James reportedly heading back to Miami on Friday, could make decision from there.
The Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers both expect LeBron James to reach a decision on his future prior to flying out to Brazil to watch the World Cup final on Sunday.
The 29-year-old met with Heat team president Pat Riley in Las Vegas on Thursday, and is scheduled to fly back to Miami on Friday before heading to Brazil.
Given the importance of his decision not only for James himself, but also the fact that his choice will likely have a significant impact on the landscape of the NBA as a whole, many are anxiously waiting for news in order to move forward with their plans.
It is understood that Dwyane Wade had accompanied James on the flight back to Miami, and it is likely that he either spent their time together trying to convince him to remain with the Heat or potentially discussing their spell of success ahead of a possible exit.
According to Yahoo! Sports, both the Heat and Cavaliers expect his decision before he leaves for Brazil, and it is therefore assumed that if both teams are under the same impression then it is expected that James will reveal his decision sooner rather than later.
While the two-time NBA champion has demanded a maximum-level contract from Miami, Riley has begun the process of strengthening the roster in order to make the team competitive again next season if he can hold on to the Big Three.
Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger were both acquired earlier this week, and it is expected that Chris Bosh will remain at the AA Arena if James decides to stay too. As a result, that would leave Miami in a strong position to dominate the Eastern Conference again next season and continue to challenge for titles.
However, should James decide to leave South Beach, then it is likely that Bosh will push ahead with plans to accept a max-level deal from the Houston Rockets, which would leave Wade and Riley with plenty to discuss moving forward.
By joining the Cavaliers, James would be linking up with some of the best young talent in the league with point guard Kyrie Irving and recently drafted Andrew Wiggins, and ultimately that could be seen as the defining factor in his decision as Cleveland offers a long-term opportunity to continue winning championships.
In addition, by returning ‘home’, if James were able to lift an NBA title in Cleveland, he would undoubtedly go a long way to securing forgiveness from the fans that he left back in 2010, and ultimately many are suggesting that it is the right move at the right time for him.
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