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It’s official, LeBron James has opted out of his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers and will become a free agent.
Unfortunately, LeBron opting out of Cavs contract means that the Houston Rockets are probably out of the running because they don’t have the cap space to sign him outright and needed an opt-in trade to acquire LeBron.
Via SB Nation
Had the Cavaliers chosen Option 2, they’d have negotiated a legal trade package with LeBron’s preferred team, using James’ $35.6 million player option as the salary they must match. Any team could theoretically do that, though some can do it easier than others. Houston could have done that.
But he opted out. So why does that kill Houston’s chances
Opting out effectively limits the field to the following teams: Lakers, Sixers, and Cavaliers. The Lakers and 76ers are the only teams in the LeBron hunt with the cap space to sign him outright, and the Cavaliers have Bird Rights. None of the other potential LeBron destinations have enough cap space to give LeBron a maximum contract beginning at 35 percent of the salary cap.
Tough break for the Rockets but they were a longshot to pick up LeBron this offseason to begin with.