do you have a Heat vs anybody but the Heat line?
BTW: I think he's staying but I'm beginning to waiver. He may just want to move on, although he was passionate about drafting Bazz which indicates he views the Heat as his team still
I'm pretty confident he's staying, unless he is suddenly hating D. Wade. Wade would never in a million years have opted out of his deal if he wasn't planning on staying with LeBron. Guy would have made huge money, now he's going to be making a fraction of it. Now, it's possible they all could go somewhere but I just don't see Wade screwing over the Heat like that. Either way, Wade took a huge paycut and I don't feel he ever would have done that without assurance from James that they were staying together. Maybe if they had worked out a plan to all bail to some place else, but that all depends on if you think Wade has any loyalty to Miami...
Just wrote an article about it. Not going to proofread right now so you'll have to excuse the errors. This is half-asleep writing at it's worst, but I think it makes a few valid thoughts.
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As we enter into the depths of the 2nd round of The Decision, there are only 2 scenarios that should have you possibly believing that LeBron James won’t be returning to the Miami Heat in 2014. Reading the tea leaves isn’t always 100% assured when deciphering intended locales for NBA free agents, but when it comes to James and his potentially former teammates Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, you can garner quite a bit of information based on what has already transpired.
Scenario #1 where LeBron James leaves the Heat – James hates Wade:
A day after the “big 3” had a sit-down chat, Bosh and Wade opted out of their high-dollar deals for free agency. For a guy like Bosh who still has quite a bit of tread on the tires, that makes sense. For a guy like Wade who looked lethargic and oft-injured last season, it makes zero sense.
For Wade to opt out of his deal that would have paid him far more than his market value, he had to have some indication that James was returning to the Heat. He’s passing up a ton of money to continue winning at the highest level and there is not a single financial advisor on the planet that would tell him it was a smart move to give up all that guaranteed cash.
One of the only 2 reasons that LeBron would be leaving the Heat is if he has somehow developed a disdain for Wade this season and tricked him into getting out of his deal out of spite. Since soap opera drama at the highest level of basketball isn't a likely scenario, we will have to explore option 2 for James leaving the Heat. Beyond making sure James and some free agents fit under the salary cap, the only possible reason Wade would opt out of his deal with Miami is…
Scenario #2 where LeBron James leaves the Heat – Wade hates Miami:
It’s possible that Wade has just had enough of the South Beach lifestyle and wants to follow LeBron to greener pastures (does Cleveland have green pastures?). There is no way Wade is making the money he gave up on, so the 2nd scenario involves him passing up his deal to stay with James in a different city.
Now, this scenario only makes sense if you think that Wade has no loyalty at all for the team he’s played his entire career with to date. Conspiring with his talented teammates would leave the Heat reeling next season, although it wouldn’t be that awful to clear up that much salary cap and likely get the top pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
Does Wade have a secret agreement worked out that Miami is okay with in this rebuilding scenario? It would make more sense than him becoming a turncoat for the franchise and fanbase that has treated him so well over the years.
Beyond those 2 unlikely scenarios I just can’t see the big 3 going anywhere else next season. The Houston Rockets have had an offer on the table for Bosh that would pay him far more than the Heat could offer next season and he hasn’t said a word about. That right there is just another indication that all 3 superstars will be back in Miami next season. James is once again having a good time soaking up the spotlight and you should count on him once again donning a Miami jersey at the start of the 2015 NBA season.
-------------------
As we enter into the depths of the 2nd round of The Decision, there are only 2 scenarios that should have you possibly believing that LeBron James won’t be returning to the Miami Heat in 2014. Reading the tea leaves isn’t always 100% assured when deciphering intended locales for NBA free agents, but when it comes to James and his potentially former teammates Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, you can garner quite a bit of information based on what has already transpired.
Scenario #1 where LeBron James leaves the Heat – James hates Wade:
A day after the “big 3” had a sit-down chat, Bosh and Wade opted out of their high-dollar deals for free agency. For a guy like Bosh who still has quite a bit of tread on the tires, that makes sense. For a guy like Wade who looked lethargic and oft-injured last season, it makes zero sense.
For Wade to opt out of his deal that would have paid him far more than his market value, he had to have some indication that James was returning to the Heat. He’s passing up a ton of money to continue winning at the highest level and there is not a single financial advisor on the planet that would tell him it was a smart move to give up all that guaranteed cash.
One of the only 2 reasons that LeBron would be leaving the Heat is if he has somehow developed a disdain for Wade this season and tricked him into getting out of his deal out of spite. Since soap opera drama at the highest level of basketball isn't a likely scenario, we will have to explore option 2 for James leaving the Heat. Beyond making sure James and some free agents fit under the salary cap, the only possible reason Wade would opt out of his deal with Miami is…
Scenario #2 where LeBron James leaves the Heat – Wade hates Miami:
It’s possible that Wade has just had enough of the South Beach lifestyle and wants to follow LeBron to greener pastures (does Cleveland have green pastures?). There is no way Wade is making the money he gave up on, so the 2nd scenario involves him passing up his deal to stay with James in a different city.
Now, this scenario only makes sense if you think that Wade has no loyalty at all for the team he’s played his entire career with to date. Conspiring with his talented teammates would leave the Heat reeling next season, although it wouldn’t be that awful to clear up that much salary cap and likely get the top pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
Does Wade have a secret agreement worked out that Miami is okay with in this rebuilding scenario? It would make more sense than him becoming a turncoat for the franchise and fanbase that has treated him so well over the years.
Beyond those 2 unlikely scenarios I just can’t see the big 3 going anywhere else next season. The Houston Rockets have had an offer on the table for Bosh that would pay him far more than the Heat could offer next season and he hasn’t said a word about. That right there is just another indication that all 3 superstars will be back in Miami next season. James is once again having a good time soaking up the spotlight and you should count on him once again donning a Miami jersey at the start of the 2015 NBA season.
Cavs + 600 looking better
According to ESPN's Tom Penn, the trade sheds $9.5 million in salary (Jack, $6.3 million; Zeller, $1.7 million; Karasev, $1.5 million), giving the Cavaliers $21.7 million in cap space.
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/1...eaded-brooklyn-nets-boston-celtics-part-trade
According to ESPN's Tom Penn, the trade sheds $9.5 million in salary (Jack, $6.3 million; Zeller, $1.7 million; Karasev, $1.5 million), giving the Cavaliers $21.7 million in cap space.
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/1...eaded-brooklyn-nets-boston-celtics-part-trade
My personal new odds:
Heat -600
Cavs +350
Other +900
Still think he returns. Does Wade just up and leave Miami to go with James to Cleveland??? Screwing over the franchise and fanbase to go to the middle of Ohio making far less money? I don't see that happening, but Cleveland is making a definite push. It doesn't make sense for LeBron and Wade to split up now that Wade has opted out.
Heat -600
Cavs +350
Other +900
Still think he returns. Does Wade just up and leave Miami to go with James to Cleveland??? Screwing over the franchise and fanbase to go to the middle of Ohio making far less money? I don't see that happening, but Cleveland is making a definite push. It doesn't make sense for LeBron and Wade to split up now that Wade has opted out.
