With a number of big-name players having the option to become unrestricted free agents this summer, many have speculated about the immediate future of the biggest name potentially set to hit the free agent market.
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Four-time NBA MVP LeBron James is working on winning his third consecutive NBA title with the Miami Heat. Although LeBron has taken his game to another level in Miami while racking up the milestones and career achievements, there’s still no indication whether he’ll stay in Miami or test the free agent waters for a second time.
All signs point to LeBron staying in Miami for obvious reasons, but with the Cleveland Cavaliers recently winning the NBA draft lottery once again, his former team may have improved their chances of bringing him back for a second stint in Cleveland.
According to Ethan Skolnick of Bleacher Report, LeBron’s teammates in Miami would be surprised if he left via free agency this summer:
Mostly, though, I’ll be surprised because some of those closest to him will be surprised. That includes his teammates, those with whom he’s spent most of his time for the past eight months, those with whom he tends to communicate most freely. They haven’t wanted to touch this topic on the record, at least not honestly and completely, but some have privately pooh-poohed—even eye-rolled—the “leaving” chatter for months. They continued to do so even after Cleveland won the lottery on Tuesday.
Along with LeBron having an early-termination option, fellow teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh can also terminate their contracts early and test free agency. Bosh seems to be the only one of the three that might leave Miami, but even that may be a stretch.
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If LeBron does become a free agent this summer, the Cavs will definitely be in play with the team having a solid young core of players starting with All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving. The addition of LeBron would instantly make the Cavs a legitimate title contender in the Eastern Conference with the prospect of Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker or Joel Embiid also joining the likes of LeBron, Irving and Dion Waiters in Cleveland.
It’ll be interesting to see how things pan out if the Heat are eliminated by the Indiana Pacers or lose in the NBA Finals, but as of right now, not many are convinced that LeBron will be leaving Miami anytime soon.
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