Pat Riley gets very transparent by revealing he held discussions with LeBron James

Pat Riley gets very transparent by revealing he held discussions with LeBron James originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The 2026 offseason has been filled to the brim with massive moves. Pat Riley and the Miami Heat have been at the forefront of that because they traded for Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, it seems they are not done because they are chasing the biggest name in the market right now, LeBron James.

As James left the Los Angeles Lakers, everyone in the league was looking to sign him. Unfortunately for most of the league, only a few teams stepped up as likely teams he would sign for. Among those teams is the Heat, an older stomping ground.

Pat Riley admits he and LeBron James have had discussions

Considering James is one of the biggest names in NBA history, it is normal for teams to chase after him. Yes, he is 41, but he has proven that he can still play at a high level, as he showcased during the Lakers' postseason run in 2026.

After trading for Antetokounmpo, people have criticized the Heat because they don't have the depth to compete as a contender. However, getting LeBron could be a magnificent move in boosting their team because he will be a massive star for the team.

MORE: The Heat are one of the favorites to land LeBron James in free agency

Andrew Wiggins could easily switch over to the shooting guard position, as James can slide to his natural small forward role. The Heat are a good fit, but it seems Riley and the rest of the league have to wait for James to make his final decision.

"To be transparent about it, we've had discussions over a week ago, maybe a week before that about it, but right now I think we're like everybody else, we're just waiting to see what he does," Riley said after the Antetokounmpo introductory press conference.

It would definitely be interesting to see where LeBron ends up. If he goes through another free agency period and picks Miami all over again, that would mean that they are ready to compete for a title. It would also be proof that Riley still has the pull as a team president.

More NBA news:

• Trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo is a massive gamble for the Heat
• The Heat are not happy with the trade packages teams are sending for Nikola Jovic
• Klay Thompson is a potential Miami Heat target in the trade market
• Bam Adebayo speaks about the aftermath of his 83-point night against the Wizards
• The Heat have an obvious problem with the roster construction post-Giannis Antetokounmpo trade