The four-time MVP told The Associated Press he had “no complaints” when asked how free agency was going. He declined to say who he had met with on Tuesday or whether he had made a decision of where he’ll play next.

James is expected to meet with Heat President Pat Riley before making a final decision on his NBA future.

A person close to the situation told The Associated Press that James and Dwyane Wade worked out together in Las Vegas on Tuesday morning. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no one has publicly released James’ itinerary.

RILEY CONFIDENT

While Pat Riley’s official meeting with LeBron James is set for Wednesday in Las Vegas, the Heat president remains confident the NBA’s best player will return to Miami, USAToday’s Jeff Zillgitt and Sam Amick report. 

This week, Riley took the first steps toward showing that Miami will make moves to add more help around James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger joined the Heat this week on verbal agreements. Neither player can sign until the free-agent moratorium ends on Thursday. Miami brought in McRoberts through the mid-level exception on a four-year, $23 million deal and picked up Granger on a two-year, $4.2 million contract. 

McRoberts and Granger are veterans, but each helps the Heat get younger and more athletic. Both players experienced success against Miami in the past, with McRoberts doing so as a member of the Hornets in the 2014 postseason and Granger going head to head with James as the leader of the Pacers. 

As Miami adds pieces, other teams have worked to snatch away integral parts of their rosters. The Houston Rockets reportedly offered Chris Bosh a four-year, $88 million contract. Still, Bosh prefers to play in Miami with James. 

James remains the linchpin to the Heat future, as USAToday noted. In meeting with James, Riley will have the opportunity to keep that all intact. 

PURSUIT OF LOVE

The Kevin Love sweepstakes appeared to come to an end when the Timberwolves and Warriors engaged in serious talks but could not come to a consensus on a trade. In the background, however, the Celtics were always working to gain assets and make a run at Love.

Even during the NBA free agency period, Boston continues its efforts to entice Minnesota president Flip Saunders into trading Love, who will become a free agent next summer. Ainge has been dogged in his pursuit of Love, Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe reports.

What hurts the Celtics’ attempt to acquire Love is they don’t have much salary cap space and Love wouldn’t want to stay with a team that has a depleted roster. Remember, he is unhappy in Minnesota because he has failed to make the postseason for six straight seasons. Boston is not playoff-ready at the moment, not even in the weak Eastern Conference. 

Boston would have to wipe its team of talent, because Flip Saunders wants to make sure the Wolves are not shorted in a deal for Love. He will not agree to a move that doesn’t send equal value back to Minnesota, as the Globe noted.

Assets the Celtics do have include draft picks, rookie James Young and a $10.2 million trade exception from the Paul Pierce deal, as the Globe noted. But the picks might not be enough for Saunders, who doesn’t want to replicate the Kevin Garnett trade to Boston. 

Saunders was coach of the Pistons at the time of the Garnett trade, so he wasn’t involved with the actual move. He has had to deal with the aftermath of that decision, however.

Al Jefferson played well in Minnesota but wasn’t a franchise-changer at that point, and the other four players included in the deal had little effect on the franchise. The two picks Minnesota gained in the deal resulted in Jonny Flynn and Wayne Ellington, who also had minimal impact.

Contributors: DeAntae Prince, The Associated Press