MIAMI, June 23- An Instagram posting by the wife of NBA superstar LeBron James has fanned talk that the Miami Heat playmaker will take his talents back to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
James, who grew up near Cleveland and played for the Cavaliers until departing for Miami as a free agent in 2010, could opt out of his contract with Miami this week and test free agency again.
Savannah James, who is pregnant with the couple’s third child, posted a photo of a map of the outline of the state of Ohio late Sunday night with a star on the city of Akron, James’ hometown, and the caption: “Home sweet home!! The countdown is real! #330.”
The hashtag 330 refers to the telephone area code for Akron, which is only about a 40-minute drive south of Cleveland.
Whether or not it was a hint that James might be leaving Miami for Cleveland, the message added fuel to the idea that James might leave the Heat after taking Miami to the past four NBA Finals, winning two titles.
James reached his first NBA Finals with Cleveland in 2007, but the Cavaliers were swept by San Antonio, the same team that beat Miami in the NBA Finals earlier this month.
In 2010, James announced his decision to leave Cleveland for Miami on a television special, taking less than the maximum possible salary to allow the Heat to sign Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and telling fans that he hoped to win six or more titles as part of the “Big Three.”
Fans in Cleveland were upset, some burning replicas of his jersey in protest of his move, feeling their loyalty to a local hero since his high school days had been betrayed.
James is a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player and was the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 2012 and 2013 when Miami lifted the league championshjiop trophy.
James must declare his free agency by the end of the month. He can resign with the Heat, who would under NBA salary cap rules be able to offer more money than any other club.
