LeBron James is headed to South Beach and not the Big Apple, according to multiple reports.
Stephen A. Smith first said he thought James would land in Miami.
Alan Hahn of Newsday then broke the story via Twitter after midnight Thursday.
“Multiple sources are telling Newsday that LeBron James has decided to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami. The new Big Three is here.”
ESPN’s Chris Broussard confirmed it Thursday morning via “several sources.”
James will make his fateful announcement during an hourlong special called “The Decision” on ESPN at 9 p.m. Thursday. Sponsorship sales will be donated to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
If he does join the Heat, James will become part of a Super Trio — Miami Thrice? — that also includes Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, both of whom announced on ESPN Wednesday their intentions to play in Miami.
ESPN.com reported that the trio met in Ohio as part of their “summit” on the Saturday before free agency began, not in Miami, as originally reported.
“It’s no secret that myself and Chris and LeBron are all good friends,” Wade said Wednesday. “We all came into this league together and played together. But we all make our own decisions at the end of the day so of course we would love for LeBron to join Miami, who wouldn’t? But at the same time, LeBron’s going to make his own decision and that’s a decision that we all will be in front of the TV tomorrow to wait for.
James averaged 29.7 points with the Cavaliers last season.
Wade put up 26.6 points for Miami.
And Bosh averaged career-highs of 24.0 points and 10.8 rebounds for Toronto.
ESPN reported that James would be leaving nearly $30 million on the table by going to the Heat, unless the Cavaliers agree to an unlikely sign-and-trade.
The Cavaliers could give him a six-year, $128 million contract, while Miami can offer him only a five-year deal worth up to $99 million.
John Schuhmann of NBA.com reports that the Heat can afford LeBron if they deal Michael Beasley or the Big Three agree to take less than the maximum.
The Knicks had high hopes of landing James as of Wednesday night, but now that looks unlikely.
They will introduce Amar’e Stoudemire at a noon press conference at Madison Square Garden.
With Stoudemire and without James, the Knicks will still have some $18 million in cap space to pursue players like Raymond Felton, Brendan Hayward and Mike Miller.
But that won’t make New Yorkers feel much better about losing out on King James.
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