The Heat offered James a two-year contract worth $16 million, but he took half that amount to sign with the 76ers on a two-year, $7.9 million deal. James opted to team up with Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in Philadelphia over joining Adebayo and Antetokounmpo in Miami.<\/p>\n
James, who is entering his 24th NBA season, spent four seasons with the Heat earlier in his career from 2010 to 2014. He won two of his four NBA titles in Miami in 2012 and 2013 as part of the Heat\u2019s Big 3 with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade.<\/p>\n
After leaving the Heat, James won one title with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and another championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. James also was selected as the NBA\u2019s Most Valuable Player twice while with the Heat.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think defensively they\u2019re going to be damn good,\u201d James, 41, continued on the Heat. \u201cYou look at [Andrew] Wiggins, you look at Bam, you look at Giannis, you look at Davion Mitchell. Guys that\u2019s what they kind of hang their hats on, they\u2019re going to be damn good. And you have [coach Erik Spoelstra] there. Spo knows how to put the pieces in the right position in the right place. And then you add Klay [Thompson]. Adding Klay, I think it gives Bam some more like reassurance, like OK, \u2018I have a little bit more space.\u2019 Tim Hardaway Jr., some more space.\u201d<\/p>\n
Along with adding Antetokounmpo, Thompson and Hardaway, the Heat also acquired veteran forward Bobby Portis Jr. as part of the Antetokounmpo trade this offseason. James is fan of that move, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cBobby Portis is one of my favorite players,\u201d James said. \u201cI love Bobby Portis, he\u2019s one of my favorite players. He brings an edge and he\u2019s a winner, he\u2019s another champion as well. So he\u2019s been there, he knows what the long run is. So that\u2019s a very exciting team. We\u2019ll just see how it all comes together, which I think it will.\u201d<\/p>\n
Taking it slow<\/p>\n
Heat guard Pelle Larsson missed practice time last week and the Heat\u2019s second preseason game due to an illness. And Larsson is still dealing with the lingering effects of that illness.<\/p>\n
Larsson tried to play in the Heat\u2019s third exhibition game in Saturday\u2019s loss to Minnesota Timberwolves, but he left the contest early because he was still feeling sick. Larsson totaled 14 points on 4-of-15 shooting from the field and 0-of-2 shooting from three-point range, three rebounds and four assists in 23 minutes before exiting the preseason game.<\/p>\n
\u201cReally, just been having headaches,\u201d Larsson, 25, said Tuesday when asked about his ongoing illness. \u201cSo I caught something when we were in Quebec City [for the preseason opener], or on the way back, or something. So since then, I didn\u2019t feel right and took some days off, came back, just came back a little too quick. I didn\u2019t respect it, maybe, and tried to tough it out. And now, just taking it slower.\u201d<\/p>\n
Larsson added that Tuesday was \u201cthe first day I didn\u2019t wake up with a headache\u201d since coming down with the illness.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard to say, because I was feeling fine,\u201d Larsson said of where he is physically just one week away from the Heat\u2019s regular-season opener on Oct. 21 against Timberwolves. \u201cAnd then, once my heart rate got up, my head started hurting again. So, right now, I\u2019m just taking it slow, step-by-step, and can\u2019t really put a percentage on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
That means Larsson\u2019s status is in question for the Heat\u2019s fourth of five preseason games on Wednesday against the Brooklyn Nets at Kaseya Center (7:30 p.m., WPLG Local 10).<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be taking it slow right now and just increasing the load, slow,\u201d Larsson said after doing limited work in Tuesday\u2019s practice.<\/p>\n
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