
via Getty
LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat celebrates after scoring the game-tying basket in the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The Heat defeated the Cavaliers 98-95. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

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LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat celebrates after scoring the game-tying basket in the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The Heat defeated the Cavaliers 98-95. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
2010 was a pivotal point in the NBA. Many players and stars in the NBA became free agents in 2010. This meant that it was the perfect time for teams to make crucial moves and sign players to compete for a championship. It was the year that LeBron James shocked the world by deciding to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers, and join the Miami Heat.
According to Gilbert Arenas, this is because the Cavaliers were not making any moves that would allow LeBron James to win a championship there. He then reveals another team that could have been an easier choice for LeBron James to join.
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Gilbert Arenas gives LeBron James a better landing spot
In a recent episode of the Gil’s Arena podcast, LeBron leaving Cleveland back in 2010 was a point of conversation. Gilbert Arenas said people often focus on LeBron leaving but not why he left the team, which was because of the lack of talented players to support him on the hardwood. So the only option LeBron had was to leave the team. Arenas said, “If he don’t get anybody, man he don’t win no championship.”

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Los Angeles Premiere Of Peacock s Shooting Stars American professional basketball player LeBron James arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Peacock s Shooting Stars held at the Regency Village Theatre on May 31, 2023 in Westwood, Los Angeles, California, United States. Regency Village Theatre, Westwood, Los Angeles, California California United States Copyright: xImagexPressxAgencyx
LeBron can only do so much by himself. The team should have been willing to spend money to bring in the right players. But LeBron was not receiving this support from his team, so he left Cleveland.
Although LeBron went to the Miami Heat with Ray Allen and Chris Bosh, Gilbert Arenas named another team that LeBron could have gone to that would have guaranteed him a championship.
Arenas said, “The only place that he could have went that gave him a championship like that was Orlando with Dwight Howard, Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, and ’em. And that would have been devastating.“
?
Arenas believes that LeBron would have won his first championship with Dwight Howard if he had gone to Orlando. This seems like the right choice in hindsight for Gilbert Arenas. But if that was the case, why didn’t LeBron go to the Orlando Magic? Let’s have a look at the reasoning.
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Building a championship team in Orlando
This decision can seem easy right now, as so much time has passed, but LeBron James knew what he was doing back then. The Orlando Magic had a great team with the Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard. They just went to the NBA finals the previous year, in 2009. They also had Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis, who was a great shooter.
But the team was already over the cap limit and was paying luxury tax. It was impossible for the team to keep the roster longer than they had and bring in LeBron James too. If LeBron came to the team, then it meant that either Rashard Lewis or Vince Carter would be moved from the team.
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Do you think LeBron James should have still gone to the Orlando Magic? Let us know in the comments!
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