Did the NBA Draft affect LeBron James’ free agency?
There is no doubt as to who the prize free agent is this summer, but there is doubt – and a lot of it – as to where LeBron James will end up this summer.
Before last night’s draft there two major moves which could affect James’ destination. Chicago traded Kirk Hinrich to the Washington Wizards and the Miami Heat traded Deqan Cook and their first-round draft pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Those two moves mean that Chicago can sign two max free agents and Miami can sign two max free agents in addition to signing Dwyane Wade. In the LeBron sweepstakes that is huge and no doubt Miami and Chicago will make LeBron No.1 on their lists.
The draft then did play some part in giving LeBron’s suitors a better chance at signing him, but that doesn’t necessarily mean LeBron will sign with them. New York are still in the equation because they too have cap space for two max free agents and of course his current and hometown team the Cleveland Cavaliers are one of the front runners for his signature.
But will LeBron really leave Cleveland? And can he really resist the lure of the Big Apple?
That all depends on what LeBron really wants. If he wants to become the biggest sporting superstar in America since Michael Jordan, he’ll move to New York. If he wants to win titles he’ll go to Miami or Chicago and if he wants to stay at home, well he’ll stay at home.
In the end LeBron will go where he wants and in all probability he already knows where he wants to go, it’s just a process of exploiting the situation now.
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