LeBron James Says 'I Don't Want to Go Back to Cold Winters' in Retirement

I hate to be the bearer of bad news for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but we have another sign that LeBron James might not be willing to go back to his hometown anytime soon. At least during the winter. 

During an interview with WWD.com's Rebecca Kleinman, James was asked where he'd eventually like to retire and said, "I don't want to go back to cold winters." 

While this doesn't directly apply to the NBA's 2014 free-agency period, it does if you read between the lines. LeBron has an opt-out clause in his contract, one that he could use at the conclusion of the 2013-14 season. 

And if he chooses to use it, the suitors will come in droves. 

As Sporting News' DeAntae Prince writes, "Recent speculation had James considering a return to the Cavaliers, where he would once again play in his home state and win over the fans who turned on him when he bolted for Miami."

That speculation is quite flawed if cold winters are a serious deterrent.

The NBA season runs right through the bitter heart of winter, which means that LeBron would be spending a lot of time where he doesn't want to be should he sign with the Cavs. 

The following average temperatures come courtesy of Weatherbase.com: 

Hmm. Which one seems colder to you?

Quite frankly, it's not even close. Miami is pretty much an idyllic location during the winter, at least in terms of weather. 

Now there's a solid chance that I'm reading between the lines way too much here, but everything matters in a free-agency decision. And if James feels strongly enough about cold winters, that pretty much eliminates Cleveland from the list of reasonable candidates for his services. 

I suppose the Minnesota Timberwolves are out too.