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All through this past season LeBron James avoided giving a certain answer when asked about what he was intending to do with his player option this summer in his contract with the Miami Heat but when the deadline was less than a week away he let his decision be known to the franchise through his agent, a decision which people expected as the Heat’s season came to a disappointing end.The decision to exercise his early termination option allows him to sit down as an unrestricted free agent post the 1st of July with all teams that are looking to land him. Does his opting out mean the end of the Big 3 era in South Beach?Maybe or maybe not, who knows?We will never know till James decides where to take his talents this time. From the 30 teams here the 5 best possible options for the 4 time NBA league MVP to consider this off-season as a free agent:
#5 Atlanta Hawks
Nobody expected this team to make it to the top 5 right? The Hawks are the dark horses in the race for landing James.
Both have been part of the San Antonio Spurs coaching staff earlier in their career. Given the talent and balance of the roster, it seems like Hawks Head Coach Mike Budenholzer and General Manager Danny Ferry are looking to build the Eastern Conference version of the Spurs.
A team filled with players who can hit the ball from long range efficiently and are not hesitant to make the extra pass in order to get a better shot.
There is ample shooting on the starting line-up as well as the second unit to surround James when he is on the floor. The roster also relieves James of his high rebounding duties with Paul Millsap and Al Horford playing the 4 and 5 positions.
Coming to cap space, Atlanta can offer James 17 million dollars, a huge pay-cut for the superstar. Another huge point in the Hawks is their long term financial stability and flexibility. It allows them to sign LeBron to a long term deal and still continue to build a roster around him.
#4 Houston Rockets
An ambitious attempt at building another Big 3, but then again if there is one franchise which has surprised all over the past couple of years by making big moves in free agency, it has been the Rockets.
In 2012, they grabbed James Harden with a huge trade and the following off-season drew Dwight Howard to Houston via free agency. They arguably have the best center guard tandem currently in the league.
Successfully landing James to Texas is a long shot, but it’s one the Rockets financially are ready to take. Their biggest concern is cap room which they have none of, but they could clear the 19 million dollars a year slot for James by waiving off the No. 11 and No. 12 players on the roster, and by adding a draft pick into the mix could trade Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin.
The line-up of Patrick Beverly, James Harden, LeBron James, Chandler Parsons and Dwight Howard is one that will be tough to contend even in the highly competitive Western Conference. Can such a line-up match each other on the court skill wise to raise a championship banner?
We’ll have to wait and see.
#3 Phoenix Suns
Although it’s highly unlikely that James will be seen in a Suns jersey next season, the state of affairs with the franchise certainly look a perfect fit for him.
Joining the Suns gives him the opportunity to work alongside an exciting new Head Coach Jeff Hornacek and a young talented team. The Suns’ two most important big men in their rotation, Channing Fyre and Markieff Morris can shoot well from outside giving James the space he needs in the post.
James could also take over the ball handling duties over periods of the game to catch Goran Dragic on a cut or Eric Bledsoe open for a wide shot, making use of the guard duo’s effectiveness.
That’s how well he would possibly fit into the team, but what about the financial status of the team?
The Suns’ have plenty and more after that as well. Phoenix’s cap flexibility allows them to sign James to a max deal, re-sign Bledsoe close to his max and still have cap room to work with next summer. A couple of first round picks over the next two years of the Draft is not something they would complain about since it gives them the chance to grab a potential future star.
#2 Cleveland Cavaliers
A dream scenario for all except the Miami Heat fans-a poetic return of the best player on the planet to his home town.
If the Cavaliers have the right mindset to build around James, make no mistake about it he could well and truly be a contender with them given their young talent which includes the reigning All-Star Game MVP and former No. 1 overall pick in 2010 Kyrie Irving.
James left the Cavaliers in 2010 for their failure to successfully build a competitive team around him. However,this time around there have been multiple positive decisions made by the Cavaliers camp which could encourage him to come back home.
David Blatt is by no means a coach to be taken lightly, the rest of the coaching staff has also been strengthened. Do not forget that they have a future young talented star coming to the Quicken Loans Arena as the franchise has a chance to pick first in this year’s Draft, their third first overall pick in four years.
The team has a lot of potential with James and although it might not be amongst his first choices right now, it would the best for him if the Heat management fails to make tough decisions in the summer.
#1 Miami Heat
Other teams in the league can count themselves in the race for LeBron as much as they want, but the Miami Heat is still firmly in the driver’s seat when it comes to landing James.
James opting out gives the Heat a better chance to try out fresher legs over the summer in order to remain a contender next season with the Big 3 still with the Heat.
The on court success and off-court stability he has enjoyed in his 4 years in Miami is something James won’t be willing to let go that easy. From James’ point of view he could also re-sign with the team for a slight pay-cut on a long term deal giving him constant income till he is 35 or 36.
Also, the trust James has in Pat Riley’s management and Micky Arison’s ownership will make him favor the Heat more than any other franchise in the league, unless of course if they struggle to make tough and much needed changes to the old and fatigued current Heat roster.
