LeBron Narrows List to Three Teams, Plus More

[casmith07]

This is an indictment of Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. They are more than likely signing with the Heat, which severely limits LeBron's options as far as sidekicks.

LeBron Narrows Teams Down To Three

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

The reports LeBron James has narrowed has decision down to three teams: the Cavs, Bulls and Nets.

James has met with the Nets, Knicks, Heat, Clippers, Cavaliers and Bulls. He knows what each team has to offer, what each is willing to do to get him.

Some think the Knicks still are in the picture for James, but they appear to be on the outside looking in.

The Nets would have to clear $3 million — roughly Kris Humphries’ salary — to sign two max players. But they would do it as quickly as it takes James to make it from baseline-to-basket with the ball if it means signing the two-time MVP.

All things considered, the Cavaliers seem to be the front-runners for James. They can offer him the most money — $30 million more over six years — and the comforts of home.

No LeBron decision before Wednesday
The reports James may not announce his decision until at least Wednesday night after his three-day Nike camp in Akron is over.

James could earn big in NYC
LeBron may not want to count the Knicks out after Forbes reported that the Knicks commissioned a study from marketing consultant Interbrand that says James could earn close to $1 billion over his lifetime in salary and endorsements if he makes Madison Square Garden his permanent home--their high-end estimate sees him earning as much as $2 billion.

That outshines the estimated $700 million he’d likely earn in Cleveland, the $690 million in Chicago, and $600 million in Miami.

Shaq weighing offer from Hawks
AOL Fanhouse reports Shaquille O'Neal is seriously considering a two-year deal with the Hawks that starts at the mid-level exception of $5.8 million.

"I think he wants to see how everything shakes out with all the free agents, but he's seriously considering Atlanta's offer,'' said a league source. "He wants to play two more years, and he wants it to be with a contender. He thinks he can help them become a serious one.''

The Hawks have a need for a bigger, stronger center with a low-post game. They have been using Al Horford there, but Horford could slide smoothly to power forward to make room for O'Neal.

The Hawks have recently been exploring the possibility of trading power forward Josh Smith.

O'Neal, 38, played 53 games for the Cavs last season, averaging 12 points and 6.7 rebounds in just over 23 minutes a game.

Carmelo waiting to sign Denver extension
Carmelo Anthony is very serious about accepting the team's contract extension, but Anthony is still waiting to hear about the team's attempts to improve the frontcourt, according to the .

The contract extension is worth $65 million over three seasons. If he wasn't to accept it, he would become a free agent next summer.

"We'll go to the table and see what's the best situation for me."

Of the Nuggets, Anthony said, "We have pieces," adding that he would be happy with the addition of "one or two more pieces that'll work out."

Asked if the current Nuggets roster can win a championship, Anthony said: "Obviously it didn't happen this year. They definitely need to add something, definitely."

Pistons president Joe Dumars denied a report that he interviewed with the Nets over the weekend for the same position in New Jersey.

The reported the Nets interviewed Dumars and New Orleans general manager Jeff Bower. Thorn's contract runs through July 15; he is retiring as Nets president.

The Record reports Avery Johnson met with Dumars on Saturday night. Both are natives of Louisiana.

When asked if there was any truth to the report, Dumars said, "No, it's not."

Dumars has spent 25 years as a part of the Pistons organization, the team that drafted him in 1985.

Lee drawing heavy interest
The reports the Knicks have been offered Golden State's point guard Monta Ellis and Minnesota's Al Jefferson for David Lee in separate sign-and-trade scenarios. But the Knicks are handcuffed on all moves until they find out what LeBron and Dwyane Wade do.

Lee is almost guaranteed not to be a Knick next season. But he is amenable to pulling off a sign-and-trade instead of an outright signing because he would get the extra sixth year -- at least $11 million.

Utah wants Boozer back
Walt Perrin, Jazz vice president of player personnel, says the team wants Carlos Boozer back and is trying actively to work with the 6-foot-9 power forward, according to the

“We absolutely want him back,” said Perrin. “We just are going to have to wait and see what happens to some of the other guys on the free agent market. Then we’ll be able to go from there.”

