LeBron James’ free agency continues to dominate NBA headlines, and ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins believes an unexpected moment may reveal more about what the Miami Heat want.
The speculation erupted after the Heat briefly uploaded a video titled “LeBron James Introduces Press Conference,” then quickly deleted it. While many believed the incident was a simple mistake, Perkins believes there was more to it.
“These things didn’t just happen on Pat Riley’s watch,” Perkins said on ESPN’s First Take. “…That means Miami is really looking. They’re in trouble. LeBron James could end up back in South Beach.”
Perkins even went a step further, saying the unexpected upload was the strongest sign yet that Miami is still a true contender to win the four-time NBA championship.
“This is the first real big clue about the offseason organization LeBron is considering,” Perkins added on “First Take.”
According to the Miami Herald, the deleted video was originally scheduled to air on Monday, July 27, but the Heat’s social media team accidentally released the video early as they prepared for James’ return to the team.
The reunion would bring James back to the franchise where he enjoyed some of the most successful stretches of his career. In four seasons in Miami from 2010 to 2014, James won two NBA championships, while also winning two regular season MVP awards and two Finals MVP trophies.
After the Miami Heat lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the 2014 NBA Finals, James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers, ending one of the most dominant eras in Heat history.
Heat president Pat Riley previously admitted he was disappointed when James left and believed the team had the foundation to build a dynasty. Riley has also spoken positively about his relationship with James over the years, fueling speculation about a possible reunion.
Meanwhile, LeBron is still slowly announcing his next destination. His longtime agent, Rich Paul, recently said the future Hall of Famer hasn’t decided where he wants to play next season, despite growing pressure around the league to end the free-agent saga.
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