Riley starting his push for a Lebron return (w/o breaking the rules)

[Moranis]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23088267/pat-riley-said-lebron-james-did-right-thing-left-miami-nba

Riley on the "welcome rally" presser that had the not one, not two...  "I knew there was going to be something, but I didn't envision that," Riley said. "It was my fault. It's all on me." "I said to Micky [Arison, the Heat owner], 'Let's go down and enjoy this press conference,'" Riley recalled. "When I got there, I couldn't believe there were eighteen thousand people in the arena." "It threw gasoline on the fire. It did ring of some hubris on our part that was not planned."


Riley on Lebron leaving the Heat to go back to Cleveland..."I had two to three days of tremendous anger. I was absolutely livid, which I expressed to myself and my closest friends," Riley said. Then, Thomsen wrote, over the weeks and months to come, Riley came to see the move to Cleveland from LeBron's point of view. "My beautiful plan all of a sudden came crashing down," Riley said. "That team in ten years could have won five or six championships. But I get it. I get the whole chronicle of [LeBron's] life."  "While there may have been some carnage always left behind when he made these kinds of moves, in Cleveland and also in Miami, he did the right thing. I just finally came to accept the realization that he and his family said, 'You'll never, ever be accepted back in your hometown if you don't go back to try to win a title. Otherwise someday you'll go back there and have the scarlet letter on your back. You'll be the greatest player in the history of mankind, but back there, nobody's really going to accept you.'"

Riley on a text he sent just as Game 7 against the Warriors started..."I didn't want to send him anything that he could read before he hit the floor," Riley said. "As soon as he hit the floor, I sent a text to him. I said, 'Win this and be free.'"


Lots of other fascinating things in the article, but those sections in particular strike me as Riley starting to set the ground work for a James return. 

[Neurotic Guy]

I’d be ecstatic. Anywhere but LAL.

[nickagneta]

I don't know. They are quotes from an upcoming book. Riley could have said those things 2 years ago for all we know. Also, the article stated Lebron and Riley have still yet to talk. So I am not sure if Riley is laying the ground for a Lebron return.

Did find it interesting that Lebron wanted to once again control who coached him but Riley laid the law down and said Spoelstra was the guy.

[Roy H.]

I’d be ecstatic. Anywhere but LAL.

Anywhere but Philly.

[nickagneta]

BTW, I am really getting sick of ESPN having a different  headlining story about Lebron every freaking day. This has been such an amazing NBA season. There is so many things to talk about. Can we just find another story that doesn't involve Lebron for a couple weeks.

[footey]

I wouldn’t put it past Riley at all.

[Phantom255x]

Lebron goes to Miami, and honestly I don't think anything really changes. If anything, PHI and BOS will continue improving, and could give MIA a run for their money and possibly even beat them in a playoff series (remember, Wade is no longer elite - solid, but not elite anymore), but even if MIA gets past the East, there's no way they are beating the Warriors or Rockets in the Finals. Even San Antonio (if Leonard stays long term and comes back healthy) would beat them in a Finals series.

And if I'm not mistaken, but doesn't Miami have like no cap space this summer? Or is Lebron expected to take a massive pay-cut to go back to Miami??

[Beat LA]

I’d be ecstatic. Anywhere but LAL.

Anywhere but Philly.

I don't see how Lebron and Simmons can coexist unless, perhaps, Ben becomes Philadelphia's 6th man, which, well, I don't see happening.

On the other hand, I didn't see Harden and Paul being able to play together as both have always needed the ball in their hands, but at least they can both shoot, so...

[SHAQATTACK]

he an't going to Philly .

He knows the coach , Riley and the City .

PLUS this allows him to stay in the EAST where he can still be big cheese.

I d say Heat have as good as chance as anybody   but Rockets .....I would not let Lebron near my hot Rockets team.   The pecking order is set and everybody seem happy ......inserting the alpha Bron in , might upset the balance of the players coaching gig.   

I think Bron waits to see how far Houston goes and does he get an invite .

Maybe next will,be Lakers ...they will suck up in every way possible ,  imcludimg firing Walton if necessary to make the Diva happy.   Houston won't fire Antoni because he is a real coach.

From there Heat has good as chance as Clippers . 

[blink]

I’d be ecstatic. Anywhere but LAL.

Anywhere but Philly.

This is about all I care about as well.  Philly is going to our main competition in the east for the next 3-5 years. 

[trickybilly]

I’d be ecstatic. Anywhere but LAL.

Anywhere but Philly.

Exactly. I have no problems whatsoever watching LeBron's decline in LA..

Philly will be literally unbeatable for 5 years with that Big Three.

[Neurotic Guy]

I’d be ecstatic. Anywhere but LAL.

Anywhere but Philly.

Exactly. I have no problems whatsoever watching LeBron's decline in LA..

Philly will be literally unbeatable for 5 years with that Big Three.

I hate the Lakers enough to stick to my statement as irrational as it may be. 

I agree that Philly would dominate with Lebron (though I suspect 3 years will be more likely for LBJ than 5).  The key to Philly’s success, with or without Lebron, is Embiid’s health.  If Embiid is healthy they’d be virtually unbeatable for a few years, and will be the favorite for the next 10. If Embiid goes Yao Ming, the window closes fast.