Hoops Wire

Category: Heat

Latest Miami Heat Rumors and News.

  • Heat’s hopes of adding Zach LaVine may hinge on one big question

    Heat’s hopes of adding Zach LaVine may hinge on one big question

    The Heat would still like to add another proven scorer around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.

    Whether Zach LaVine becomes that player is another matter.

    According to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel and Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, Miami’s chances of landing LaVine likely depend on whether the veteran guard is willing to give up a significant portion of the $49 million he’s owed in the final year of his contract.

    That doesn’t appear likely at the moment.

    Sacramento reportedly has little interest in buying out or waiving LaVine, and the Kings aren’t under any financial pressure to move on from his contract before next summer. Miami also has limited flexibility.

    The Heat can offer only about $8 million from their mid-level exception, leaving a sizable gap between that figure and LaVine’s current salary. As Winderman noted, a similar scenario involving Mavericks sharpshooter Klay Thompson could be more realistic because of his smaller expiring contract.

    Even if LaVine ultimately remains out of reach, the Heat are expected to keep exploring ways to strengthen their perimeter shooting after the departures of Tyler Herro and Norman Powell.

    Among the names frequently connected to Miami are Bradley Beal, DeMar DeRozan and Thompson. Each comes with questions.

    Beal remains one of the league’s better shot creators when healthy, though injuries have limited him in recent seasons. DeRozan continues to produce offensively but isn’t the high-volume three-point threat Miami has been seeking. Thompson still commands respect as a shooter, but unlike Beal and DeRozan, he isn’t currently a free agent.

    Either way, the Heat appear content to monitor the market.

    Whether that patience eventually leads to LaVine, Beal, Thompson or someone else could depend on which veteran is willing to make the biggest financial sacrifice to join a championship contender.

  • NBA Notes: Blazers, Ja Morant, Suns, Miles Bridges, Heat

    NBA Notes: Blazers, Ja Morant, Suns, Miles Bridges, Heat

    Trail Blazers

    The Trail Blazers knew they were taking a chance when they acquired Ja Morant. The bigger question is whether the gamble pays off.

    As Keith Smith of Spotrac recently reported (via SI’s Jeremy Brener), one Portland executive said the organization believes Morant simply needed a fresh start after seven seasons with the Grizzlies.

    “Sometimes you have to take big swings,” the executive said. “We think Ja was in need of a fresh start. The All-Star, All-NBA guy is still in there.”

    It’s easy to understand Portland’s thinking. The Blazers don’t typically land superstar talent in free agency, so when a player of Morant’s caliber became available, they made their move.

    If Morant can stay healthy and rediscover the form that made him one of the league’s most explosive guards, Portland could have one of the biggest steals of the offseason.

    Suns

    The Suns believe acquiring Miles Bridges was worth sacrificing another future draft pick. Not everyone agrees.

    For instance, The Athletic’s David Aldridge questioned Phoenix’s decision to include an unprotected 2033 first-round pick in the deal with Charlotte, noting the Suns have already spent much of their future draft capital in pursuit of winning now.

    Phoenix general manager Brian Gregory defended the move, saying the organization still controls first-round picks in each of the next seven drafts and felt comfortable making the trade to land Bridges.

    Whether that’s enough will ultimately depend on one thing.

    If Bridges helps keep the Suns in the playoff picture, few will worry about a draft pick seven years from now. If not, that 2033 selection could become one of the more heavily scrutinized assets in the league.

    Heat

    Training camp remains a couple of months away, but there will be plenty to watch in Miami once it opens.

    Mateo Mayorga of Heat on SI pointed to three storylines in particular.

    The biggest, of course, is how coach Erik Spoelstra manages Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s workload after several seasons interrupted by calf injuries. Keeping the former MVP healthy for the postseason figures to be Miami’s top priority.

    The Heat will also be counting on Pelle Larsson to take another step after an encouraging second season. Miami would love to see the young wing develop into another reliable playmaker and perimeter shooter.

    Then there’s Bam Adebayo. After an emotional summer that included a much-discussed confrontation with former teammate Tyler Herro in Las Vegas, all eyes will be on whether Adebayo brings that same competitive edge into the regular season.

