The Miami Heat may have missed on several big name free agents (Gordon Hayward, Blake Griffin, Serge Ibaka and Paul Millsap) this offseason, yet the franchise is still being linked as another potential destination for the Banana boat foursome of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul next summer. Yes, Heat general manager Pat Riley is far from done as far as bringing championships to South Beach, because in the summer of 2018 he is expected to be a major player in the market once again.
The Big Free-Agency Bonanza:
According to ESPN Miami NBA insider Jorge Sedano, Riley could look into the possibility of accommodating all four All-Star members of the Banana boat foursome when they all hit the free agency market next year.
Sedano thinks Riley may try saving more cap space and create financial flexibility to put them in good position to make a run at James, Anthony, Wade and Paul.
“Pat Riley is a go big or go home kind of guy. And I look at Pat and he’s saying to himself, I want to create enough mobility for myself with my roster and flexibility where I can have some cap space for next year in a big 2018 free agency class, and have some tradable commodities to be able to create some space. Because I think, and this is my guess, I think Pat Riley is trying for a LeBron reunion. He’s trying for a banana boat tour, the banana boat boys in Miami,” per Sedano.
LeBron James free agency:
LeBron is scheduled to earn $33 million next season in the second year of his contract.
He has a player’s option for the third year worth $35 million, though many NBA insiders really think the four-time NBA MVP is opting out to test the free agency market again.
Los Angeles apparently is the NBA city LeBron would likely take his talent to next after his latest tour of duty with the Cavaliers. It was initially thought the Lakers and the Clippers are set to have a bidding war for LeBron next year, but Mike Wise of the Undefeated reports that it’s very unlikely James will pick the Clippers.
As far as the possibility of a LeBron reunion with Riley, Sedano believes the two can patch things up after an icy separation that led to several verbal exchanges between the parties involved. The NBA insider has no doubt Riley can still land a meeting with James next year in an attempt to win him back. For now, the Heat will likely settle to re-signing Dion Waiters and James Johnson on team-friendly, tradable contracts.
