LeBron James opt out to become unrestricted free agent

[thecatattack]

 

[Byron_Clanger]

Personally, I think LeBron re-signs with the Heat at reduced pay to bring in better free agents, happy to be wrong though

 

[Footypie32]

I wonder how much Tim Duncan's decision influenced this.

 

[lewigie]

Interesting

 

[PykeDream]

Reckon he is gone, taking a pay cut to stay in Miami brings little cap relief if Wade and Bosh don't do the same (and they'd be mad to do so given the relative value of their endorsement deals).

Ohio calls.

 

[PP34]

Off-season thread?

Reckon he is gone, taking a pay cut to stay in Miami brings little cap relief if Wade and Bosh don't do the same (and they'd be mad to do so given the relative value of their endorsement deals).

Ohio calls.

He won't be taking a paycut.

 

[Blue and Gold Blood]

Exciting news. Would love to see him return back to Cleveland and win over the fans whose heart he broke.

Would be interesting few games at the start of the season. If James , Ktrie and Love won a championship that city would explode.

 

[tigs2010]

 

[hamG]

I wonder if Melo has fired him a text yet saying 'plz take me with u bro!'

 

[fidstar]

Everyone says LeBron should take a paycut. **** that, he's the best player in the game and deserves to be the highest paid player in the league (by a lot). People should take pay cuts to come play with him.

Miami is in a corner with the Wade and Bosh contracts. I realize that they had to offer long term contracts because they were taking less money per year, but it has leaved them ****ed now. Offering long term contracts to people who are going to be well into their 30s by the end of their contract is always going to be a risk.

Having said that even if Miami did nothing in the next two years, any team that has a 6 year run that has 2 championships and 2 more trips to the finals, can say it's been a pretty good 6 years. So you can't really argue that they stuffed it up.

 

[PHX]

Holy ****in hell.

The others say, he's not taking a pay cut if Wade and Bosh aren't either.

Don't go back to Cleveland, LeBron. Just don't. It's not the fairytale you think.

 

[J Shuttlesworth]

LBJ won't be taking a cut, he already took less to go there and recently was the only one left performing at the appropriate level, Wade wasn't due to injuries, Bosh wasn't partly due to coaching in my opinion.

I don't believe LBJ is all that concerned with the $ personally, compared to others, would not be surprised if he stayed for the same amount if it meant getting help, but definitely not less, you can only get the best player in the world at a 'bargain rate' for so long, he isn't coming to you hat in hand any more looking to check any accomplishments off the list.

But someone is going to have to take a cut, it should be Wade obviously, if there going to get a decent team around them again.

I think he will stay in Miami and they will just restructure. He won't go back to Cleveland while Dan ****ing Gilbert is still there, campaigner doesn't deserve to have LBJ back there.

Failing that come and play for MJ

 

[fidstar]

If I was Phil Jackson, I'd tell Melo to get ****ed and offer LeBron a max contract.

 

[PHX]

If I was Phil Jackson, I'd tell Melo to get ****** and offer LeBron a max contract.

Primetime Pricey

 

[strauchanie59]

Does this mean he will do another "The Decision"???

#lebron2utah

 

[calaisking]

When the going gets tough, Lebron gets going

 

[Primetime Pricey]

Primetime Pricey

 

[didaksrightfoot]

Add me to the chorus that he should not take a paycut to stay in Miami. Lebron should be a max player - Bosh and Wade need to take cuts (Bosh to under 15, Wade to under 10)

He won't be going to New York - still have $45m to pay Amare, Chandler, Bargnani this year... could've been an option in a years time. Same applies to the Lakers - can't afford to pay LBJ when you have Kobe on 30m (unless Kobe takes a huge cut to accomodate Lebron - which he won't do).

Chicago would be a great fit -but they would need a sign-and-trade with Boozer's expiring +/- Gibson - I don't think the Heat would go for that... and they would need to agree to something similar to get him to the Clippers. I don't like Houston as a fit - Harden needs too much of the ball, and Dwight does not appear like the kind of guy that Lebron would want to play alongside to win.

Cleveland does look like the 2nd best option, with all the young talent around - but I dont know if putting LBJ in there makes them a championship contender - which is what he is looking for.

So unless something else has already been worked out (ie. him and Love both joining Rajon in Boston - which could be a great fit)... I see him staying at the Heat after considerable negotiation.

 

[fidstar]

I think any team that made the playoffs last year + LeBron is a contender

 

[Primetime Pricey]

He will go back to Cleveland if he doesnt stay in Miami. If i was him i would go back to Cleveland

 

[Papa Juggs]

He should just go play for the Browns

Joking aside it's very difficult to move to LA with the taxes in California.

I don't think he will mind too much though. LA is a good lifestyle for the rich.

 

[Ron]

Come to the Spurs. He can come off the bench when Leonard needs a rest.

 

[PHX]

Melo will be fuming at LeBron right now. He's no longer a story.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

I've heard that Sydney have found a way to fit Lebron under their salary cap.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

Lebron will stay in Miami IMO.

He has chosen to opt out so that they can re-negotiate his deal and try to fit in another key player to their roster.

.....I think Melo will head to Houston (or possibly Chicago) FWIW