The quotes read a lot like Dwight's quotes about the Lakers, minus the "nightmare" stuff. I don't know, anytime a potential free agent talks about wanting the flexibility and taking time to discuss with his family and all that...I think they are out the door.
My gut instinct says he goes back to Cleveland. It would only be fitting to end his career there. Not to mention there's a window to turn things around quickly for the Cavs in the weak East.
Good call on the "Dwight quotes." Lebron might very well stay in Miami. But those quotes don't sound very heartwarming towards Miami. It more sounds like "put up or shut up Pat Riley on that roster with regards to cutting guys like Mike Miller and not using the MLE etc."
How in the world do you expect Lebron to subject himself to that terrible franchise again? Think about it! They've had top pick after top pick since Lebron left, and they are still one of the worst franchises in the league. That bridge is burned. Gilbert lit the fire himself. This is nothing more than media fodder at this point.
May be reading too much into this, but that sounds like a man with a foot out the door........or at the very least, he's looking out the window.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>FYI: it's easy for Clips to make a LeBron run. Trade Deandre + Jamal to teams with cap space (easy), then use 1st rounder to dump Dudley $</p>— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/statuses/479069287819132928">June 18, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Also - if you don't think the Clips are exploring that game plan, you are nuts. Clips, Cavs + Rockets are LeBron's suitors if he gets antsy.</p>— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/statuses/479070037961998336">June 18, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The Clippers and Rockets are now being mentioned as serious suitors for LeBron James, writes <a href="https://twitter.com/YannisNBA">@YannisNBA</a>. Details: <a href="http://t.co/KNxGjYmR5W">http://t.co/KNxGjYmR5W</a></p>— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/statuses/479747910377033728">June 19, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
did yall watch Riley's rant... <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/9yveEJGBLzk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Seems quite broken in the Heat locker room. Man if the Rockets just have a chance to put together a pitch...you never know...
he probably feels like LeBron was actually thinking of leaving and now challenged him publicly to stay and tough it out. That could end up backfiring on him bigtime though.
I would not call this a rant or calling Lebron out. I think his perspective is actually more realistic than 90% of media. Great teams and players lose.
Lebron will only stay if Wade and Bosh opts out and resigns or one of them leave. If either opt in then Lebron will take his talents else where. Cleveland will be a viable option if they hire a respected, experienced coach. They also will need to draft a player that could fit Lebron's game, ala Vonleh. Houston is in the same league as the Clippers of getting Lebron. Both teams would need to perform a sign-and-trade for Lebron, sending their franchise's top talents to Miami (Blake Griffin; Jeremy Lin, Omer Asik, and Chandler Parsons). The likely-hood of Lebron going to these teams would be slim-to-none.
couldn't we just dump lin/asik and sign LeBron outright as we were thinking of doing with Melo? (he would have to take a slight paycut from his max I believe), then using Parson's bird rights, we could go over the cap to resign him. Also, it looks like Cleveland is going to hire Blatt as their new coach; he doesn't have NBA HC experience, so it seems like CLE is not as attractive as it previously was.
"Lebron,Cleveland is a tough place to contend. Come to Miami." ~ Pat Riley 2010 "You have to stay together and find the guts." ~ Pat Riley 2014
The thing is that everyone knows that Wade should be the odd man out. He is more or less done. If they could, the Heat should trade Wade or get rid of him somehow. But since he is the original Heat there is loyalty that's involved. If it was Bosh who was done, the Heat would have already shipped him out by now. But since it is Wade they are going to keep him until he retires. If Wade opts in, Lebron should consider opting out and opening up options.
Obviously, certain players expressed some frustration, and the only players Riley would care to comment on are LeBron, Wade, or Bosh. The reality is the way the big 3 were constructed was probably their undoing. The Heat had to send out so many picks, players, etc, that it left them with few options. Compare that to the Rockets. All we have to do is send out Lin, Asik, and DMo, and can offer $19-20 million while still retaining all of our picks, Parsons, TJones, Beverley, Llull, Papanikolaou, etc. We have a clear path to keep this team competitive over the next 5+ years. The Heat do not.
If Miami could pull that off then Riley would have reached a higher tier of godliness he achieved in 2010. Jeremy Lin/ Norris Cole Dwyane Wade Carmelo Anthony/ Chandler Parsons/ James Ennis Chris Bosh Omer Asik that's just the 8 man rotation, they would still be able to add vets like Vince Carter, Chris Anderson, Emeka Okafor, Josh McRoberts, and they still have a late 1st rounder in this year's draft.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Similar to what <a href="https://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard">@Chris_Broussard</a> said, hearing that if <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23cavaliers&src=hash">#cavaliers</a> hire David Blatt, they lose "any real chance" at getting LeBron</p>— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) <a href="https://twitter.com/GwashburnGlobe/statuses/479825338760179712">June 20, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
