As the Miami Heat remain on LeBron watch, the process is officially breaking people’s patience. For some, it has become borderline maddening.
The league’s oldest player, James revealed to the Los Angeles Lakers that he wasn’t going to return for the 2026-27 season. That was 21 days ago. In these three weeks, we have gone day after day saying “today’s the day!”
James’ agent, Rich Paul, iterated Monday that the 22-time All-Star has yet to make a decision and pushed back on the idea that James is prolonging his free agency process because he enjoys the spotlight. Unfortunately, most aren’t willing to buy Paul’s defense of his client.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Heat remains among three teams that are viewed the most likely to land James in free agency.
As Miami Heat Waits, Popular Media Personality Warns LeBron James Will Continue to ‘Milk’ Free Agency Decision
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 16: LeBron James speaks onstage during the mind the game panel at Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 at Jacob Javits Center on July 16, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Fanatics)
Inevitably, James’ lengthy free agency was bound to rub some people the wrong way. Among them is his most recognizable critic, Skip Bayless, who believes James is relishing the attention and will continue dragging out his decision.
“LeBron James is at it again, and this is an all-timer,” Bayless said. “He is going to ‘milk’ this free agency for all it’s worth to the last bitter drop. I don’t doubt he won’t sign until training camp’s open. Because, No. 1, he’s always had ADD, attention deficit disorder … he’s going to create the all time air chamber and make it last, and last, and last, he and his hype master, Rich Paul.”
So why does Bayless believe James is taking so long to make a decision? Some say it’s because of family. Others believe James is waiting for teams to complete major roster moves. Bayless, however, sees it differently. He believes James is deliberately dragging out the process to send the Lakers a message.
“The truth is, this is mostly an attempt on the part of LeBron James to get even with the Los Angeles Lakers,” Bayless expressed. “To make them sweat, to make them squirm, to make them second guess dumping him. … The Lakers dumped LeBron, not the other way around.”
If that is the case, the Heat hopes James sends his message and gets on with his decision to come back to Miami, where he spent arguably four of his most dominant seasons. Heat president Pat Riley expressed last week that the franchise is waiting for a decision but conceded he has no input on where the four-time MVP will choose to play next season.
Skip Highly Dismissive of LeBron’s Lakers Tenure
GettyCLEVELAND, OHIO – OCTOBER 30: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 30, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Lakers 134-110. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Bayless persists that James’ time with the Lakers was more a failure than a success.
“LeBron’s Laker legacy is, they missed the playoffs twice, they got swept twice and they got gentlemen swept twice in his tenure in L.A.”
But James did win a championship, right? The franchise had gone a decade without raising a banner. If only it were one Bayless viewed as legitimate.
“Yes, they won one championship, which was the Mickey Mouse championship in the Bubble in 2020 during a pandemic. They won a cubic zirconia ring, a championship for which LeBron had four months to take off and get ready for.”
Bayless has consistently disparaged the Lakers’ 2020 championship, saying the circumstances were tailor-made for James and company to “steal” a championship because other teams didn’t “want to be” in the Bubble. He even insists Anthon Davis, not James, was the best player on the Lakers that season.
James’ Lakers legacy will get debated until the end of time because there are so many icons in the franchise’s history.
But Bayless will always remember the playoff shortcomings over the 2020 title.
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