Miami Heat president Pat Riley addressed his team’s approach to the NBA draft on Monday.  Some interpreted his comments as shots at LeBron James.  What do you think?

“No more smiling faces with hidden agendas, so we’ll be going in clean,” Riley said. He added, “That could be anyone across the board.”

Lebron James played four seasons with the Miami Heat then exercised his early termination option and became a free agent in June.

In last summer’s draft, the Heat used their first-round pick on former UConn point guard Shabazz Napier. James had made clear his opinion on Napier during the Huskies’ championship run, tweeting in April that there is “No way u take another PG in the lottery before Napier.”

After Miami acquired Napier in a draft-night trade, James tweeted the following. “My favorite player in the draft! #Napier.”

In July, the four-time MVP later opted to leave Miami and re-join the Cleveland Cavaliers, with whom he spent the first seven seasons of his career.

Riley has said he is at peace with LeBron’s departure but he’s also reiterated how surprised he was that James chose to leave Miami.  It seems he fully believed LeBron would re-sign with the team.  Was he fooled by a smile?

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Source: Sports Illustrated