NBA insider questioned Miami's status as LeBron James' preferred destination, citing his delayed decision, unhappy 2014 exit, the Heat's limited shooting, and Giannis Antetokounmpo's recent injury history.
LeBron James has been linked with a potential return to the Miami Heat, but Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports is not fully convinced that South Beach is the most likely destination.
LeBron James
Position SF
Age 41
Height 206 cm
Weight 113 kg
Birth place Akron, United States of America
Speaking about James' free agency situation, O'Connor questioned why the four-time NBA champion would still be unsigned if Miami was truly his preferred option.
Insider questions Miami scenario
"If LeBron wanted to sign with Miami, wouldn't he have done so already?" O'Connor wrote. "What else would he really be waiting for?"
The Heat have already made their major offseason move by landing Giannis Antetokounmpo, giving Miami another superstar centerpiece and making the team one of the most intriguing options on paper.
O'Connor acknowledged that Miami offers several familiar advantages for James, including the organization, city, coaching staff, and front office.
LeBron, now 41, spent four seasons with the Heat from 2010 to 2014, reaching four NBA Finals and winning two championships.
However, O'Connor also pointed out several reasons why a reunion may not be straightforward.
"But he wasn't happy when he left Miami in 2014, they don't have a lot of 3-point shooting, and Giannis hasn't finished a season healthy since winning a title five years ago," he added.
That makes the Heat a complicated option despite their star power.
Credit AP - Scanpix
LeBron may be waiting on Davis or Irving
One possible reason for the delay is that James may be evaluating whether any of his suitors can create an even stronger roster around him.
According to Kevin O'Connor, LeBron is slow-playing his decision to see if any of the teams pursuing him can find a way to land Anthony Davis or Kyrie Irving.
The problem is that neither Davis nor Irving currently appears to be available for trade, making that scenario difficult to pull off.
The Heat are considered one of the main candidates to sign LeBron, alongside the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and Minnesota Timberwolves.
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