    Miami has never shied away from embracing toughness, and the Heat would undoubtedly welcome their captain setting that tone again.

  • Mavericks exploring Klay Thompson trade; Heat viewed as possible suitor

    Mavericks exploring Klay Thompson trade; Heat viewed as possible suitor

    Klay Thompson’s time with the Mavericks may be nearing an end.

    That’s because Dallas has explored trade possibilities involving the five-time All-Star, multiple rival-team sources told Christian Clark of The Athletic.

    Thompson would reportedly prefer to play in Los Angeles, where he spent part of his childhood and still owns a home. The Heat, meanwhile, are frequently mentioned around the NBA as a potential landing spot.

    Miami’s interest makes sense. The Heat need additional perimeter shooting around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, and Thompson still made 38.3 percent of his 3-pointers last season.

    Of course, he isn’t the same Thompson who won four championships with the Warriors.

    The 36-year-old averaged career lows of 11.7 points and 21.7 minutes in 69 games last season. He joined Dallas in 2024 expecting to compete for championships alongside Luka Doncic, but that plan disappeared when Doncic was traded during Thompson’s first season.

    The Mavericks are now building around Cooper Flagg, with new president Masai Ujiri reshaping the roster.

    Thompson is owed $17.5 million in the final year of his contract. Miami hasn’t made progress toward a trade and reportedly would prefer to wait for a buyout, which could allow the Heat to offer approximately $8 million through their non-taxpayer midlevel exception.

    Dallas has little incentive to accommodate that plan immediately. The Mavericks remain below the luxury-tax line and don’t need Thompson’s salary removed for financial reasons.

    They do have 16 players on standard contracts, meaning someone must go before the regular season.

    Dallas also added Santi Aldama and Tarik Biberovic to improve its outside shooting, while Kyrie Irving is expected back from a torn ACL. That could leave Thompson with an even smaller role under new coach Dusty May.

    Thompson can still shoot. The question is whether Dallas still has much use for him.

  • NBA Notes: Warriors, Stephen Curry, Blazers, Vit Krejci, Heat

    NBA Notes: Warriors, Stephen Curry, Blazers, Vit Krejci, Heat

    Warriors

    The Warriors could have as much as $120 million in salary-cap space next summer, though that number comes with plenty of qualifiers.

    As Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron noted, potential extensions for Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Brandin Podziemski could quickly cut into that projected space.

    Curry becomes eligible for an extension Aug. 29. Podziemski can sign a rookie-scale extension, while Butler will be eligible to negotiate a new deal from Feb. 6 through June 30.

    If the season goes poorly, Gozlan suggested the Warriors could pivot toward the future and potentially discuss trades involving Butler, Draymond Green or Kristaps Porzingis.

    That doesn’t necessarily mean Golden State intends to shop any of them. It does mean the Warriors will have some major decisions to make if their veteran-heavy roster fails to contend.

    One player who apparently won’t be going anywhere is Curry.

    The Warriors have never considered trading their franchise star, and Curry has no intention of requesting a deal, team sources told Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.

    Golden State is prepared to offer Curry a maximum extension for either one or two years and allow him to choose the length, Siegel reported. Both sides are motivated to reach an agreement before the season.

    So yes, there could be major changes if things go sideways. Curry is not expected to be among them.

    Trail Blazers

    Vit Krejci earned a $250,000 partial guarantee by remaining on Portland’s roster through Aug. 1, per Hoops Rumors.

    Krejci’s full $2.67 million salary will become guaranteed if he remains with the Blazers through their first regular-season game.

    Portland acquired the 6-foot-8 guard from the Hawks in February for Duop Reath and two second-round picks. Krejci appeared in just 19 games with the Blazers after dealing with a calf injury, but Portland reportedly remains intrigued by his shooting and defensive potential.

    Krejci has made 39.3 percent of his career 3-point attempts.

    Meanwhile, the Blazers officially signed Jeremy Sochan to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract.

    Sochan will compete for one of Portland’s final roster spots after spending last season with the Spurs and Knicks. He appeared sparingly for New York but walked away with a championship after the Knicks defeated San Antonio in the NBA Finals.

    The No. 9 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Sochan has averaged 9.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 228 career games.

    Portland is heavy on guards and centers but could use another forward behind Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara. That gives Sochan a legitimate opportunity to make the team.

