The 2014 NBA offseason is the "Summer of If LeBron." The majority of free agent signings appear to hinge on where LeBron James signs, creating an unofficial moratorium and leaving free agency's big-name players in limbo until James makes his choice.
James reportedly met with Miami Heat president Pat Riley on Wednesday but came away without making a decision about free agency. Once James does announce where he wants to play, which could come as early as next week, the rest of the free agent dominos will fall.
Until then it's a holding pattern.
Multiple free agents, such as Carmelo Anthony, Pau Gasol and Chris Bosh, reportedly are waiting to see where James signs before making their decisions, and multiple teams, such as the Houston Rockets and the Cleveland Cavaliers, are waiting on players who are waiting on James.
Carmelo Anthony: dream
Pau Gasol: wants to see where James goes
Pau Gasol: the purported frontrunner for him
Chris Bosh: Bosh will accept Houston's max contract offer
Chandler Parsons: appears to hinge on Bosh
Chicago Bulls
- Chicago's second choice in free agency is Gasol. They won't commit to him, though, until after they know for certain they cannot sign James.
Read also: offer already on the table
Everybody Else
- While some players have already found new teams, the majority of role players and smaller-name players, such as Ray Allen, Kent Bazemore and Nick Young, are unlikely to find new homes until after James's decision, when teams will know what kind of cap space they have remaining.
