Stephen A. Smith: "James back to Cavs better than 50% chance"

[Roy H.]

If the Heat win the title this year, I can't imagine Lebron leaves.  I think he'd want to win four titles in a row, something that neither Jordan or Kobe pulled off.

I think Cleveland would be a good team for him, and I think the redemption story could be personally rewarding.  However, a four-peat, with the opportunity to then leave via free agency if he so desired, would probably be too much to pass up.

[GreenWarrior]

I thought the heat were going for "not 5, not 6, not 7"?

[Moranis]

If the Heat win the title this year, I can't imagine Lebron leaves.  I think he'd want to win four titles in a row, something that neither Jordan or Kobe pulled off.

I think Cleveland would be a good team for him, and I think the redemption story could be personally rewarding.  However, a four-peat, with the opportunity to then leave via free agency if he so desired, would probably be too much to pass up.

Yep.  Why I think he just opts in for 2 more years, makes a lot of money, and then goes back to Cleveland in the summer of 2016 on a pretty reasonable deal (in part as a mea culpa for leaving).

[Moranis]

If the Cavs let Clark, Gee, and Varejao go they will be at around 35 million with rookies and cap holds.  If by some chance they got Deng locked up at around 11 million (for year 1) that puts them at 46/47 million, which would mean they would have room for a near max contract.  I do think that Lebron and Deng could play together with James at the 4 and couple them with Irving, Waiters, Thompson, Zeller, Jack and with Bennett, Karasev, and rookies as potential I think they would have a pretty darn competitive team.  They would need a center unless Zeller takes a big leap, but I think they could find at least respectable centers from the veteran minimum crowd or rookies (and maybe Varejao comes back on a minimum type deal).

[D.o.s.]

If the Heat win the title this year, I can't imagine Lebron leaves.  I think he'd want to win four titles in a row, something that neither Jordan or Kobe pulled off.

I think Cleveland would be a good team for him, and I think the redemption story could be personally rewarding.  However, a four-peat, with the opportunity to then leave via free agency if he so desired, would probably be too much to pass up.

Yep.  Why I think he just opts in for 2 more years, makes a lot of money, and then goes back to Cleveland in the summer of 2016 on a pretty reasonable deal (in part as a mea culpa for leaving).

I think LeBron will get one more massive deal (four years or so), then and only then will he think about going back to Cleveland. As far as his personal legacy goes, Miami gives him a much better shot at winning rings than Cleveland does, especially in regards to the management, the ownership, and the coaching.

The Heat definitely have to lose in the playoffs before he seriously considers leaving.

[get_banners]

If Wade keeps going downhill physically, I definitely see LeBron bolting, as he's a full believer in the league of superfriends and not interested in winning on his own (and def not just him and bosh). i still think he stays in miami for another year or two, though.

[footey]

SAS was the first to call the 3 signing with Heat, as I recall. Don't sell him short.  My respect for him has grown over the years. I think he has matured. He is also a very good writer.

[LooseCannon]

Maybe Lebron can buy the Cavs after his playing days and prove he can be a better owner than Michael Jordan.

[D.o.s.]

SAS was the first to call the 3 signing with Heat, as I recall. Don't sell him short.  My respect for him has grown over the years. I think he has matured. He is also a very good writer.

He used to be a very good writer, for sure. I haven't seen a single thing he's written in a while, though.

[Fafnir]

Maybe Lebron can buy the Cavs after his playing days and prove he can be a better owner than Michael Jordan.

Not a high bar.

[fitzhickey]

Maybe Lebron can buy the Cavs after his playing days and prove he can be a better owner than Michael Jordan.

Not a high bar.

Please let it be Lebron who drafts the next Kwame Brown

[TwinTower14]

SAS was the first to call the 3 signing with Heat, as I recall. Don't sell him short.  My respect for him has grown over the years. I think he has matured. He is also a very good writer.

He also called the Doc Rivers to the Clippers way before anyone else, and everyone called him crazy. He definitely has connections in the NBA circles. 

[fitzhickey]

I thought the heat were going for "not 5, not 6, not 7"?

I guess technically speaking two isn't 5 or 6 or 7

[LooseCannon]

Maybe Lebron can buy the Cavs after his playing days and prove he can be a better owner than Michael Jordan.

Not a high bar.

It's a higher bar than "not the worst owner in Cavs history".

[Moranis]

If the Heat win the title this year, I can't imagine Lebron leaves.  I think he'd want to win four titles in a row, something that neither Jordan or Kobe pulled off.

I think Cleveland would be a good team for him, and I think the redemption story could be personally rewarding.  However, a four-peat, with the opportunity to then leave via free agency if he so desired, would probably be too much to pass up.

Yep.  Why I think he just opts in for 2 more years, makes a lot of money, and then goes back to Cleveland in the summer of 2016 on a pretty reasonable deal (in part as a mea culpa for leaving).

I think LeBron will get one more massive deal (four years or so), then and only then will he think about going back to Cleveland. As far as his personal legacy goes, Miami gives him a much better shot at winning rings than Cleveland does, especially in regards to the management, the ownership, and the coaching.

The Heat definitely have to lose in the playoffs before he seriously considers leaving.

Lebron took a lot less money to sign in Miami (somewhere around 3 million a year less), I just don't see him as going the Kobe/Melo/KG/Shaq route and hamstringing whatever team he signs for.  He will certainly get paid, but he won't max that crap out, which is why I think he just opts in, plays out the next two at 20.6 and 22 and then re-evaluates the Heat and Cavs in the summer of 2016.  Maybe by then Miami has made the moves required to keep it in contention for through the 2010's (and he re-ups) or maybe he just decides to go back home and finish out his career with whatever the Cavs can put around him (whether in contention or not).  Of course that might all change if the Heat are sitting on 5 in a row or if Wade or Bosh leave this summer.