    Heat

    Simone Fontecchio received more lucrative offers this summer but chose to remain with Miami.

    “My priority was to continue my NBA career,” Fontecchio told Lia Capizzi of the Italian outlet Domani, via Dario Skerletic of Sportando.

    Fontecchio said Heat president Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra made it clear they wanted him back, even after he fell out of the rotation.

    The 30-year-old believes he can serve as a valuable complementary piece alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.

    As for Nikola Jovic, he could be Miami’s swing player next season.

    As Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel wrote, Jovic’s four-year, $62.4 million contract currently would be difficult to move. A bounce-back season could change that and restore some of his value on the trade market.

    Either way, the Heat will need Jovic to become a more reliable contributor.

    If he does, they’ll either have a useful rotation player or a more attractive trade asset. Either outcome would help.

  • Bam Adebayo isn’t sweating questions about Heat roster: ‘Done more with less’

    Bam Adebayo isn’t sweating questions about Heat roster: ‘Done more with less’

    Bam Adebayo has heard the questions about the Heat’s roster. He doesn’t seem particularly concerned.

    Speaking Sunday at his youth camp at Slam Miami, Adebayo said the Heat remain confident in their championship chances after adding Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis and Tim Hardaway Jr.

    “We’ll figure it out,” Adebayo said, via Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “We don’t really worry about the outside noise too much. We’ve done a lot more with less.”

    That has generally been the Heat’s approach under Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra. They may not always have the most talented roster on paper. They usually believe they can find a way.

    This time, of course, they do have Antetokounmpo.

    Adebayo said he and the two-time MVP share the same goal and have already begun discussing what it will take to win a championship. He also acknowledged that leading a veteran group will be different from helping younger players find their way.

    “I feel like it’ll be easier conversations,” Adebayo said. “I feel like we’ll get to the points a lot quicker.”

    Miami still has three open roster spots and more work to do after LeBron James chose the 76ers over a return to the Heat. Adebayo said there is nevertheless genuine excitement about the coming season.

    “We feel like we have a chance, and we’re going to go for it,” he said.

    Adebayo also delivered a more colorful update on Davion Mitchell, who has been working out with him at Kaseya Center.

    “Man, Davion’s not fat anymore,” Adebayo said. “He got himself in shape. And I feel like he’s going to have a great season this year.”

    Sunday was about more than basketball. Adebayo also received the NBA’s 2026 Social Justice Champion award for his work in education, food security and youth development, Winderman relayed.

    But yes, he discussed the Heat, too.

    The message was fairly simple: They landed Giannis, they aren’t finished building the roster and they see no reason to lower expectations.

  • Dwyane Wade says 2006 title remains his proudest NBA moment

    Dwyane Wade says 2006 title remains his proudest NBA moment

    Dwyane Wade won three NBA championships. The first one still means the most.

    Speaking on his The Check-In podcast, the Hall of Famer said there was never any doubt which title stands above the rest.

    “I definitely have a favorite championship and it’s a no-brainer,” Wade said. “It’s 2006.”

    Wade was just 24 when he led the Heat to the franchise’s first NBA title, earning NBA Finals MVP honors after one of the greatest championship performances in league history.

    “I love all my championships, but that’s my favorite because … I was the leading man to accomplish that,” Wade said. “My other championships I wasn’t the leading guy. That’s the most proud I’ve ever been of myself.”

    Wade also reflected on finishing near the top of the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year voting during the 2007-08 season, saying that accomplishment often gets overlooked.

    “I was up for Defensive Player of the Year too,” he said. “Nobody remembers I was top three in both? … I’m 6-foot-4.”

    The former Heat star also revealed that doctors warned Miami early in his career that knee problems would eventually catch up with him.

    “They said I’d have five good years,” Wade said. “He wasn’t lying.”

    Even so, Wade said he played through significant pain throughout much of his career, adding that he found ways to remain effective despite multiple knee surgeries.

    And as for the endless debates over where he ranks among the NBA’s all-time greats?

    “I’ve been compared probably more than anybody,” Wade said. “I’m alive. I hear y’all. … All I care about are the ones I played against. They know.”

