It’s officially official: The NBA’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron James, will not be returning to the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2026-27 season.
In recent weeks, all of us over here at HHH have pondered whether or not the Miami Heat should inquire about James — regardless of his future in Los Angeles. Well, now, that door is now officially open. Although one Western Conference foe could get in the Heat’s way of a potential reunion.
The Golden State Warriors are tailoring offseason told acquiring James:
The Golden State Warriors have been active the last 24 hours in an attempt to acquire both James and former Los Angeles Lakers and current Washington Wizards center Anthony Davis
It remains to be seen how realistic that possibility actually is. But Draymond Green opted out of his $27.7 million player option to free up cap space, and Kristaps Porzingis signed a two-year, $40 million deal. The Warriors are $32 million below the first apron and $44.7 million below the second, but they would be hard-capped at the first apron if they 1.) Used the full mid-level exception on James or 2.) acquired him in a sign-and-trade.
If the Warriors decided to re-sign Green for a lesser price tag while also acquiring James for the MLE, they would need to find a suitor for Moses Moody, who will be making $12.5 million this year, and potentially one of Al Horford or Brandin Podziemski, to fill out the rest of their roster.
Still, they can offer more than the Heat, who can only offer less than $12 million of the full mid-level. But the Heat could open up the full MLE if they find a taker for Nikola Jovic, which is much easier said than done. The Heat only have one second-round pick and one conditional first-round pick they can attach to Jovic, who is coming off a disappointing season after signing a four-year, $62.4 million deal last summer.
Do you think a James-Heat reunion is in the cards? Let us know in the comments!
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perk suggests jrue holiday to miami thaT that would be a needle mover
iman shumpert is the jovic of broadcasters.trade him to denver for scott hastings
espn prob wants a do over in that shumpert contract
nba tv is so lame compared to espn coverage
Sixers being Sixers. Semi-ambulatory Embiid gets 3 year super max.
HA! Good. He will play one full season over those 3 years and miss almost every playoff game
Pendejos. I guess Paul George is due for one next. Gonna be a guard heavy team. Philon may turn out to be another Maxey.
This is the first, but not the last time I intend to point out 3 players that were on our list AND available at 13 that I will be watching: Philon, Ament, and Steinbach. I also expect someone to say in the future “wow, that guy is a real baller. How come we don’t have someone like him?”
I liked Carr a lot and no idea how he landed with the Lakers. Add that one to the list lol
I also really liked Carr. Add him to the list, yes.
Hardaway in the boat. We called that one early. For $6.5. I knew he would not get the minimum after hitting 40% of his 3s
Really good pickup
Excellent. A guy who can hit the 3 off the bench but also spot start, plus circle of Heat culture is complete, which means all is right in the universe for Lebron to return. 😉
nice p/u for the bench ,ok player but for lack of funds we have good p/u
Ok player that was just 3rd in 6MOTY and hit 40% from 3.
If he isn’t equal to Brunson, he sucks.
The short, un-athletic 2nd rounder?
thats def not my swedish pelle
42 36 guy been on 6 teams.last year was his best year when u play with jokic numbers for shooters will be inflated.like i said hes just a guy doesnt move the needle at all.we need bodys so we have a body
I don’t understand how teams can be tens of millions below the first apron, potentially sign someone and remain below the first apron, and still be limited in that potential signing because of the first apron.
It makes more sense to me for the apron to work above the cap number and not below it.
Wizards say they’re not interested in trading AD.
does ad want to play there i doubt it
Doesn’t matter.
serena over nba free agency lets go
kawhi barnes rj greek bam wigg which one heat fans
I would give slight edge to the raptors as currently constructed, but that can change soon, depending on who else we get .
kawhi greek even bam barnes even wig rj even quickly dav even wow there on sane level as us.this eastern conf gonna be a btch
Kawhi is going to Toronto
It’s gonna be a dogfight. The cream will rise to the top
kawhi looks like hes heading back to toronto joins barnes barrett quickley .there a top 4 team now in east.east is getting tougher .might be stronger than west
tom brady won his last year greeks coming for u goat u aint winning it all
Would the Heat be a better team with Lebron on the roster? Yes, definitely. I think he would have a much better chance to win another ring with the Heat than with the Warriors. But I am not sure this is what he wants the most at this stage of his career. If he does, he should sign with the Heat. But I doubt he will.
Lebron is GS bound.
i havent heard that yet
Heat with LBJ would be a contender for sure, but boring team. At least some youth must be in the team, who would want to watch a bunch of guys being 20 years in the league.
