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Why is Pat Riley still obsessed with LeBron James leaving the Heat?

By Connor Muldowney

May 5, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (center) holds his fourth MVP trohpy next to head coach Erik Spoelstra (left) and Heat president Pat Riley (right) at the American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
May 5, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (center) holds his fourth MVP trohpy next to head coach Erik Spoelstra (left) and Heat president Pat Riley (right) at the American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Miami Heat President Pat Riley isn’t shy about speaking his mind and he did so by taking a sly jab at LeBron James and his departure last offeases on Monday.

LeBron James isn’t quite known for staying with a team after he becomes a free agent and Miami Heat President Pat Riley knows that all too well. No NBA executive is going to be happy when their top player becomes a free agent and then decides to spurn you for another team.

Riley has been open about his unhappiness with LeBron’s decision to join the Cleveland Cavaliers and he even took a sly jab at King James in an end of the season press conference for the Heat.

While Riley clarified his statement immediately following, saying that he was talking about any player across the board, you know that LeBron may have been the only player on the roster last season with a hidden agenda.

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Riley has been open about his shock regarding James’ departure in the offseason and he thought it was a bit ridiculous people thought he might leave last year after winning two NBA titles with the team and making it to four straight NBA Finals.

However, it has been a year now and Riley is still talking about the superstar. Why is he so obsessed with LeBron leaving?

Why Pat Riley Deserves To Still Be Upset

It may have been nearly a year ago that LeBron told the Heat he would be moving on and heading home to Cleveland to play for the team that drafted him, but Pat Riley put this team together. LeBron was given a golden opportunity that not many players get and Riley is the mastermind behind it.

Not many executives would pay three players a boatload of money to try and win as many titles as possible, usually it’s a complete team, but Riley invested most of his money on James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

LeBron won two titles and figured it was enough to move on from the guy who helped him get there. He felt blindsided by the fact that James wanted to leave because he felt like he had built a solid relationship with the former MVP.

Why Pat Riley Needs to Move On

The Heat have played an entire season without LeBron already and missed out on the playoffs. Yes, LeBron is a big reason as to why the team took a step back this season, but it’s nothing to sit and ponder about.

However, the NBA is a business and Pat Riley, of all people, should know this.

LeBron moved on, we get it, Pat. It’s time to find a guy who can come in and replace the void he left behind and get the Heat back to the playoffs.

Sitting and thinking about how LeBron James left the franchise close to a year ago does absolutely nothing for the future of the team. Riley needs to get that through his mind instead of taking sly jabs at LeBron. It’s great for headlines, but it clearly is doing nothing for the Heat as they’re still sitting at home in April and still need to find a way to win without LeBron James.

I guess now he knows how Dan Gilbert felt back in 2010.

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