  • Scout: DeMar DeRozan would be better fit than Klay Thompson for Heat

    Scout: DeMar DeRozan would be better fit than Klay Thompson for Heat

    The Heat continue to be linked to Klay Thompson. Not everyone believes he’s the best remaining option.

    According to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, one longtime NBA scout believes Miami would be better off pursuing DeMar DeRozan if the Heat are looking to add another veteran scorer before the season.

    “He’s got more left than Klay,” the scout told Winderman.

    Thompson, of course, remains under contract with the Mavericks, meaning Miami would either have to swing a trade or hope Dallas eventually agrees to a buyout. The Heat have reportedly been willing to remain patient if that scenario develops.

    But the scout questioned what the 36-year-old Thompson would still have to offer while also expressing little enthusiasm for Bradley Beal or Russell Westbrook.

    DeRozan, on the other hand, was viewed as the strongest option still available.

    The scout acknowledged there are questions about fit alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, particularly because of DeRozan’s preference for operating with the ball and the potential spacing concerns.

    Even so, he suggested DeRozan could thrive in a sixth-man role.

    “He would bolster their bench and maybe finish games, too,” the scout said. “He’s a cut above Thompson, for sure.”

    That, of course, comes with one obvious caveat.

    DeRozan has started all but 12 games during his NBA career, and those 12 came as a rookie. Whether he’d embrace a reserve role remains anyone’s guess.

  • NBA Rumors: Heat, Klay Thompson, Pistons, Cade Cunningham, Grizzlies

    NBA Rumors: Heat, Klay Thompson, Pistons, Cade Cunningham, Grizzlies

    Heat

    The Heat’s reported interest in Klay Thompson isn’t just about adding another recognizable name.

    According to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, Miami views Thompson as the type of floor spacer who would complement Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, giving defenses another shooter to worry about.

    Actually getting him is another matter.

    Chiang suggested the Heat are willing to wait to see if Thompson eventually reaches a buyout agreement with the Mavericks. If that happens, Miami could use part of its non-taxpayer mid-level exception to bring him aboard.

    That said, patience appears to be the plan.

    Pistons

    The Pistons may not have landed a marquee name this offseason, but they certainly took some big swings.

    Appearing on ESPN’s NBA Today, Vincent Goodwill reported Cade Cunningham played an active role in recruiting several stars, including Austin Reaves, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Kyrie Irving.

    None of those pursuits paid off. Still, it offers another glimpse into Detroit’s aggressive approach after last season’s breakthrough.

    The Pistons’ attention now shifts to taking care of their own, with restricted free agent Jalen Duren and extension candidate Ausar Thompson remaining atop the offseason to-do list.

    Grizzlies

    Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s departure appears to have worked out for everyone involved.

    Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal wrote that Caldwell-Pope wanted another opportunity to chase a championship, while the Grizzlies needed to clear a crowded wing rotation.

    The veteran ultimately landed with the 76ers after agreeing to a buyout with Memphis, giving him another shot at competing for a title while opening additional minutes for the Grizzlies’ younger players.

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo says leaving Bucks for Heat was about getting out of comfort zone

    Giannis Antetokounmpo says leaving Bucks for Heat was about getting out of comfort zone

    Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t leave the Bucks because he was looking for something easier. Quite the opposite.

    In a behind-the-scenes YouTube video documenting his first day with the Heat, Antetokounmpo explained that after 13 seasons with the Bucks, he felt it was time to challenge himself in a completely new environment.

    “I think I need this. I really do,” Antetokounmpo told Heat assistant coach Caron Butler, via Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. “Because I think in life, sometimes when you’re in a comfort zone. I need to wake up new faces, new people that I don’t know. And I think it’s going to bring the best out of me.”

    The two-time NBA MVP also made it clear his focus is on winning another championship.

    The video opens with Antetokounmpo discussing that goal before taking viewers inside Kaseya Center, where he meets with coaches and teammates as he begins preparing for the next chapter of his career.

    Butler encouraged Antetokounmpo to arrive in Miami well before training camp so he can establish himself as one of the team’s leaders. The veteran forward didn’t hesitate.

    “First of all, I’m doing it for me,” Antetokounmpo said. “I want to know what’s going on. I want to know everything, offense, defense. So when the training camp comes, I’m like almost ahead of them. I can talk to them. If I don’t know the offense, I cannot talk to my teammates.”