Compiled by Bill Sudell
CSNPhilly.com Contributor

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

They can offer him the most money — $30 million more over six years

Really only $4M through the 1st 5 years.

Once Lebrons deal is up at 30 years old he will get re-maxed no problem.

Totaling 11 years and upwards of $300M

 

[QT]

Lebron is staying in Cleveland. Bulls are out of if. It's more like 80-20 Cavs-Knicks

 

[Yeagermeister]

And LeBron's choice is *Ryan Seacreast pause*

After the break

:laugh2:

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Have said it and will say it again. The most important player in this years marry-go-round is Chris Paul. Where he goes, so goes a real shot at the trophy IMO.

 

[Gzus]

Seriously LeBron is getting a one hour special tmr on BSPN for his "announcement". I used to like the guy but this is just an egomaniacal spotlight attention getting POS one hour show all about LeBron. I officially think he's an self centered ******.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

This whole show to announce who Lebron is going to sign with, the idea that I am sure he has known for sometime but probably has his own group throwing out fake rumors in order to garner interest. Whole thing just kind of screams look at me Look at me.
In some ways it reminds me of TO doing an interview while topless doing situps in his driveway.

I have been kind of indifferent to Lebron. Realize his talent and such but just not a fan or hater of him. But this kind of stuff just irritates me and makes me want to see him fall on his face.


http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-lebrondecision070710

State of LeBron: Live at 9, from his ego
Adrian Wojnarowski

By Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports Jul 7, 3:27 pm EDT

The Championship of Me comes crashing into a primetime cable infomercial that LeBron James(notes) and his cronies have been working to make happen for months, a slow, cynical churning of manufactured drama that sports has never witnessed. As historic monuments go, this is the Rushmore of basketball hubris and narcissism. The vacuous star for our vacuous times. All about ‘Bron and all about nothing.

James is throwing a few foosball tables at Boys & Girls Clubs, an empty gesture out of the empty superstar. He’s turned free agency into the title of our times, a preening pageant of fawning, begging and pleading. Hard-working people are dragged into municipalities and told to hold signs, chant scripted slogans and beg a diva who doesn’t care about them to accept a $100 million contract.

Privately, Dwyane Wade(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes) weren’t pleased on Wednesday morning with the belief that James’ camp was responsible for leaking their plans to a television partner, but then again it makes perfect sense: This isn’t about Wade and Bosh choosing the Heat. It’s about LeBron getting the stage to himself on Thursday night.

One front-office executive whose team made a presentation to LeBron James told Yahoo! Sports that he believes James is choosing between Miami and Cleveland. And yet, if James wants to deliver the biggest kick in the gut to his hometown, he’ll pick the flat-lined New York Knicks. Whatever the decision, he’s made clear that the teasing and tormenting of the loser isn’t his concern.

Team LeBron is having the time of its life, but has no idea the repercussions of what it’s done here. All that comes to James now is the biggest burden to win a championship that sports has ever seen. They aren’t making James a bigger star with this big-top, but a bigger target. All those teams that marched into the presentations and listened to some of the foolish and naive questions asked of them believed these kids had no idea what they were doing, or what they had gotten themselves into. They’re all feeling more validated every day. From beginning to end, this process has been a farce.

[Photos: See images of the coveted NBA superstar]

On James’ new website, under the headline dubbing this TV debacle “The Decision,” there come these words: “Maverick Carter, CEO of LRMR Marketing said…” This explains everything. Carter’s marketing company isn’t doing so well trying to get its one client Jonny Flynn(notes) a used-car dealership endorsement in the Twin Cities, and now Carter’s going to try to justify all that plush office space, staff attorneys, private planes and resort hotels by translating the Championship of Me into the making of his reputation.

Carter’s pushed one agent – Aaron Goodwin – and one advisor – William Wesley – aside because he wanted to be the voice in James’ ear and the one getting credit on the masthead. So far, Carter’s been a superstar at spending James’ money on LRMR, but now he’s getting the company name out there and turning LeBron into Mr. July after LeBron didn’t have the stomach to be Mr. June.

