The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade to Miami sparked many conversations. One of them is about LeBron James. James, 41, is set to become an unrestricted free agent after completing the second year of his two-year, $101.35 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.
He averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds across 60 games last season, his 23rd in the league. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne says Miami belongs in the free agency conversation, and the Heat aren’t exactly disagreeing.
LeBron James Hasn’t Committed to L.A., and Shelburne Won’t Rule Miami Out
Shelburne made it plain on the Dan Le Batard Show. “If you’re going to break up with the Lakers, you got to have a story… Miami is a good story. Cleveland would be a good story. Golden State would be a good story. I wouldn’t have said Miami until they did this last night, but those 3 teams make sense to me… I wouldn’t say never.”
That last part sticks. The situation in Los Angeles isn’t settled. Shelburne has also reported that James hasn’t committed to returning to the Lakers at all.
“L.A. is the first team he can talk to because they’re their own free agent,” she said. “My understanding is they had initial conversations with LeBron James’ representative, but he has not even fully committed to returning next year in these conversations.”
L.A. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald weighed in, too. “The Heat could try to lure impending free agent LeBron James with its full midlevel exception, but a James return is considered a long shot, though nothing can be ruled out,” Jackson wrote.
James is a two-time Heat champion, but Pat Riley is still running the front office. That history doesn’t go away.
Miami gave up a lot to get Antetokounmpo. The package included Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis, and the No. 13 pick. Now hard-capped at the first apron, the Heat have roughly $18.1 million left to fill four roster spots, and retaining Norman Powell Jr. looks unlikely.
Riley will probably run the same blueprint from the Big Three era, surrounding Antetokounmpo and Adebayo with veterans willing to take pay cuts for a title shot. Names like Klay Thompson, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Malik Beasley are already circulating for those spots.
James’ agent, Rich Paul, acknowledged both the appeal and the gap. “There’s a lot of work to be done,” Paul said. “The one good thing about Miami is, when you talk about back-filling a roster with minimums, who don’t want to go to Miami on a minimum?”
Playmaking is also a problem. Davion Mitchell averaged 6.5 assists last season but operates primarily as a defensive specialist. The 7.2 assists per game James produced while carrying a shorthanded Lakers team would serve a different purpose here. He’d be directing an offense, not holding one together.
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Mario Chalmers, James’ former Heat teammate, kept it short on WQAM radio. “I can see him [LeBron James] coming back,” Chalmers said. “It’ll definitely be a good opportunity because of Giannis and Bam.”
He also floated the idea of Bronny James getting developmental minutes at point guard in Miami, a personal angle that adds another layer to the conversation.