    After spending his entire NBA career with one franchise, Antetokounmpo acknowledged there will be an adjustment period.

    From the sound of it, though, that’s exactly what he wanted.

  • Heat’s Bam Adebayo has warning for LeBron after 76ers decision

    Heat’s Bam Adebayo has warning for LeBron after 76ers decision

    LeBron James won’t be getting any sympathy from Bam Adebayo.

    Asked Tuesday about James choosing the 76ers over the Heat in free agency, Adebayo made it clear there are no hard feelings. There is, however, a little extra motivation.

    “Like I told him in the message, I’m going to bust his a–,” Adebayo said with a smile, via Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. “So, it’s going to be an exciting season. I’m excited for the East. We got a whole new turnaround in the East.”

    Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo
    Getty

    James and Adebayo became close while helping Team USA win the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Heat were considered one of the teams in the mix before James ultimately chose Philadelphia.

    “There ain’t no disappointment,” Adebayo said. “You should always be happy for a person and their decision. He made a decision where he feels like it’s his best situation to win. And I feel like I’m a good friend of LeBron’s.”

    Adebayo spoke during his annual back-to-school event in Miami, where he helped distribute backpacks filled with school supplies to thousands of children. The veteran center, entering his 10th NBA season, also discussed the excitement surrounding the Heat’s blockbuster addition of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

    “I’m excited for the season,” Adebayo said. “I’m excited to be his teammate. I’m excited for the city of Miami and the energy we gained.”

    Adebayo also reiterated how much Miami has come to mean to him after spending his entire NBA career with the franchise.

    “I’m happy to be here,” he said. “I got an organization that believes in me.”

    The friendship with James may still be there. Once the season tips off, though, Adebayo made it clear he’s looking forward to competing against one of the NBA’s newest Eastern Conference rivals.

  • Heat have been in touch with DeMar DeRozan; eyeing Klay Thompson

    Heat have been in touch with DeMar DeRozan; eyeing Klay Thompson

    The Heat have been in contact with DeMar DeRozan‘s representatives, though a deal doesn’t appear imminent.

    According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, DeRozan has interest in Miami, but at least one Heat official prefers to “wait out the market” before committing to the veteran forward.

    Part of the hesitation may involve Klay Thompson. Jackson reports that Miami remains interested in acquiring the Mavericks wing and is reluctant to use much of the roughly $8 million it still has available through the mid-level exception.

    Doing so for DeRozan would leave the Heat with less flexibility to make other moves.

    DeRozan, meanwhile, has little reason to accept the veteran’s minimum. Other teams with mid-level money available have contacted him, per Jackson.

    The 36-year-old remains one of the more accomplished free agents on the board after averaging 18.4 points with the Kings last season.

    There is a basketball question for Miami, too. DeRozan remains one of the NBA’s better mid-range scorers, but he’s never been a high-volume 3-point shooter. The Heat could use more perimeter shooting around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.

    So the interest is real. The fit and the money aren’t quite as simple.

    MORE HOOPS | NBA free agents by position

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo reportedly didn’t push hard to recruit LeBron James

    Giannis Antetokounmpo reportedly didn’t push hard to recruit LeBron James

    Everyone seemed to have a pitch for LeBron James. Giannis Antetokounmpo apparently wasn’t one of them.

    According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Heat star “never really went out of his way” to recruit James during free agency, despite Miami emerging as one of the teams linked to the four-time MVP before he ultimately signed with the 76ers.

    Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks, NBA
    AP

    Exactly how much contact Antetokounmpo had with James isn’t known. But Siegel reported it wasn’t nearly as aggressive as some of the other recruiting efforts around the league.

    Philadelphia, for instance, made a full-court press. Tyrese Maxey was heavily involved in convincing James to join the Sixers, while Warriors forward Draymond Green also did his part trying to lure James to Golden State.

    The Cavaliers, meanwhile, never appeared to launch a major player-to-player recruiting campaign, though Cleveland’s long history with James may have made that unnecessary.

    Whether Antetokounmpo’s approach had any impact on James’ decision is impossible to know. James ultimately chose Philadelphia, joining Joel Embiid, Maxey and Jaylen Brown in pursuit of another championship.

