Heat forward Josh Richardson is confident that Miami can put a contending team around LeBron James if he decides to come there in free agency, relays Manny Navarro of The Miami Herald. Richardson, who is working out in Santa Barbara, California, and trying to add bulk to his 205-pound body, believes James could be the “transformational player” that team president Pat Riley has talked about acquiring.
“I think we have great pieces to offer to play around him,” Richardson said. “We play with a lot of intensity. We’ve got a lot of dog in us. You need that in the trenches. That’s all I can really say about it.”
The dilemma for Richardson is that trading him might be James’ only path back to Miami. The Heat have 11 players under contract next season totaling about $120MM, putting them close to the projected $123MM tax line. Their only realistic hope to acquire James through a trade, and Richardson would be among their most desirable assets in any deal.
There’s more today from Miami:
- Richardson, who has quickly developed a reputation as one of the league’s best defenders, was angry about being overlooked for this year’s All-Defensive team. He thought he earned the recognition after recording a career-best 121 steals during the season. “I still think I’m one of the best defenders in the NBA, but I can’t sit around and sulk about it,” Richardson said. “I’m not too bent out of shape about it anymore. But it’s definitely one of my goals to make those teams.”
- Dwyane Wade, who is one of James’ closest friends and a former teammate in both Miami and Cleveland, said he can’t provide any insight into the thought process of the Cavaliers star. “Let’s let the record show … I don’t have any inside information whatsoever about his decision!” Wade tweeted this week.
- Shooting specialist Wayne Ellington, who set an NBA record for most 3-pointers by a reserve in a single season, may be too expensive for the Heat to re-sign given their cap situation. Frank Urbina of HoopsHype looks at potential destinations for Ellington, naming the Hornets, Pistons and Warriors as possibilities if he leaves Miami.
Bring Ellington to Philly. His hometown team
They could easily move Waiters and James Johnson in a sign and trade or they could do something with Whiteside if Cleveland wants him for some reason
Richardson was definitely a snub. A bunch of players even said so, not that it was necessary.
Hopefully we can keep Ellington. We have his Early Bird Rights. Maybe a 4 year/$38 million deal keeps him here?
I’m kind of liking TT nowadays. HR had a list of centers available for trade that had Thompsn and Whiteside on it. Last year I would be like, Is it possible? Now, IDK, maybe Kloe had a positive effect.
why would Cleveland want Whiteside and what would Miami want in return?
As much as I’d like to have him back in Miami, I doubt he comes back. I think he goes to LA or Houston
Why do teams want Lebron? He plays no defense. Then again I could see him going back to Miami since Wade keeps him mentally under control.
Dionis do you have anything better to do than hat on The King, he is the best ever with Larry Bird & maybe Magic top 3 players ever, why don’t you try to enjoy watching him man, is more enjoyable than hating him, it isn’t nice man.
Im tired of seeing him quit, he could compete to be better than Magic and Larry but not Michael Jordan.
Have you ever watch a game from the 80’s? Magic was just better than MJ, but Larry Bird was way way better than MJ, what he could do on the court or rather wasn’t anything he couldn’t do, MJ never was at the level of those two, they saved the NBA, he took advantage of that, but he never beat them in their prime, they had to retire, it took him till his late 20’s to start winning, he just couldn’t compete with them, so please stop adoring MJ, he was great, but not the best. & please stop hating on Lebron, it does make you sound not very bright, no one can doubt that he has consistently been the best player in the NBA for the last 15, so why hate the best?