In the summer of 2010, LeBron James made a pivotal choice by leaving Cleveland for the Miami Heat, a move that still stirs debate among fans today. Gilbert Arenas and Brandon Jennings argued that LeBron had limited options, with nobody willing to team up with him in Cleveland. However, Rashad McCants suggested LeBron could have stayed in Cleveland and attracted other stars to join him.

Reflecting on players’ increasing power to choose their teams, Arenas and Jennings dismissed McCants’ idea, asserting that Cleveland lacked the allure of teams like the Knicks or Lakers, making it unattractive to free agents. McCants countered by pointing out that players like Shaquille O’Neal did join the Cavs, albeit briefly.

However, Arenas highlighted O’Neal’s diminished performance due to age, suggesting he wasn’t driven to win at that stage of his career. Similarly, other stars who joined LeBron in Cleveland during his second stint, like Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade, were past their prime.

McCants argued that LeBron’s leadership had propelled the Cavs to the top seed for two consecutive seasons, implying that lesser signings could have helped them succeed. Arenas, though, reminded McCants of the stellar free agent class that year, suggesting staying in Cleveland might have hindered LeBron’s championship prospects.

Arenas proposed that if LeBron hadn’t made a move, winning a championship might have been elusive for several years, especially with rising teams like Orlando and Atlanta and dominant rosters in Boston and Los Angeles. He suggested that had LeBron not joined Miami, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh might have formed a super team elsewhere.

Despite criticism for his decision, ‘The Decision’ might have been necessary for LeBron to secure his legacy, as argued by Arenas and Jennings.