    Perhaps Giannis believed giving James space was the better strategy. Or perhaps he simply trusted Miami’s front office to make its case.

    Either way, one of the NBA’s biggest stars reportedly wasn’t among those making repeated calls as the league waited for James to decide his future.

    RELATED | Sources: James camp reached out to Knicks, New York wasn’t interested

  • Heat’s YouTube job opening goes viral after LeBron livestream mishap

    Heat’s YouTube job opening goes viral after LeBron livestream mishap

    The timing is purely coincidental, but that hasn’t stopped NBA fans from having a little fun with it.

    A job posting for the Heat’s Director of YouTube Strategy position began making the rounds on social media Wednesday in the wake of the team’s now-viral LeBron James livestream mix-up.

    No, the opening wasn’t created because of what happened Tuesday.

    But after the Heat accidentally published a scheduled YouTube livestream titled “LeBron James Introductory Press Conference” before quickly taking it down, fans naturally connected the dots anyway.

    The posting itself isn’t new. It seeks someone to “define what our YouTube channel becomes,” while helping build a YouTube-first content strategy and expand the franchise’s digital presence.

    On its own, it’s a perfectly ordinary job opening. In the aftermath of one of the NBA offseason’s more unusual social media moments, though, it suddenly took on a life of its own.

    The Heat spent much of Tuesday explaining that the LeBron livestream was simply a mistake by the team’s social media department while preparing for the possibility that James could choose Miami in free agency.

    Longtime Heat reporter Anthony Chiang quickly reported there was “no validity” to the livestream itself, and the scheduled video was promptly removed.

    That should have ended the story. Instead, fans noticed the existing YouTube job posting and began sharing it across social media, creating another round of laughs tied to an offseason that has already produced plenty of unexpected twists.

    Truth be told, this sort of advance preparation happens throughout sports.

    Teams, websites and media outlets routinely prepare stories, graphics and videos ahead of major announcements so they’re ready the moment news becomes official. Most of the time, no one ever sees the work that goes on behind the scenes.

    This time, everyone did. The YouTube position and the livestream mishap are almost certainly unrelated. The job posting predates the social media mistake by at least a day.

    Still, timing is everything on the internet. One accidental livestream later, an otherwise routine job posting suddenly became part of the NBA’s latest LeBron conversation.

    In an offseason that has felt more like the Wild West than free agency, perhaps that’s fitting.

  • Heat accidentally post ‘LeBron introductory press conference’ video, send fans into frenzy

    Heat accidentally post ‘LeBron introductory press conference’ video, send fans into frenzy

    If LeBron James‘ 2026 free agency has taught us anything, it’s this: Nothing is too weird.

    The latest twist came late Tuesday, when NBA fans noticed the Heat briefly had a YouTube livestream titled “LeBron James Introductory Press Conference” scheduled for July 27.

    As you might imagine, that was enough to send social media into overdrive.

    LeBron James, NBA
    AP

    The listing was quickly deleted, but not before screenshots made the rounds on X and sparked another round of speculation tying James to Miami.

    Not long afterward, longtime Miami Herald reporter Anthony Chiang poured cold water on the excitement.

    “It was a mistake by the Heat’s social media department while preparing for the possibility of LeBron picking the Heat,” Chiang wrote on X. “But there is no validity to it right now.”

    That explanation makes sense. Teams, media outlets and websites routinely prepare stories, graphics and videos in advance for major news.

    It’s simply part of the job when everyone is racing to publish the moment something becomes official.

    Trust me. I’ve got multiple LeBron stories sitting in draft form right now for a variety of possible outcomes. The trick, of course, is making sure you don’t accidentally hit “Publish.”

    Apparently, someone in Miami came a little closer than intended.

    Whether James ultimately lands with the Heat, Cavaliers or somewhere else entirely remains anyone’s guess. At this point, just about every scenario has been floated at one time or another.

    That’s what has made this perhaps the wildest free agency in NBA history. Every rumor, every social media post and now even a scheduled YouTube livestream seems to take on a life of its own. (Should make for a pretty good documentary, no?)

    As for the Heat’s video, it appears to be nothing more than an honest mistake that happened to become the NBA’s latest viral moment.