The Miami Heat are under pressure to bring back LeBron James in free agency and names like Kyle Lowry, Luol Deng, Zach Randolph, Carmelo Anthony, Eric Bledsoe and Chandler Parsons could be targets for Pat Riley, while Shabazz Napier is looking like a draft option in the first round to help try and convince LeBron and the Big 3 to re-sign as free agents in 2014.
The Heat and everyone else in the NBA knew that James was going to opt out of his contract at some point this offseason, but he surprised everyone by doing it early and now that leaves Miami and other teams to try and convince him to sign. According to ESPN.com write Brian Windhorst, teams have a small window to try and convince James to sign with them, as the Miami Heat are the front runners and if they can get a free agent or two to come to South Beach along with a draft pick like Napier, James likely would sign back.
Kyle Lowry and Chandler Parsons are two interesting offensive players and they could fit into Miami's system with James, but money will be the main issue. Lowry is one of the best young point guards in the league and he will command attention, as will Parsons. Luol Deng and Zach Randolph are also targets, but they could be too expensive. Parsons is a restricted free agent, while Lowry comes in after averaging nearly 18 points last season with over seven assists and four rebounds per game. The most glaring area of need for Miami is at point guard, because Mario Chalmers did not get things done this past season and they have lacked that court leader for the past couple years. James can take the ball up, but that limits what he can do on certain plays.
Reports from ESPN and other news outlets have a number of teams looking at trying to sign both Anthony and James, but that would require some creative moves and trades. The Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks are all possible options for both and those teams are also targeting those players individually. To get those deals done, various teams will have to make trades, including names like Carlos Boozer, Omer Asik, Tyson Chandler, Jeremy Lin, Taj Gibson, Steve Nash and others.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Miami Heat are targeting Connecticut guard Shabazz Napier in the draft as a way to sway LeBron James to stay in Miami. The report says that the team is looking at Napier and it also mentioned that Riley and James have both praised Napier's play as he helped lead his team to the national title this year. Napier likely will be gone before the Heat pick at number 26 in the draft and they may have to trade to get it done. ESPN writes that the Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls spots past the top 10 in the draft could be options.
Miami still appears to be the most likely destination for James, but he left his home town once and he could leave his adopted home town now for a team like the Bulls, Rockets or Lakers. The Big 3 now hangs in the balance after four straight finals appearances and two NBA titles.
