LeBron James returns to the Cleveland Cavaliers after announcing the news on Sports Illustrated and leaves the Miami Heat and tells Lee Jenkins that he wants to come home and bring a championship home to Cleveland after leaving and winning titles in Miami.
Check here for the article on James' return.
This is all old news now that LeBron is gone, but still can apply to Miami. The Miami Heat are trying to keep LeBron James and the Big 3 and they are coming into the summer with major free agent targets and names like Trevor Ariza, Jimmer Fredette, Shawn Marion, Lance Stephenson, Greg Monroe and Luol Deng could be options as the team tries to keep James 3 in South Beach and Pat Riley is hoping he can convince some players to take less to win after signing Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger.
The Miami Heat have a main priority to keep LeBron James and the Big 3 intact this offseason and adding free agents could be key to doing that. According to Pro Basketball Talk, Dwyane Wade still has no idea what LeBron will do and everyone in Cleveland is expecting a home coming and that means they likely will be disappointed. ESPN.com reports that Dan Gilbert's letter still is an issue for LeBron and all Cleveland fans should be angry, as James could be locked in already on a deal had Gilbert not written that stupid letter four years ago.
LeBron did not appear happy after his exit interview and after Pat Riley made his comments, it's clear the Heat need to make some moves this offseason to keep James and also to compete for another title. The Big 3 may have to take less money once again and that could allow the team to sign someone like Bledsoe, who is a restricted free agent from the Suns. The team likely doesn't have enough space for him, but there are many other players they can look at.
According to Pro basketball Talk, the team met with Luol Deng and while no deal has come close to being struck, he could be a potential option once James signs. James wants a max contract and he could take a deal with lesser years to get things going, but right now he is holding up the entire NBA, including Chris Bosh and what he will do with the Rockets. James and Miami have been to four straight finals series and now they need to restock their roster to make another championship run. Miami still is the favorite to sign James, but the longer it takes and the more free agents that sign elsewhere could lead LeBron to leave a city again.
Deng and Ariza have interest from the Wizards and since they play the same position one of those names could be an option for the Heat. Ariza played very well last season and while the Wizards want to resign him, they may not have enough money after bringing back Marcin Gortat. Stephenson rejected a deal from the Pacers and he could be a target, but he likely will not take less money after rejecting that five year deal. Fredette has not had any interest on the market and he could be a cheap option for the team.
The Heat signed McRoberts and Granger and they also added Shabazz Napier to the fold for James, as he said he was his favorite player from this draft. Pat Riley has moves to make and everyone at ESPN is just waiting that decision from James and also from Carmelo Anthony.
