NBA Rumors: LeBron James won’t be impressed by Heat signing McRoberts, Granger
By Sam Richmond
While there was a belief that the Miami Heat’s signings of Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger would help the team’s chances of enticing LeBron James to re-sign, a friend of LeBron’s says that isn’t the case, according to Bleacher Report’s Ethan J. Skolnick.
I spoke to a player who is close to LeBron... He laughed at the notion that Heat's recent moves would impress LeBron.... (1/2)
— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) July 9, 2014
Skolnick’s source suggested that Miami would be in a better position if they had simply maintained the NBA-record $55 million in cap space they possessed prior to the moves.
... (2/2) That player's belief is Miami would have been better off holding cap space to sell LeBron on prospect of something bigger.
— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) July 9, 2014
This isn’t particularly surprising. Miami was pursuing high-profile free agents, such as Trevor Ariza, Luol Deng and Pau Gasol. Those are the type of big-name players that one figures would impress King James.
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Because of the financials of their two deals, Miami has all but eliminated themselves from adding one of those three players. The Heat signed McRoberts on a deal worth $23 million throughout the next four years and Granger on a deal worth $4.2 million during the next two seasons.
Miami is clearly hoping that they can prove to James that Granger and McRoberts will be a big additions going forward. McRoberts had a breakout season last year, averaging 8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists with the Charlotte Hornets. While Granger averaged just 8.2 points on 37.8 percent shooting in 2013-14 with the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Clippers, Miami will likely make sure to remind James that Granger is only a few seasons removed from being an all-star
Still, the Heat’s signings of McRoberts and Granger were certainly interesting, given each of the player’s connection to LeBron.
McRoberts was fined $200,000 during the 2014 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals for putting a forearm to LeBron’s throat. As for Granger, he and James got into multiple shoving matches during the 2012 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.
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