There may not be another “Decision,” but there is officially drama in LeBron James’ second venture into free agency.
The four-time MVP appears to be considering a return to Cleveland as multiple reports indicate momentum is building for the snake-bitten Cavaliers to bring home their favorite son (except for all the jersey burning when he left for the Heat). According to Yahoo! Sports, James’ agent Rich Paul is the biggest supporter of James bolting the Heat for the Cavaliers.
Paul has pushed the Cavaliers to ramp up their recruitment of James as the team pursues the salary cap room to sign him to a max contract, which likely would include trading backup point guard Jarrett Jack to the Nets. The Cavaliers have met with Paul, but not with James directly.
The Cavaliers hope to accomplish that this week, but James first is expected to have a sit-down with Pat Riley. The Heat president convinced James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade to form a Big 3 in Miami four years ago that led to two titles and four straight trips to the NBA Finals.
But the trio and the aging roster around them got decimated in five games by the Spurs in the NBA Finals. It’s been reported that Riley would have to make upgrades around James to convince him to return. He has been meeting with agents for available players such as Luol Deng, but has been hampered by the uncertainty surrounding James.
“LeBron is the ultimate recruiter, but he hasn’t been any part of this process,” a league source tied to the Heat’s recruiting efforts told Yahoo.
“The first question they all ask is the same: ‘Do I get to hear from LeBron? What’s he going to do?'”
The Cavaliers’ pitch revolves around James joining forces with budding star point guard Kyrie Irving and No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins, according to ESPN. But Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert also must resolve the rift formed with his epic hissy fit the night James decided to leave the Cavaliers and take his “talents to South Beach.” ESPN reported the angry open letter Gilbert penned after James departed recently was removed from the Cavaliers website after four years.
As James ponders his decision, Bosh and Wade sit and wait. Bosh seems likely to garner a max contract if he decides to leave Miami, but seems prepared to take less with the Heat if James opts to stay. The Rockets are the team most linked to Bosh, having fallen off the pace in the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes.