Miami Heat’s next key date is Friday, June 29 on whether LeBron James opts-in or out

What LeBron James chooses by Friday affects the Miami Heat’s outlook on their eventual standings in the Eastern Conference this season.

Assuming James won’t come home to Miami, whether he stays in the East or goes West will have an impact on the Heat’s eventual seed at the end of the season.

If Cleveland Cavaliers sign-and-trade James, the Cavs might get enough talent in return to remain contenders.

Hoopsrumors lists the status of players with opt-in clauses, and James, Paul George and DeAndre Jordan are the only major ones who haven’t decided yet.

June 29 is the deadline to exercise player, team or early-termination options in the NBA.

The intriguing part is James and George have been linked in rumors as joining the Los Angeles Lakers or other teams as a duo, and neither has uncovered their final thoughts on the matter.

James came to Miami to watch his son ‘Bronny’ in a basketball tournement very, very close to deadline for making his intentions known.

Could waiting until the last moment come from talk among friends and family about life and where the wives of the two high-profile players prefer to raise their children?

After they reveal their intentions, then free agency rumors soon become fact and Miami will have better idea on what’s going on how the team stacks up in the Eastern Conference race.

Among all the noise Miami also has to eventually make decisions on the status of Wayne Ellington, Justise Winslow and Rodney McGruder.