Excitement has nothing to do with it. Just win baby! Watching a young team develop into champions is exciting. That’s not in the cards.
At this point, Miami is looking for any players willing to sign for the vet minimum, regardless of age. No mas dinero.
Yes, I know. Its 2-3 years of watching old goats.
If not, there is another hobbled vet on the bench, and G leaguers after that.
There s no future, one song said.
I disagree a teeny, tiny bit. For example, who we sign as a Powell replacement should/better be young. We can see what level of game a Grimes can get to with this group. Or for a Simons signing, can he recoup his value across the league? Then when they have more $ next season, which weak link do they replace and with who.
But yeah, definitely some hobbled goat watching. Do we then become the men who stare at goats? I think so.
Thats as good as any other way to spend your life. Some might say, that calm, which comes with it, overcome any rat race for green papers.
simons or grimes u cant say grimes is better 2q?
Yes, I can. Grimes is a bit better overall and gives you more in boards, assists and defense. Simons would be mostly all offense. We need that but my choice is Grimes but he is restricted
simons a 30pt guy any night .grimes solid 2 way vet.average at everything
Average at everything and yet averages more than Simons at everything and only 3 point difference in career scoring. Last year was only a 1 point difference. Again, Simons can score more but in no universe is he a better overall player than Grimes right now. You hated Herro and now you’re going to bat for facsimile of his game. Jeez
Actually, Herro a way better rebounder.
i havent seen enough of simons bits and pieces i know hes a baller though.id have to defer to oregoner.grimes is journeyman id take him over pelle
the future is now enjoy the boring greek
al davis did alot of that hopefully greek gets me at least 2 rings
look for middleton to sign minimum all boxes checked except dinero box
the 72 miami dolphins were the most boring team in nfl they went undefeated
The 72 Dolphins were definitely NOT boring!
ran the ball 75% of time beg to differ
I watched every game. Running makes it boring? Csonka was boring? Kiick and Mercury boring? Warfield boring? Buoniconti boring? Jake Scott boring? Mandich boring? Absolutely ridiculous!!!
y fonzi lots better options out there he would be avail anytime
Let the cap master Andy do his thing. There are weird machinations you can unlock when contracts are signed with certain amounts in certain ways. Tranquilo
Simone at the minimum is fine. More to come.
In Cali and likes Curry. Game over.
steph jimmy dramond bron thats better than we have dam f u lebron and jimmy quitter 2
Too old. Half of them would be injured come playoffs.
And they want to get AD, which would mean sending them Jimmy. Both angles of that are hilarious, especially after Jimmy’s recent passive-aggressive comments about it being the best organization. lmao
He forgets NBA basketball is a business. There is no loyalty and everyone is expendable… even him.
Jimmy in Washington would be hilarious.
Definitely!
Absolutely
If that happens I will laugh at him when I see him on the court LOL
I would pay money to see the look on Butler’s face when they tell him he’s going to the Wizards.
So you’re saying Miami isn’t guaranteed a title after signing the Greek? WTF? We were told there would be titles.
fonzi aint gonna help where the f is middleton beal simons smart 2qgrimes hardaway jr dam pat loves them vanillas
Yeah, how quickly the tune has changed! WTF?
thought goat was gonna resign with lal.goats still a needle mover.they have 3 #1 options we have 1
I still think there is no chance LeBron comes back.
One money, Miami cannot offer LeBron the full mid-level, without further action and or draft picks being sent away.
Two Pat/LeBron beef – has that ever been squashed?
Three fit – does LeBron fit in Miami? They just had Wiggs opt in at $30M. LeBron a 6th man for Wiggs? LeBron playing no defense and starting at PG? It would be a strange line-up, not to mention not help on the shooting front.
lebron at his age his status little lazy especially on d go play with steph goat
It seems like only yesterday folks were singing the praises of LeBron’s return. Getting a little schizo around here lately.
i believe he still hates pAt.theres 29 other teams the goat would play for before heat.now watch him sign here
Jackson and Chang of the Miami Herald reported the relationship between the Heat and James “is now strong,” noting that the star has “embraced” Pat Riley when they’ve seen each other and that his agent Rich Paul has “spoken in glowing terms about the Heat.”
(once again, a strange assumption that’s no longer true)
We all were marveling at his ability at his age while watching him last season. If there’s one thing LeBron NEVER was, it’s lazy.
There might be a chance, but somehow I don’t see him choosing Miami over the Warriors.