Sheridan: LeBron James Leaning Toward The Cavaliers

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- With Carmelo Anthony apparently off the free agent market, the spotlight rests squarely on LeBron James.

Where will he go?

Chris Sheridan of Sheridanhoops.com told WFAN's Marc Malusis and Sid Rosenberg on Wednesday that he's learned that James is almost certainly heading back to Cleveland.

Sheridan said his sources say there's a "90 percent" chance of James going back to the Cavaliers, for several reasons:

First, the Heat, despite signing Danny Granger and Josh McRoberts, aren't getting any younger. Dwyane Wade is 32 and slowing down and Chris Bosh is now 30, Sheridan said, adding James' legacy in Miami is already solidified with four NBA Finals appearances and two championships.

Second, Bosh, who is from Texas, has a great situation to turn to potentially in Houston. The Rockets have offered him a max contract and he'd get to play with stars James Harden and Dwight Howard.

Perhaps most importantly, James would get to play in his prime in Cleveland with young stars Kyrie Irving and No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins, among others, and he'd get a chance to further his legacy by possibly winning a championship in a city he once he left under difficult circumstances, Sheridan said.

James was to meet with Heat GM Pat Riley on Wednesday in Las Vegas, according to various reports.

On Wednesday, the Cavaliers pulled off a three-team trade -- to be officially consummated Thursday -- with the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics that would give them enough cap space to offer James a max contract.

And they might not be done making moves:

Anthony, a seven-time All-Star and former league scoring champion, will announce Thursday his intention to accept the Knicks' five-year, $129 million max contract offer, the Daily News reported Wednesday afternoon.

You May Also Be Interested In These Stories

In:
• LeBron James
• New York Knicks
• NBA
• Miami Heat