Wade discusses LeBron’s upcoming decision

Dwyane Wade spoke to Yahoo! Sports’ Chris Mannix and Caron Butler during a radio show appearance today. And naturally, the show’s hosts asked Wade about his good friend LeBron James, who will become a free agent this off-season.

According to Wade, James won’t decide strictly on basketball. The following is an excerpt from an article by the Palm Beach Post’s Anthony Chiang.

“To me, I don’t think it’s a basketball thing,” said Wade, who is James’ close friend and former teammate. “Obviously, you saw this year he can get to the Finals no matter what the circumstances are. I don’t really think the basketball decision of saying, ‘Oh, let me go team up with three All-Stars.’ I think at this point in his life, it’s more so of a lifestyle thing of where my family is going to be the most comfortable and where I’m going to be the most happiest at. Because basketball wise, he’s so great that he can bring along and take along whoever.”

Wade’s comments echo James’ own statements following Game 4 of the 2018 NBA Finals. James said that his children were a lot younger the last time he moved — from Miami to Cleveland, in 2014 — and “my family is a huge part of whatever I’ll decide to do in my career, and it will continue to be that.”

It’s also true that James has convinced several players to join him. Heat fans may remember how Ray Allen joined Miami in 2012 despite a higher offer from the Boston Celtics. Even in Cleveland, James helped the Cavaliers sign players like Mike Miller, James Jones and Deron Williams.

Of course, one could take Wade’s statements in many directions. Would he return to Miami, where his family spent four years together? Would he sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, where James has a house? Could he possibly stay in Cleveland?