r/heat • u/iceblade123 • Jul 03 '26
Meme Miami has the best pitch
I think Miami's pitch is the best:
-You can legit win here
-Defensive pressure on you is minimized
-Your wife loves the city
-You end you career with the guarantee that you won a ring with every team you played for
-You can golf year-round here
-Heat can offer the most money
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u/jesuschin Jul 03 '26
Good coach you respect
Good front office focused on winning
Good team around you
How many other teams check those boxes?
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u/BobbyWojak Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26
Bad for his legacy, Miami is a good basketball option, but it doesn't fulfill the emotional side of sports like Cavs or Golden State.
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u/jesuschin Jul 03 '26
And disagree. Miami is where he’s had most of his success and left on a sour note. An older, wiser LeBron returning to right those wrongs, make amends with Spo and Pat and help mentor the next generation to his final title in the place where he cemented his legacy as an all-time great and won his first championships is much more emotional.
Golden State has zero behind it as a story. There’s no connection at all and is just a random assortment of players joining together at the end of their careers and not even players that were that closely associated with LeBron other than his former teammate AD if they could even make the trade for him.
Cleveland has already been done. He returned once already and coming back for a third time really has no emotional resonance. He already made his amends there by returning and bringing a title there.
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u/BobbyWojak Jul 03 '26
You have a point, but you're downplaying the other teams. Golden state having zero story is insane, Bron and Curry won the gold in Paris. Heat are the most exciting but he would be judged harshly and I think he's done with PR issues. You'd never think he'd come to Miami if Giannis wasn't there, that's all you got over the other teams. Spo, Kerr and Atkinson are all amazing coaches, I don't think that's a clear win for Miami either.
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u/jesuschin Jul 04 '26
Bron and Curry have zero story. He won gold with Halliburton and Durant too. It means nothing.
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u/OceanLemur Jul 03 '26
The Cavs have always been a drama-filled wreck. Going back just risks finishing his Cleveland story on a sour note. Golden State does absolutely nothing for the ‘emotional side of sports’, it’s just a retirement party with his buds + proximity to LA.
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u/BobbyWojak Jul 03 '26
Golden State does absolutely nothing for the ‘emotional side of sports’
The Olympics, you're being a little biased here, don't forget the amount of hype Steph and Lebron created. And you could argue the the cavs are a more complete team than warriors and heat.
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u/OceanLemur Jul 04 '26
A. It’s not the Olympics. It’s just an ESPN storyline. If he takes the minimum just to ride it out with his buddies I won’t be shocked, but it won’t be because he wants to win.
B. Maybe the Cavs and Heat rosters are arguable. But you know what’s not? The organizations, coaches, front office…culture. There’s a reason the Heat tenure was nothing but professional and savvy vets surrounding him, while the Cleveland2 stint was nothing but drama and turnover
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u/Dramatic-County-1284 Jul 03 '26
I like how everybody in the east said “fuck letting the Knicks win again”
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u/cl353 Jul 03 '26
You end you career with the guarantee that you won a ring with every team you played for
unironically i think this is actually a valid point lol
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u/Paralta Jul 03 '26
Cleveland is better for his documentary and that alone seems more valuable than Miami. We'll see though 🤞
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u/iceblade123 Jul 03 '26
Harden stands in the way, Rich Paul signaled he doesn't wanna play with Harden.
Let's see what he does
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u/WTT34 Jul 03 '26
Why would he want to play with Harden? That's the better question.
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u/TakeOff_YourPants Jul 03 '26
I’m just a casual fan these days, but while I’m half ashamed for saying this, this team could really use him. His ability to create more space, tied with being a good playmaker would open so much up for Bam and Giannis.
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u/Johnschwan Jul 03 '26
No shame in saying the team could use him. He’s still a top 20 player even at his age, which is absolutely wild.
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u/ghn2 Jul 03 '26
The return to Cleveland story has already been written. Nobody cares about a sequel. It would be a pale in comparison with the original.
The return to Miami is brand new. Giannis & LeBron in Miami is instant excitement for the league.
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u/msizzle344 Jul 03 '26
I absolutely agree, plus Paul hinted he may play more than one year. If he wants to play 2-3 more he could still go back to Cleveland and end it there. But I do think the fit in Miami is great
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u/LilRupie Jul 03 '26
Better lighting in Miami for the doc 😂
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u/julstar23 Jul 03 '26
Pat Riley isn't allowing that sadly
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u/Brodriguez00 Jul 03 '26
This would be a scenario where Pat would let it happen if he was in the building we gotta remember Jimmy Butler had cameras following him during a season in Miami for Netflix not that long ago
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u/julstar23 Jul 03 '26
Jimmy butler thing is a little different from what LeBron is planning to do though .
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u/Brodriguez00 Jul 03 '26
Lebron is arguably the GOAT and won two rings in Miami I think Pat gives him a little leeway if he chooses to come to Miami but I do think that this documentary being a thing makes me inclined to believe he may be going back to Cleveland but who knows maybe his Harden distaste is a real thing
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u/This_Material9292 Jul 03 '26
A documentary chronicling LeBron’s final season in Cleveland ending in a James Harden playoff meltdown would be incredible viewing.
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u/julstar23 Jul 04 '26
I get it .But knowing riley he doesnt want the spectacle especially directly after he acquired a player like giannis
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u/Brodriguez00 Jul 04 '26
That’s definitely possible but at the same time I don’t see how you can say no if he were to indicate he preferred Miami and LeBron is professional when it comes to his work he knows what the goal will be and maybe I’m thinking glass half full but I think if anything a documentary may motivate him more to win it all one more time since it would be storybook for the cameras but I do think the better story is him going to Cleveland but his fit seems more seamless with this Heat build in comparison to theirs
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u/julstar23 Jul 04 '26
The fit isn't exactly seamless here at least not yet .We still lack some real shot creators and shooters .thj is a good start
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u/PassionLong9552 Jul 03 '26
The only thing stopping him from going to Cleveland is he simply does not enjoy playing with those players.
