LeBron James once again has the NBA by the proverbial balls. Until he signs a contract, all other high-level movement is on hold. This is how it should be for the game's best player, fresh off his fourth straight Finals appearance and with two rings already in his possession.
LeBron James has the power to halt free agency
Why has there been a lack of movement in free agency? Blame LeBron James, or maybe look to his example as a way star players can exercise their power.
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
This is how it was in 2010, as well, when LeBron’s free agent courtship became the stuff of legend and the blueprint for every other high-profile recruitment. Unlike 2010, James doesn’t seem too eager to engage in that bit of theater. He has been conspicuously silent during the first few days of free agency, but make no mistake, he’s running the show and everything revolves around him.
NBA Free Agency
When James exercised the early termination option on his contract, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh followed suit. The latter pair are leaving piles of money on the table. LeBron will get his and has reportedly asked for the max, which, again, is how it should be. He's the best player, and he took less than he could have to make it all come together in 2010.
If the Heat are able to stay together and add to their core, Wade and Bosh will have to take pay cuts, and both seem amenable to doing so. Neither player has taken meetings with other teams and both have also kept low profiles during the first few days. (If he wanted, Bosh could get the max from a number of teams.)
Because he is LeBron James and is held to some sort of nebulous morality, his power play has given his critics fodder. This is patently absurd and denies years of accumulated history from the likes of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, but arguing with that faction is like yelling at drivers on a busy freeway. It's pointless, and besides, LeBron doesn't care.
Photo credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
He seems determined to never again be at the mercy of management, which is smart. The Heat need help, and the only way they can get some is by James opting out and the others following suit. This is a mutually beneficial decision for both parties, but the onus is on the Heat to make something of the opportunity.
With LeBron in limbo, the first days of free agency have only seen a trickle of deals: Avery Bradley re-signing with the Celtics, Shaun Livingston getting paid by the Warriors and Jodie Meeks somehow getting $20 million from the Pistons. The only true big-ticket deal was for Marcin Gortat to re-sign with the Wizards.
All of those came at a premium, especially Gortat, who got a guaranteed fifth year that will take him well into his 30s. The Wizards may have been bidding against themselves at this early stage, but really, they were covering themselves against the inevitable fallout whenever James makes his decision and all the other pieces fall into place. Houston, Chicago, Dallas and the Lakers are all in play as big markets with money to spend. If they can't land their big targets, they will move on to Plans B and C.
So, the world waits. Carmelo Anthony, Lance Stephenson and Kyle Lowry left meetings with their respective suitors on the first day of free agency without deals in place. Lance is Lance and his situation is a little bit different than the others, owing to the Pacers precarious place near the luxury tax.
But Melo’s fate is absolutely entwined with LeBron’s, as is Lowry’s. Both have been rumored to be potential parts of a high-stakes rebuilding effort engineered by Heat president/NBA Don Pat Riley, but even if they don’t make their way to Miami, they will have multiple suitors lined up to pay them their money. It’s in their interest to string things along, just as it’s in LeBron’s interest to see if Riley can work some of his dark magic.
Even Kevin Love has a role in all of this. By waiting until after the draft to deal their disgruntled All-Star, the Timberwolves are waiting to see if a new market opens up, one that includes the teams that missed on free agency.
Players only get a few chances in their careers to dictate their futures. Only a select few have the power to orchestrate something beyond their own circumstances. LeBron is exercising that power, and the NBA has reacted accordingly.
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