Michael Jordan may recruit LeBron James to Charlotte Hornets?

Could LeBron James leave the Miami Heat for the Charlotte Hornets this offseason?

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Seems almost impossible to believe, but it’s something The Daily Caller (via Yahoo) suggests as a possibility as James’ icon, Michael Jordan, has expressed a desire to sign a superstar this offseason. And of course, there’s no bigger name in basketball than LeBron James.

The new-look Hornets (who reverted to their former name and color scheme this offseason) are a team on the rise, though, lack needed All-Star power. That lead Jordan, often quiet when it comes to basketball related issues, to suggest he would potentially do some recruiting when it came to the free agent market.

James meanwhile is not a free agent, though could be if he decides to exercise his early-termination clause in the coming weeks and the Hornets do have the available finances if Jordan’s persuasiveness paid off.

“With the NBA salary cap expected to increase to $63 million next season, Charlotte is believed to have somewhere in the neighborhood of $19.5 million to spend (contingent upon forward Josh McRoberts opting out of the final year of his contract). James made $19,067,500 this year — so the Hornets could, theoretically, put together a competitive offer for his services.

But without the ability to guarantee a fifth year, Charlotte must be able to sell James on something besides a fancy new logo.”

James, for whatever reason, has always seemed to seek gratification from Jordan who has routinely shunned him in favor of Kobe Bryant, famously suggesting he’d take the Lakers star over James back in 2013.

An interview with James not long after hinted that he’d like a closer relationship with Jordan, though despite that, I have a hard time believing James will give the Hornets even the slightest of sniffs in free agency (assuming he opts-out) as he has far better and more lucrative options elsewhere.

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