Lebron James Decides to Play with Miami Heat

In a move that sent major ripples throughout the NBA and sports world, reigning NBA MVP Lebron James announced Thursday night that he would be taking his considerable talents to South Florida by deciding to sign with the Miami Heat.

After days of speculation, James chose to join fellow NBA all-stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in forming what will undoubtedly be the most talented nucleus of young talent in the NBA. Several NBA teams, such as the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavs, New Jersey Nets, and Chicago Bulls, have vigorously courted James, but James chose to play for the Heat after meeting with a group of team representatives that included Heat president Pat Riley and discussing his decision with his mother. The desire to win an NBA title in the short term coupled with the prospect of playing alongside Wade and Bosh were apparently the most important factors in James' decision to leave Cleveland.

This move will team James, who was the number 1 draft pick in the NBA 2003 draft, with two other top 5 players from that same draft, as Bosh was selected 4th and Wade 5th. This decision also reunites three members of the USA gold medal winning 2008 Olympic team, as each player is considered among the best in the entire NBA. While some question whether James and Wade can co-exist in light of their similar playing styles and need for primary shooting responsibilities, it is clear that this move automatically propels the Heat into contender status. In the next several weeks the Heat organization will seek to find complimentary players to support this dynamic threesome.

The decision to leave Cleveland ends a seven-year span that included a trip to the NBA finals, where the San Antonio Spurs swept the Cavs. In both 2009 and 2010, James led the Cavs to 60+ win seasons before being eliminated in the NBA playoffs. In his last series as a Cavalier, James seemed to struggle as he received limited support from teammates during a disappointing loss to the Boston Celtics.

Early reports had indicated that the New York Knicks were the frontrunners for landing James, but that narrative shifted over Wednesday and Thursday as ESPN analyst Chris Brossard reported that sources had indicated that James would sign with Miami. The Chicago Bulls were also said to be in the hunt, as James has indicated that his boyhood idol was Chicago great Michael Jordan, and the Bulls already field a roster that includes young, talented players such as Derrick Rose and Joaquin Noah. James expressed appreciation to both teams for their interest, but ended up selecting Miami. Thousands of Heat fans wildly celebrated the decision into Thursday night.

SOURCES
ESPN
San Francisoc Chronicle
Washington Post
Los Angeles Times
NBA.COM