LEBRON JAMES OPTS-OUT
Lebron James has opted-out of his contract with the Miami Heat his agent, Rich Paul told the team on Tuesday. Lebron was scheduled to make 42.7 million dollars over the next two years. Now this DOES NOT mean James is leaving the Heat, he could just re-negotiate but this does worry me from a Miami fans perspective but Pat Riley seemed unfazed
“I was informed this morning of his intentions. We fully expected LeBron to opt out and exercise his free-agent rights, so this does not come as a surprise,” Heat president Riley said in a statement. “As I said at the press conference last week, players have a right to free agency and, when they have these opportunities, the right to explore their options. The last four seasons have been historic, and LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Erik Spoelstra have led the Miami Heat to one of the most unprecedented runs in the history of the NBA. We look forward to sitting down with LeBron and his representatives and talking about our future together. At the moment, we are preparing for the opportunities in the draft and free agency as we continue with our goal of winning NBA championships.”
Carmelo Anthony also opted-out and now teams, namely the Lakers, Hawks , and Cavs are considering roster moves to gain salary cap space in hopes of signing Melo or LBJ. “Being able to have flexibility as a professional, anyone, that’s what we all would like,” James said last week. “That’s in any sport, for a football player, a baseball player, a basketball player, to have flexibility and be able to control your future or your present. I have a position to be able to do that. … There’s a lot of times that you’re not in control of your future as a professional.” Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade also have opt-out options that they HAVE NOT exercised yet, the right expires on June 30th.”There’s a conversation that will be had between the three of us,” James said last week. “I think it’s only right. I think we’ve earned that for each other, to have a conversation and see what could possibly happen.”
Q/A
Q: Are you surprised by the opt-out
A: Not at all, it gives him so much freedom, he can sign a new big-money deal, come back for less too give the Heat cap space to sign a new player, or go to a new team
Q: What will the rest of the big 3 do?
A: If Lebron is staying they will OPT-OUT so they can take a paycut so the Heat get more flexibility to add another star unless LBJ leaves, sources have told me if Lebron opts-in then Wade opts-in, with a knee injury he won’t get as much money than he would by opting-in. I think Bosh would opt-in too.
Q: Where SHOULD Lebron go?
A: Where do I want him to go? LA, to the Clippers. I would love seeing LBJ play for Doc Rivers and form a new and better Big 3, CP3, Blake, and Lebron (Blake would actually, probably get cut to provide cap space)
Q: Where WILL Lebron go?
A: The Miami Heat, duh! Behind the Spurs, who he is not going to, trust me. The Heat are the most championship-ready team, he would probably take a paycut to provide cap room so the Heat can add another key piece and challenge for a title.
TOP 3 POSSIBLE LBJ LANDING PLACES (BY LIKELIHOOD)
1. Miami
2. Houston
3. Cleveland
James can start talking to teams on July 1st.