Team LeBron had discussed a documentary on the free-agent process, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported, but the narrative changed after James’ Game 5 meltdown in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Carter says there was never a plan for a free-agent tour, but this is what he means: There was never a plan for James to get held accountable, to have his motivations and priorities called into doubt. There was never a plan for the blame to shift from Danny Ferry, Mike Brown and his Cavaliers teammates. There was never a plan that real-world rules applied to the self-proclaimed King.

They scrapped the tour, the documentary and set sights on hijacking the network for an unprecedented special they believe will elevate James’ brand. Only, James has never looked smaller, never more insecure and unsure of who he is and what he wants to be. He won’t look so much like Kobe Bryant(notes) and David Beckham, but rather a three-star linebacker from Shaker Heights picking Bowling Green over Kent and Ohio U. on local access television.

Team LeBron has known all along it was going to do this, and the cushy, protective relationship with that television network culminates with a basketball player commandeering his own coverage on his own terms. Now James and his buddies spoon out misdirection plays on his possible destination – feeding everyone for days and weeks that the Knicks were dead, only to say now, “Well…who knows?” – to build back drama for the infomercial.

This is some plan they’ve hatched and some game they’re playing with those Cleveland fans who’ve been so relentlessly loyal to James. First, he marched the biggest suitors in the sport to come court him in downtown Cleveland with those pointless presentations. He wanted those people out there creating a visual public push-and-pull for him, and because James needed to be told something that probably isn’t completely true anymore: Cleveland loves him.

Well, Cleveland craves him. Love is a strong word, and it ought to be unconditional, but loving a sports hero is the most conditional kind of love there is. Only, it was different with Cleveland. He’s one of them, but you still have to wonder: Are they one of him?

James never shared that town’s angst with the Browns and Indians. He wanted winners in his life, and rooted for the Dallas Cowboys and New York Yankees. He doesn’t feel the pain of a city’s broken heart. Shaquille O’Neal(notes) leaving the Orlando Magic for the Los Angeles Lakers 14 years ago was a hard hit, but LeBron bailing on Cleveland is far more devastating on a different level.

Everyone ridicules Cleveland, makes it a butt of jokes, but LeBron James has the chance to change all of that. And even then, it has to crush Cleveland’s sporting psyche that James could still walk out. If one of our own won’t stay, what does that say to the rest of the country?

That’s the hardest part here, and that makes the possibility that James would go on national television – with those split-screen shots of stunned fans in Akron and Cleveland – and completely crush those people so impossible to believe. He couldn’t be that cold, that callous, that cunning? Or perhaps, maybe this is all a rollout – the website, the Twitter page and the infomercial – to introduce a new LeBron, a new city, to the world.

Whatever happens, James and the television network will hide behind some money going to the Boys & Girls Clubs. But this isn’t about kids and sports, and it sure isn’t about the credibility that comes with winning championships. Something’s changed here, and LeBron James has gone a long way to devaluing winning and losing in the NBA. David Stern has long pushed the individual over team, marketed showy over substance, and LeBron James represents the manifestation of it all.

Greatest talent to ever walk into this league, the self-proclaimed King, and now everyone gets a front-row, primetime seat for how it means to live without self-awareness, without restraint. The vacuous star for our vacuous times, live on Thursday night and fitting himself for a ring as the undisputed Champion of Me. All about ‘Bron and all about nothing.

 

[YosemiteSam]

My wife is a Mavs and Knicks fan. She used to love Lebron and want him in NY so bad. Now she is quite put off by him and isn't really sure she really wants "*that*" (how she put it) in New York.

 

[Rampage]

everybody is saying he's going to Miami.

 

[YosemiteSam]

everybody is saying he's going to Miami.

IMO thats the absolute last place he would go. Least amount of money overall and he would have to share the spotlight with Wade.

IMO, never happen.

Lebron is all about being the center of attention. Thats why he won't go to Miami, thats why he has a 1 hour special to announce "The Decision", and thats why I fully 100% believe he is going to the Knicks. (MSG is the biggest stage in the NBA)

Lebron and his entourage (including ESPN) are intentionally making this a circus by releasing bad information. Then, they release the shocking truth. (Knicks)

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I wonder what percentage of people are turned off by Lebrons's attention whoring, and if he has any clue that he's making a bunch of anti-fans by creating this scene? Or is he so in his and his handlers' cocoon that he has no idea?

