USA TODAY: LeBron James opting out of his contract doesn't mean he will leave the Miami Heat. It just means that he, like Carmelo Anthony, will explore options in free agency.
James was scheduled to make $20.5 million next season and $22.1 million in 2015-16.
So just days after Miami Heat president Pat Riley threw a metaphorical pass to James and put the ball in James' court, James threw a laser of a bounce pass right back to Riley.
On Thursday, Riley urged Heat players to "stay together, if you've got the guts." Fair enough, Riley is savvy and knew what he was doing.
But James countered by deciding on free agency and in essence told Riley: "Show me how you are going to make the Heat a better team.
Riley said Tuesday he knew this was coming.
"We fully expected LeBron to opt-out and exercise his free agent rights, so this does not come as a surprise," he said in a statement. "As I said at the press conference last week, players have a right to free agency and when they have these opportunities, the right to explore their options."
Yes this is about James exploring options – which is perfectly acceptable – it's also about addressing the Heat's shortcomings, which were exposed in San Antonio's five-game series victory against Miami the NBA Finals.
The four-time MVP and 10-time All-Star has two championships with the Heat, but Miami was exposed as a team without enough depth and talent in a five-game series against the San Antonio Spurs in this year's Finals.
By becoming a free agent, James also sent a message to Miami's Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. If the Heat want to improve, Wade and Bosh need to become free agents so the Heat have financial flexibility to make meaningful roster additions.
How can the Heat become better at point guard? How can Miami replicate what Udonis Haslem, Shane Battier and Mike Miller did for the Heat two and three years ago? Those are questions Riley needs to answer for James.
There was the possibility James remained in his contract and revisited free agency next summer, but bypassing the final two years of his deal is not a big surprise.
He could sign a max deal with the Heat for five years, $130 million, sign a deal for less money and less with the Heat or sign a four-year deal worth as much as $96 million with another team.
In the summer 2010, when James was a free agent after spending the first seven years of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, James had meetings with six teams (Heat, Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls and the then-New Jersey Nets) and heard their pitches.
He likely will set up meetings with teams once July 1 arrives.
James' goal – as he has told USA TODAY Sports – is to win championships, and free agency gives James a chance to see what team can offer him the best chance to win another championship.
How can the Heat become better at point guard and replicate what Udonis Haslem, Shane Battier and Mike Miller did for the Heat two and three years ago? How can Riley reduce the load on James?
Still, Miami remains a strong option, as long as Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh return, which is expected.
But there are other teams who could be in interested in James, including the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns and Cavaliers.
James has not set up any meetings with teams but is expected to do so once teams can begin talking to free agents on July 1.
Miami remains a top option, as long as Wade and Bosh return, which is expected. James loves the city, teammates, front-office stability and the family-like atmosphere Heat owner Micky Arison has created, and his wife, Savannah, opened a juice bar in Miami during the 2013-14 season.
But there are other teams who could be in interested in James, including the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns and Cavaliers. It would take front-office creativity for some teams, such as the Clippers and Rockets, to land James.
On Sunday, Savannah posted a photo on Instagram with word "Akron" and a star where the city is located on a map of the United States. She wrote, "Home sweet home! The countdown is real! #330." It prompted rash speculation that James might be headed back to Cleveland. But USA TODAY Sports was told not to read anything into that post and that it was Savannah expressing her excitement about returning home for the summer.
If James were to leave Miami, he risks becoming known as the player – in the short term – who jumps from team to team in search of a championship. But if James were to win a championship with another team, time has a way of easing hard feelings, and 20 years from now, championships won would overshadow the manner in which he won them.
"The last four seasons have been historic and LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Erik Spoelstra have led the Miami Heat to one of the most unprecedented runs in the history of the NBA," Riley also said in the statement. "We look forward to sitting down with LeBron and his representatives and talking about our future together. At the moment, we are preparing for the opportunities in the Draft and Free Agency as we continue with our goal of winning NBA Championships."
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