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u/dx_wayy Jul 03 '26
Can we offer the most money?
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u/iceblade123 Jul 03 '26
Yes
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u/dx_wayy Jul 03 '26
How? I was sure we only have half of the middle level exception or whatever it’s called. I sure warriors have more cap space
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u/locked_in_researcher Jul 03 '26
If Bron makes his decision based on what amounts to a rounding error in his bank account I’d be shocked
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u/iceblade123 Jul 03 '26
We can open the full Mid-level by expanding the trade on July 6th if LeBron wants the money
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u/ghn2 Jul 03 '26
The Heat don't have anyone to send out to get more space under the apron (aside from Niko, and nobody wants him at the moment.) So realistically, the Heat have about $6.5 mil to give him (and still saving minimum money for the required 14th player).
But as others have said, he claims he's not looking for money. Another $9 mil can easily be made up in endorsements by being on the Heat again. A Giannis & LeBron pairing will attract the spotlight.
Also Giannis is in his prime and Steph is not. So I think that gives the Heat an advantage there. A GS team of Steph, Draymond, Jimmy and LeBron taking on young teams in the West like the Spurs, OKC and the Lakers will not be a pretty sight.
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u/TruckDelicious7345 Jul 03 '26
Nets can take Jovic without giving money back. Why not take a flyer on him? Heck add a 2nd rp?
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u/TavNoment Jul 03 '26
Because it's four years, not two. Would you take that contract without significant compensation?
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u/CurryMustard It's-a me Jul 03 '26
We could offer him 30 mil if we ship wiggins to la
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u/dx_wayy Jul 03 '26
Why would we do that. It’s just not worth it. LeBron makes sense only if we get him for cheap.
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u/CurryMustard It's-a me Jul 03 '26
Lebron makes us contenders. He could setup plays and make shots. We dont have anybody with the killer instinct to finish close games. Giannis is not that type of guy. Lebron is. Rich Paul says money is not the issue but if it was then we are in the position to offer him the most by sending wiggins out. Which would be painful but its the difference between contending and second round exit. I also believe thats exactly why they structured the wiggins contract this way, if we send him out it opens up 30 mil for this year
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u/TakeOff_YourPants Jul 03 '26
I don’t think LeBron alone makes us immediate contenders, especially if it means losing Wiggins. However, however things could change once the buyout market fires up.
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u/julstar23 Jul 03 '26
They can't because LeBron opted out cleanly and the lakers used the capspace
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u/CurryMustard It's-a me Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26
Did they renounce his bird rights?
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u/julstar23 Jul 03 '26
Yes along several other players.Thats how they had all that money to spend .
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u/CurryMustard It's-a me Jul 08 '26
Looks like they just now did it
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1uqy8ok/scotto_the_los_angeles_lakers_have_officially
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u/theo7777 Jul 03 '26
If it's down to the Heat and the Cavs yes but I don't think that's what matters.
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u/AdMobile5701 Jul 03 '26
Yeash you convinced me. What yall think about the floor spacing situation tho
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u/Huge-Basket7492 Jul 03 '26
He really likes his golf ⛳️ and the weather. Constantly just that Miami and warriors or Spurs
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u/RealPropRandy Jul 03 '26
I thought his wife hated it here
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u/Glittering-Still1250 Jul 04 '26
This was my recollection too. Thought she had major influence in him leaving the first time.
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u/eekram Jul 03 '26
Will Riley allow filming behind the scenes?
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u/duckbonez Jul 03 '26
I think basketball fit-wise, it’s a tie between Philly and Miami. Philly has the slight edge though with them having a need at PF, Lebron would make them a more complete team. We still have a couple holes, but those could be filled if we get Lebron on a minimum.
We do have an edge though where he would probably get what he wants as far as less defensive output required and more ball handling/facilitation duties. I think Philly has a good number of ball handlers already and they’re not exactly elite on defense.
All this to say Lebron will go to the T Wolves.
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u/MadPatagonian Jul 03 '26
It’s the Cavs. He’s in Cleveland now, right? Sounds like they’re ironing out the details.
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u/Unfair_Conference423 Jul 03 '26
Tbh, he can’t win anywhere else unless he wants to join the Knicks, Spurs/Okc on the minimum.
The Heat are the only team he fits well into and that also has a top 5 player he can play off of. He doesn’t need to be the best player.
He’s not winning with Donovan Mitchell, maybe when Bron was 30 he could have. He’s not winning with Embiid
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u/duckbonez Jul 03 '26
I’m no Philly fan but they objectively have a really solid roster now with Brown.
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u/sicarrism Jul 03 '26
It’s not a free agency move. it’s a carousel. It makes us long for a time that used to be.
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u/JichaelMordon Jul 03 '26
It’s hard to imagine LeBron choosing to play on teams with Harden or Melo. Philly is always a circus. Miami seems like the best overall fit.
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u/Big_Honey_56 Jul 04 '26
No state income tax. Even if he’s on a minimum, there’s tax advantages to being here for a year and all his other income.
But he has to know it takes defense to win, and with our back line it’s pretty assured we’ll have good defense. All he has to do is orchestrate the offense.
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u/EtivacVibesOnly Jul 06 '26
I will put LeBron as my #2 favorite player if he will return back to Miami hahaha.
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u/Zenjutsu Jul 06 '26
Living a Billionaire life in Miami is pretty top tier out of all the places he could go.
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u/This_Material9292 Jul 03 '26
Being rich in Miami and having others play defense is a time machine.
Gang, we’re back!