In tonight's Heat rumors and news update, one ESPN writer is positioning LeBron James' former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, as the favorites to sign the four-time NBA MVP in free agency - a development which seems to be shaking both teams' offseasons to the very core.
Per ESPN's Chris Broussard, the Cleveland Cavaliers have supplanted the Heat as the team with the best chance at signing LeBron:
Cleveland has replaced Miami as my frontrunner to land LeBron James...
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 7, 2014
After a reported meeting with LeBron James' agent, Klutch Sports' Rich Paul, last week, the Cavs seem very optimistic about their chances at securing a LeBron James return to Ohio - so much so that they could be seeking some roster movement in order to pay him a max contract:
In pursuit of max slot for LeBron James, Cavs searching for team to take Nets' Marcus Thornton in deal to unload Jarrett Jack, sources say. — Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 7, 2014
Media outlets tracked Cavs owner Dan Gilbert's plane for what had been rumored on Sunday to be a private meeting with LeBron James in South Florida (Gilbert denied this on his personal Twitter account), with varied speculation that Gilbert's plane was either used to pick up someone close to James or something to that effect.
Even Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, per Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, seem to be prepping for the possibility of a professional life without the King by their side:
Longer James has gone w/ minimal contact, more unsettled Bosh/Wade have become on Heat future. "They're reading the tea leafs," source says.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 7, 2014
To be clear, this is all still speculative until James comes out himself and either secures face-to-face meetings with other teams or declares his intentions to remain in Miami.
Stay tuned to Chat Sports for all the latest on this developing situation as additional information is made available.
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