NBA Rumors: Top Options if LeBron James Leaves Cleveland

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Apr 2, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) look on in the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Miami Heat

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh led the Miami Heat to back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013. They made four consecutive NBA Finals appearances between 2011 and 2014, and carved out what was nearly a dynasty.

With Miami having reloaded with young and promising players, including Justise Winslow and, if re-signed, Hassan Whiteside, James could fit right back into the Heat’s title plans.

The Heat would need to make some moves in order to get this deal done, including the potential trading of Goran Dragic. It may also lose Hassan Whiteside, and could be forced to bid Bosh adieu if he’s indeed forced to retire after a second scare with blood clots.

Until they’re officially ruled out, however, one simply can’t help but list the Heat as one of the top options to acquire James’ services.

James’ familiarity with Miami makes this plausible, and Pat Riley’s uncanny ability to land superstar talent only increases the probability. Even if the Heat were to lose valuable assets, they’d do so with the knowledge that James would be coming to town.

A combination of James, Wade, and Whiteside would be quite imposing.

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