Reports have confirmed that LeBron James will opt out of his contract with the Miami Heat and become a free agent this summer. This leaves James with a lot of options to exercise such as signing with a different team next season including a possible reunion with his home town Cleveland. But if anything, his decision to opt out is to put pressure on Miami to improve its roster and spend as sources revealed.
When Miller was amnestied by the Heat because Miami Heat owner Micky Arison wanted to save money, LeBron was less than thrilled of the decision. Miller was a versatile floor spacer whose production was heavily missed by the Heat in their finals rematch against the Spurs. If Miami intends to retain its Big Three at a discount, then it would clearly be an outright hypocrisy from its ownership who accepts financial sacrifices from its star players but does not go all-in in spending cash for role players.
Exercising the ETO (Early Termination Option) was therefore a smart move for LeBron who has reportedly indicated his unwillingness to accept another pay cut this off-season without any guarantee that Miami's management will utilize every available dollar to improve the roster. Opting out gives LeBron not only the power to explore other teams and their offers but the power to put the weight on Riley, Micky Arison, and the entire Heat front office to piece together a sound strategy that will make it worth LeBron's while to stay.
"Being able to have flexibility as a professional, anyone, that's what we all would like," James said just last week. "That's in any sport, for a football player, a baseball player, a basketball player, to have flexibility and be able to control your future or your present. I have a position to be able to do that. ... There's a lot of times that you're not in control of your future as a professional."
By exercising the ETO, James looks determined to hold the Heat Management's feet to the fire. What happens next will surely be one to watch as it could perhaps tilt the delicate balance of power in the NBA for many years to come.
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