Pat Riley on Heat’s pursuit of LeBron James: ‘We’re just waiting to see what he does’
Thursday was mostly about the Miami Heat’s acquisition of two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. But the possibility of also adding four-time NBA MVP LeBron James couldn’t be ignored.
“We landed the plane,” Heat president Pat Riley said, as he walked on stage with Antetokounmpo for Antetokounmpo’s introductory press conference on Thursday afternoon at Kaseya Center. “Now there’s another one we have to land.”
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’ next move will be.
“I don’t know. I really don’t,” Riley said to a small group of reporters following Antetokounmpo’s introductory press conference, when asked about where the Heat stands in its pursuit of James. “To be transparent about it, we’ve had discussions over a week ago, maybe a week before that, about it. But right now, I think we’re like everybody else. We’re just waiting to see what he does, and then we’ll see what happens. But I really can’t answer that right now.”
Riley’s 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 “Mind the Game” podcast at Fanatics Fest in New York. James did not reveal where he’ll sign for next season and didn’t give any clues either.
“Shout out my former team; I spent eight great years with the Los Angeles Lakers,” James said during the live taping of the podcast on Thursday. “That was an unbelievable ride and I am looking forward to what comes next as I wind down my journey. It’s going to be pretty fun wherever I land.”
James went on to mention during a Thursday appearance at CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit that he “won’t hold you guys up too much longer” with his free agent decision.
“There are so many other factors that I’m 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,” James said during his appearance at CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit.
James, who is entering his 24th NBA season, has a history with the Heat.
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’s Most Valuable Player two times while with the Heat.
James left the Heat as a free agent in 2014 to return to Cavaliers, the team he left to join the Heat in 2010.
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.
With 12 players currently signed to standard contracts for next season, the Heat has two to three standard roster spots left to fill.
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.
“We only have a couple of rosters spots left, so we do what we can do from that standpoint,” Riley said Thursday when asked if more needs to be added to the roster to bring the Heat to the next level. “But, yeah, we’re waiting like you guys are waiting and then things could fill up really quick.”
But as the wait on James’ decision continues, Riley will soon be vacationing in Europe. That won’t stop Riley from taking calls on James, though.
“I might be doing it from Europe, but it doesn’t make any difference,” Riley said with a laugh. “I made trades from Europe with [Heat owner Micky Arison] on a yacht somewhere in Croatia one time to get Lamar Odom.”
Here’s some of what else Riley had to say to a small group of reporters on Thursday ...
▪ Does the Heat have enough three-point shooting to maximize its new leading duo of Bam Adebayo and Antetokounmpo?
“You’ve got to have players who can make open shots,” Riley said. “When you get open shots, you’ve got to be able to make them. It doesn’t mean that you’re 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.
“But 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’t underestimate what we have. But, yeah, you want to have a real sniper out there too that always is guarded by somebody.”
▪ Riley also mentioned that he believes the Heat needs “a certain type of big” to help fill out its roster.
“A different kind of big that’s more of a contemporary big, very athletic, and rim protector,” Riley said. “I was impressed with what Vlad [Goldin] did in the summer league. He’s 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’s just got to get the other part of his game together. So, getting a rim protector is somebody. And there’s other bigs out there, if you want to go a little smaller, that can stretch the floor.”
▪ Riley admitted the Heat gave up a “significant prize” to land Antetokounmpo, but “he’s worth it, period.”
The Heat dealt guard Tyler Herro, center Kel’el 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.
This story was originally published July 16, 2026 at 5:18 PM.