The guy had better win a title whereever he goes, because he's about to have more pressure on him than any athlete ever. Kinda puts a dent on worldwide branding when you're known as a guy who loves the drama and attention but can't get it done where it counts.

 

[Rampage]

IMO thats the absolute last place he would go. Least amount of money overall and he would have to share the spotlight with Wade.

IMO, never happen.

Lebron is all about being the center of attention. Thats why he won't go to Miami, thats why he has a 1 hour special to announce "The Decision", and thats why I fully 100% believe he is going to the Knicks. (MSG is the biggest stage in the NBA)

Lebron and his entourage (including ESPN) are intentionally making this a circus by releasing bad information. Then, they release the shocking truth. (Knicks)

no state tax helps that. plus he's gonna be rich wherever he goes so money shouldn't even be a factor in determining where he signs.

I wonder what percentage of people are turned off by Lebrons's attention whoring, and if he has any clue that he's making a bunch of anti-fans by creating this scene? Or is he so in his and his handlers' cocoon that he has no idea?

The guy had better win a title whereever he goes, because he's about to have more pressure on him than any athlete ever. Kinda puts a dent on worldwide branding when you're known as a guy who loves the drama and attention but can't get it done where it counts.

I'm one of them. If he goes to Miami I will root against him.

 

[InmanRoshi]

It was hilarious listening to Mike & Mike on ESPN Radio this morning trying to build intrigue for tonight's Prime Time press conference for their employer. "OMGZ. DONT TRUST THE MIAIM RUMORZ !!! Nobody Knowz Where Hez Going !!! I still dunt thinkz hez even madeup his mind !!!"

Least amount of money overall and he would have to share the spotlight with Wade.

I actually think that's one of the draws for Miami. Ever since he was an 18 year old kid he's had to carry not only an entire franchise but an entire city (and practically even an entire state) on his back. His hometown state at thta. In the playoffs he looked like he was mentally and spiritually beaten down by it all. I don't think he minds at all having some other people to help carry some weight for a change, even if it means sharing some spotlight. I don't blame him ... the amount of pressure put on one player at such a young age might be unprecedented in sports.

That said, I'll be actively rooting against Miami from here on out. I don't like mercenary championship teams.

 

[QT]

everybody is saying he's going to Miami.

That's to stir up the pot. Lebron wants good ratings tonight.

 

[Alumni2k11]

Based on everything I've read the last few days, my guess would now be the Knicks (I had been leaning toward him resigning with the Cavs). Regardless where he does sign, this has been an entertaining week as far as all the back and fourth rumors go.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I'll be glad when this is over. Reminds me of the 'is Lord Favre coming back' saga the last two+ years.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I'll be glad when this is over. Reminds me of the 'is Lord Favre coming back' saga the last two+ years.

Agreed. I don't want to see ESPN filled with Basketball stuff. Tired of seeing the soccer stuff, hockey and baseball stuff.

I want it so the majority of the stuff is football stuff because that means football season is closer.

 

[juck]

I say he stays in Cleveland. I hope he tears his acl and cant play either way. He is the epitomy of selfish egotistical athletes.

 

[DFWJC]

Agreed. I don't want to see ESPN filled with Basketball stuff. Tired of seeing the soccer stuff, hockey and baseball stuff.

I want it so the majority of the stuff is football stuff because that means football season is closer.

I'm with you....
I"M SO READY FOR FOOTBALL

 

[dwmyers]

The whole LeBron charade just makes me think the ES in ESPN stands for Especially Sycophantic. It seems when they're not kowtowing to star athletes, they have no content whatsoever to speak of.

They take journalists and ruin them. Can Stuart Scott do anything anymore other than be a Chris Rock-esque booster of overly large egos?

I was listening to Colin Cowherd savage Stan Van Gundy for mocking the whole process. This is because on a network of shameless front runners, he makes it a point to be the acme of front running. I could stand it for about 1 minute and then turned the dial to PBS. Garrison Keillor or the (rhymes with word)? Easy choice, if you ask me.

David.