![\"Giannis](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MIA_AntetokounmpoandPortispresserAGS163.JPG\" "\\"Giannis")
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Giannis Antetokounmpo poses with Pat Riley, President of the Miami Heat, left, and Head Coach Erik Spoelstra during a press conference introducing Portis to the Miami Heat on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at the Kaseya Center in downtown Miami, Fla.<\/p>\n
Alie Skowronski<\/p>\n
Thursday was mostly about the Miami Heat\u2019s acquisition of two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. But the possibility of also adding four-time NBA MVP LeBron James couldn\u2019t be ignored.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe landed the plane,\u201d Heat president Pat Riley said, as he walked on stage with Antetokounmpo for Antetokounmpo\u2019s introductory press conference on Thursday afternoon at Kaseya Center. \u201cNow there\u2019s another one we have to land.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Heat remains in pursuit of James in free agency, along with teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers. Riley, like the rest of the basketball world, is still waiting to learn what James\u2019 next move will be.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know. I really don\u2019t,\u201d Riley said to a small group of reporters following Antetokounmpo\u2019s introductory press conference, when asked about where the Heat stands in its pursuit of James. \u201cTo be transparent about it, we\u2019ve had discussions over a week ago, maybe a week before that, about it. But right now, I think we\u2019re like everybody else. We\u2019re just waiting to see what he does, and then we\u2019ll see what happens. But I really can\u2019t answer that right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Riley\u2019s comments came just hours after James spoke publicly for the first time in more than a week on Thursday during a live taping of his \u201cMind the Game\u201d podcast at Fanatics Fest in New York. James did not reveal where he\u2019ll sign for next season and didn\u2019t give any clues either.<\/p>\n
\u201cShout out my former team; I spent eight great years with the Los Angeles Lakers,\u201d James said during the live taping of the podcast on Thursday. \u201cThat was an unbelievable ride and I am looking forward to what comes next as I wind down my journey. It\u2019s going to be pretty fun wherever I land.\u201d<\/p>\n
James went on to mention during a Thursday appearance at CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit that he \u201cwon\u2019t hold you guys up too much longer\u201d with his free agent decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are so many other factors that I\u2019m factoring in right now on what not only best fit me as a player, what best fit me as a person, my happiness, and also with my family as well,\u201d James said during his appearance at CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit.<\/p>\n
James, who is entering his 24th NBA season, has a history with the Heat.<\/p>\n
James spent four seasons with the Heat from 2010 to 2014, winning NBA championships with the organization in 2012 and 2013 in four NBA Finals appearances. He also was selected as the NBA\u2019s Most Valuable Player two times while with the Heat.<\/p>\n
James left the Heat as a free agent in 2014 to return to Cavaliers, the team he left to join the Heat in 2010.<\/p>\n
Even at 41, James remains a very effective player. He averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game while shooting 51.5% from the field and 31.7% on threes in 60 appearances for the Lakers last season.<\/p>\n
With 12 players currently signed to standard contracts for next season, the Heat has two to three standard roster spots left to fill.<\/p>\n
The Heat has just about $6.5 million left of its midlevel exception or a minimum contract to offer James since it is hard-capped at the first apron because of the blockbuster trade that landed Antetokounmpo. The Heat could create more room under the first apron to offer James the entire $8.5 million it has left of its midlevel exception by shedding money in a trade.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe only have a couple of rosters spots left, so we do what we can do from that standpoint,\u201d Riley said Thursday when asked if more needs to be added to the roster to bring the Heat to the next level. \u201cBut, yeah, we\u2019re waiting like you guys are waiting and then things could fill up really quick.\u201d<\/p>\n
But as the wait on James\u2019 decision continues, Riley will soon be vacationing in Europe. That won\u2019t stop Riley from taking calls on James, though.<\/p>\n
\u201cI might be doing it from Europe, but it doesn\u2019t make any difference,\u201d Riley said with a laugh. \u201cI made trades from Europe with [Heat owner Micky Arison] on a yacht somewhere in Croatia one time to get Lamar Odom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s some of what else Riley had to say to a small group of reporters on Thursday …<\/p>\n
\u25aa Does the Heat have enough three-point shooting to maximize its new leading duo of Bam Adebayo and Antetokounmpo?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got to have players who can make open shots,\u201d Riley said. \u201cWhen you get open shots, you\u2019ve got to be able to make them. It doesn\u2019t mean that you\u2019re going to make all these contested shots and stuff like that. So we feel like we have enough shooting. We will continue to try to find players who are absolutely marksmen. And there still are some out there.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the point is first things first is to get this deal done. I think getting Tim Hardaway Jr. People forget Bobby Portis shot 45% from three last year. [Davion Mitchell] has become a better three-point shooter, as has Pelle [Larsson]. [Andrew Wiggins] can make shots, and so don\u2019t underestimate what we have. But, yeah, you want to have a real sniper out there too that always is guarded by somebody.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u25aa Riley also mentioned that he believes the Heat needs \u201ca certain type of big\u201d to help fill out its roster.<\/p>\n
\u201cA different kind of big that\u2019s more of a contemporary big, very athletic, and rim protector,\u201d Riley said. \u201cI was impressed with what Vlad [Goldin] did in the summer league. He\u2019s a two-way [contract] player that we have. And so he played hard. He played hard, and he was making incredibly physical moves and things of that nature, blocking shots and all that stuff. And so now he\u2019s just got to get the other part of his game together. So, getting a rim protector is somebody. And there\u2019s other bigs out there, if you want to go a little smaller, that can stretch the floor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u25aa Riley admitted the Heat gave up a \u201csignificant prize\u201d to land Antetokounmpo, but \u201che\u2019s worth it, period.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Heat dealt guard Tyler Herro, center Kel\u2019el Ware, forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., guard Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks (No. 13 overall this year that turned into Tennessee forward Nate Ament, and unprotected picks in 2031 and 2033), one first-round pick swap in 2030 and a 2033 second-rounder to the Bucks to acquire Antetokounmpo and Portis.<\/p>\n
This story was originally published July 16, 2026 at 5:18 PM.<\/p>\n
Related Stories from Miami Herald<\/p>\n
![\"Profile](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AnthonyChiang-Profile.jpg\")