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LeBron James: 5 reasons to join the Phoenix Suns

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 11, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Miami Heat forward LeBron James prior to the game against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Miami Heat forward LeBron James prior to the game against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 12, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) reacts after the Heat defeated the Golden State Warriors 111-110 at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

5. LeBron Can Get His Max Contract

Despite being the world’s best player for the better part of the last decade, LeBron James has never been paid like it. While taking a discount was how he was able to join Bosh and Wade in Miami and win championships in the first place, at some point it’s understandable for LeBron to seek the max contract he deserves. When contract negotiations begin on July 1, this issue will be at the forefront of the conversation for the Heat.

Simply put, if LeBron James chooses to pursue the max contract he deserves, a huge chunk of the Heat’s salary cap room will be eaten up right off the bat. Wade opting out and leaving a huge sum of money on the table ($40 million over the next two years) shows he’s willing to do what it takes to keep the Big Three together, but how steep a discount can we be expecting here for him and Bosh? If LeBron wants his max contract AND wants to keep competing for championships, the Miami isn’t his best option.

The Suns have the flexibility to offer LeBron the max contract he’s reportedly seeking and still not have to gut or downgrade the roster. Phoenix has $33.5 million in salary cap room this summer, which would allow the Suns to not only sign LeBron to his max deal, but also to afford whichever big name free agent he’d like to take with him (more on this in a bit).

In Miami, LeBron’s options are taking another discount to retool a roster full of free agents that couldn’t get the job done last year, or seeking the max deal he wants and hurting the Heat’s chances of winning another title next season. In Phoenix, he wouldn’t have to make the choice between a max contract and an upgraded roster.