Star has great familiarity with the Heat organization after winning two championships in four Finals appearances with Miami from 2010 to 2014.
The Antetokounmpo Addition Gives James Golden Opportunity to Come Back
GettyGiannis Antetokounmpo of the Miami Heat.
Although James played arguably the best four years of his career with the Heat, his time with the franchises ended on a sour note. James and the Heat were wiped out by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2014 NBA Finals. Two months later, James delivered a coming home speech to Cleveland.
Fast forward 12 years later, the Heat believe the successor to James has finally arrived. It would make for quite the story if James now returns to Miami to play Antetokounmpo, the new face of the Heat and a consensus top five player in basketball.
If James is willing to accept a steep financial haircut, he would easily be the best value addition the Heat could ask for.
James, though no longer the perennial MVP candidate he once was, is coming off a season in which he averaged just under 21 points per game while shooting above 50% from the floor. The freight-train ability, albeit in less-devastating form, is still there. So is the passing mastery. So is the alley-oop finishing ability. So is the marvelous IQ.
James with Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo may not make the Heat the title favorite, or even the scariest team in the East, but there are plenty of incentives for both James and the Heat to give it a second go.
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