Getty Images
It is never too early for speculation and everyone loves a juicy rumor. With another big free agent class possible next summer in the NBA, let the bologna fly and there is no better place to start than with LeBron James. The most sought after free agent in the history of free agency nearly burnt Ohio to the ground when he left the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010 and set the stage for the prodigal son’s return in 2014.
However, Cleveland may not recover from the second time James dumps his hometown for South Beach.
No, that last line is not a typo. It is quite possible that the summer of 2016 could see the return of the “Big 3” and the Miami Heat. Now that some fans have already begun to burn jerseys and condemn James, allow me to explain my thought process behind this ridiculous idea. The entire basis for this argument revolves around the two-year contract that James signed.
Cleveland rejoiced when its only hope at a professional sports championship returned, but no one thought twice about the measly contract that only locks in James for this season. He could opt out of his contract since he has a player option for next year. Many believe the reasoning behind this deal is that the league will do away with max contracts and the current salary arrangement.
That could be the underlying fact behind it, but here is the other possibility: James is giving the Cavaliers two years to win a ring. The Heat delivered a championship in two years and the Finals in one. With Cleveland’s current roster, many experts believe that they will be crowned champions in the near future. But James is not getting younger and he knows this. He can’t afford to waste away in Cleveland if championships are not being won.
If that isn’t enough proof, here is the final nail in the coffin. James’ good friend Dwyane Wade is also under a two-year contract with an option for the second year. Everyone knows that Wade is approaching the final years of his career, but he has shown a second wind this season. So Wade makes some money over these two seasons then takes a massive pay cut for James to return and the Heat to retool.
If the Cavaliers do not deliver a championship and Wade can stay healthy, James may just return to South Beach. After all, it looks like the unhappiness that unraveled the “Big 3” followed James to Cleveland. Dan Gilbert and David Blatt have two years to prove they are worthy; otherwise it might be back to the pristine waters and white beaches of Miami, because only rings matter.
Shane Phillips is an NFL Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow Shane on Twitter @ShaneRantSports, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network Google. You can also email Shane at [email protected].
