James not scheduling any meetings with other teams apart from Heat…
Miami Heat star LeBron James reportedly wants no less than a maximum salary number for next season as he considers his options after opting out of his contract.
The max number for James is projected to be about $20.7m, and his reported decision will be in stark contrast to the one he made back in 2010 when he accepted a pay cut to help the Heat recruit other free agents.
While the 29-year-old isn’t scheduling meetings with any other teams as of yet, if the report is true then it undoubtedly sends a message to team-mates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh that the burden will be on them to take less money in order to improve the team next season.
In addition, seven teams in the NBA currently have the cap space to offer James a deal starting at $20.7m next season, the Heat, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic, as reported by ESPN.
The Lakers and Suns are understood to be the most serious bidders, as both will also have the flexibility to add another high-level free agent which would potentially attract James even more.
However, a switch back to Cleveland has been mooted for some time, and with Kyrie Irving signing a long-term deal as well as the arrival of No.1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins, it could be an attractive situation for James.
Over the weekend, it was reported that James, Wade and Bosh met to discuss their options moving forward, with the likely outcome set to be that the trio would stagger their salaries in order to give Miami the space to add solid role players.
However, if the latest reports are to be believed then James may well be available on the free agency market this summer, with another high-profile name in Carmelo Anthony expected to meet with the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday as he also explores his options.
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