More inside the Heat's blunder: LeBron's camp finds it hilarious, the employee who caused it wasn't fired.

On July 27, Beijing time, an ESPN article revealed details of LeBron's decision-making, with the part about the Heat drawing significant attention. After all, in the midst of a major game, nothing attracts fans more than a work error. Such a slip-up seems to expose the behind-the-scenes calculations that were meant to remain secret. Last week, a Miami Heat staff member accidentally posted a prepared schedule for a press conference introducing LeBron's signing, and the news immediately went viral.

Around the same time, Heat president Pat Riley admitted on a show that his relationship with LeBron had "eased" in recent years. Regarding LeBron's decision to return to the Cavaliers back then, Riley expressed understanding. With multiple pieces of information combined, this social media blunder further convinced netizens that the Heat were highly likely to sign LeBron.

At the start of free agency, the Heat's odds to get LeBron were +1000, behind the Cavaliers and Warriors; but earlier this week, the Heat's odds had shifted to -200, making them the biggest favorite.

Then, dramatic rumors followed one after another. Netizens quickly found online a job posting for a Heat video website operations position and speculated that the employee who caused the trouble had been fired immediately. In fact, this job posting had been published as early as early July, and the speculation was not true; the employee was not fired.

Until Friday morning Eastern Time, LeBron officially announced his signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, bringing the tug-of-war to an end. "You had great success in a city, why go back and erase those memories?" Paul said in an ESPN interview. "Past glories cannot be replicated and cannot be surpassed."

The Cavaliers and Heat indeed had ample basketball appeal. Sources revealed that the Warriors were also on the shortlist at one point, but only if they could trade for a proven star forward, such as Anthony Davis, who won the 2020 championship alongside LeBron.

Throughout months of trade rumors, everyone constantly dissected clues and speculated on LeBron's next team, while agent Rich Paul also shared his views in public and private conversations. On July 4, he appeared on his podcast "Game Over" with co-host Kelman, and on a whiteboard he listed the pros and cons of each of LeBron's options.

Even so, Paul said that before deep communication on Thursday night, he still couldn't tell where LeBron was leaning; the final decision was made at 1 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday.

That is precisely why the Heat staff's blunder seemed so hilarious to Paul and a few insiders trusted by LeBron. ESPN sources confirmed that the staff member had originally planned to take vacation this week, but had prepared a contingency plan to immediately set up a press conference if LeBron chose the Heat.

"Did anyone really think LeBron would show up for a press conference immediately?" another league source said. He cited the example of LeBron joining the Lakers in 2018, when he didn't make his first public appearance until the fall training camp that year.

According to league rules, the 76ers couldn't even release any official statement confirming the signing until LeBron had put pen to paper. In a way, this also fit the rhythm of the whole affair. LeBron spent 24 days thinking and weighing his future. The 76ers are still continuing the team's rebuilding path that began years ago, but the current situation is very different.

LeBron believes his arrival can take the 76ers further, and the team's management shares that expectation. Next, everyone will embark on a new challenge to fulfill that expectation.