Pat Riley: Heat wait on LeBron after landing Giannis deal
Pat Riley signaled Thursday that the Miami Heat are still pursuing free agent LeBron James after introducing Giannis Antetokounmpo, saying the franchise has another plane to land. ESPN reported Riley and Antetokounmpo would be excited to have James in Miami.
Speaking at Antetokounmpo's introductory press conference at Kaseya Center, ESPN and outlets covering the same session said Riley framed the blockbuster Bucks trade as complete — then pointed to a second target.
"We landed the plane," Riley said while seated with Antetokounmpo and coach Erik Spoelstra. "There's another one we have to land."
Key Takeaways
- Pat Riley confirmed the Heat have held discussions about LeBron James and are waiting on his free-agent choice.
- ESPN reported Riley and Antetokounmpo would be excited to add James in Miami after the Giannis trade.
- The Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers are viewed as leading destinations for James.
- Rapper Rick Ross has publicly urged James to return to Miami for business reasons.
What did Pat Riley say about LeBron James?
Asked where things stand, Riley told reporters he could not predict James' next move. "To be transparent about it, we've had discussions over a week ago, maybe a week before that, about it," he said. "But right now, I think we're like everybody else. We're just waiting to see what he does, and then we'll see what happens."
Riley also stressed that any reunion would need to develop naturally. "As far as (James), that is something that would happen organically," he said, adding the Heat are happy with the roster they have today after they "landed a 747" — a reference to acquiring Antetokounmpo.
Would Giannis Antetokounmpo welcome James in Miami?
According to ESPN, both Riley and Antetokounmpo would be excited to have James join the Heat following Miami's trade with the Milwaukee Bucks. That stance matters because Antetokounmpo is now the centerpiece of the rebuild around Bam Adebayo.
Bleacher Report noted the Heat already reshaped their core by trading for Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis. The Giannis-Adebayo pairing looks strong, but the roster still looks incomplete in the backcourt if James does not arrive.
Where else could LeBron James sign?
James has not announced a team. Bleacher Report said the Heat, Cavaliers and 76ers appear to be the frontrunners for 2026-27. At Fanatics Fest in New York on Thursday, he avoided tipping his hand, saying he is looking forward to what comes next "wherever I land."
Cleveland.com highlighted another Miami pitch: rapper Rick Ross arguing a Heat return is the smart business move, citing brand and investor access in South Beach while still praising Cleveland. For more celebrity free-agency buzz, see BlasterPost Celebrity Breaking News.
James won titles with Miami in 2012 and 2013 during his first Heat stint. Whether Pat Riley can land that second plane remains the offseason's loudest unanswered question.