LeBron Free Agency 2010

[heathmalc]

darren rovell darrenrovell1

Lots of people asking me what LeBron's price would have been if the NBA didn't have a cap. Let's start at $40M/season

[WadeisLikeMike]

I finally feel for you guys, and its a horrible feeling watching your franchise player on the brink of leaving.

[B Mac]

I finally feel for you guys, and its a horrible feeling watching your franchise player on the brink of leaving.

Except I dont think anyone in Cleveland has felt like he is leaving for a while. The national media is just now starting to catch on to that fact as well.

[heathmalc]

I finally feel for you guys, and its a horrible feeling watching your franchise player on the brink of leaving.

Except I dont think anyone in Cleveland has felt like he is leaving for a while. The national media is just now starting to catch on to that fact as well.

No... there was a day of "fear?" after Chicago made the Kirk deal... but after thinking about it, the odds are still in the Cavaliers' favor...particularly after the hiring of Scott, and the proposed trades.

[Triumph36]

I finally feel for you guys, and its a horrible feeling watching your franchise player on the brink of leaving.

Heh, yeah, Wade certainly threw a wrench into free agency...he seemed to be the only guy who everyone thought would stay.

[Bingosan]

I agreed with you up until the end. But the Cavs spent more money to keep LeBron happy than any team has ever done. Just the fact that they built a state of the art practice facility just in an effort to keep LeBron happy (when they actually had one that was only a couple years old inside the Q).

That being said, I don't think LeBron owes the Cavs anything. However, being a lifelong Cavs fan and a native Clevelander I'd have to do everything that I could to try to bring a title to NE Ohio.

Didn't know that.

We'll all find out what he is gonna do by the end of the week probably. I personally always favored the Cavs because in contrast to guys like Shaq who don't care about other people's opinion at all, Lebron seems like a guy who wants to be liked by everybody.

[Wisedude42]

I have a bad feeling based on the following:

Windhorst just said that Lebron will decide after his 3 day Basketball camp in Akron ending Wednesday night.

Does Lebron not want any more public commitments in Akron so he can then choose another team?

The people of Akron and Cleveland will be devastated beyond belief if he leaves.

I can't really put it into words. The emotional shock, disbelief that would happen would not be for one day, one week, one month. It would last forever in these communities. These people would feel scarred beyond belief. If you know the truth about this, this is no exaggeration at all.

To Northeast Ohio, Lebron is a family member to everyone (except for those few that are everywhere with negativity).

He is truly loved in Northeast Ohio. I'm just stating the way it is.

[rjgraca]

I have to admit that I was kind of happy to read the World wide Wes wasn't considered part of Lebron's in circle anymore... he clearly has his self interests outside of Lebron and his close local inner circle of friends. Many Knick and Chicago fans have hung onto each word that World wide Wes uttered as if Lebron had said it himself.

Here's a recent new link from Yahoo that gives CAV fans some hope too (despite the RealGM news wire having a definite anti-Cleveland bias in reporting):

Cleveland ties could still bind LeBron

In the end, the Cavs can still offer James the most money, and no city will celebrate his arrival more than Cleveland will rejoice his refusing to leave. Cleveland fans felt like they had lost him, like he was going to get swept away into the world beyond Northeast Ohio. Something changed in the playoffs. Always, there was a sense that if he left there, the onus would be on the organization; that it didn’t do enough, that it didn’t surround him with the proper talent. Only this time, the Cavs did. James’ no-show performance in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston scarred him everywhere. He hadn’t delivered on the burden of an MVP, and suddenly the narrative of the story had dramatically changed.

For all the New Jersey Nets’ promises of world treasures, the flashing of Pat Riley’s rings, the young talent of the Bulls and the calling of Madison Square Garden, this process has made some suitors skeptical of James’ seriousness. Even so, all the teams have to tell their fans that they had a great shot and wowed him and his buddies in the presentations.

Armed with a commitment from Amar’e Stoudemire, the Knicks sent two executives to Cleveland on Saturday to run some cap numbers past James’ agent Leon Rose. James’ people have privately described the Knicks as a long shot, but New York has wisely tried to stay aggressive selling itself. For now, the Knicks are the one team with an All-Star caliber forward on the way.

The Knicks are willing to pay Stoudemire $100 million, something no one else with cap space is willing to do. New Jersey would take Stoudemire if James also promises to sign, a source said, but won’t meet his demands for a maximum contract as a solitary commitment.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=a ... ency070410

[TheOUTLAW]

Not a good sign that someone from the Knicks were supposedly in Cleveland to meet with LeBron today and Maverick is supposed to be in NY for a meeting on Wednesday. LeBron might be selling his soul to the devil and his NY minions.

[rjgraca]

In regard to the Knicks additional meeting... it appears that Amare is no sure thing for the Knicks either by reading other none New York City media news links as follows:

Knicks land second sitdown with LeBron reps

Those present included Glen Grunwald, the Knicks’ vice president of basketball operations, and Madison Square Garden president Scott O’Neil, who were dispatched to Cleveland Saturday to explain the options at the team’s disposal to James’ agent, Leon Rose. James did not attend.

The team official with knowledge of the meeting stressed that, although Stoudemire met Sunday with coach Mike D’Antoni and will have a formal sitdown with Knicks officials Monday, it is by no means a done deal that Stoudemire will be a Knick.

http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.com/m ... 3/22999453

NEW YORK -- The New York Knicks held a secret second meeting with LeBron James' representatives to clarify exactly where they stood in regards to signing Amare Stoudemire, two NBA sources told ESPN.com on Sunday.

The meeting, attended by James' agent, Leon Rose, Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald and others, took place Saturday morning in Cleveland before James himself met with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls, one source said.

It lasted about an hour, with James' representatives wanting to know whether it was true (it wasn't) that New York had already formally offered Stoudemire a five-year, $100 million contract.

James did not attend, nor did Knicks president Donnie Walsh or coach Mike D'Antoni.

A second source said it was the Knicks, not James, who requested the second meeting, which was first reported by the New York Daily News on its website Sunday afternoon.

In reality, however, Stoudemire will be seeking employment elsewhere if James tells the Knicks he wants to play in New York alongside a different big man.

ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard reported that Stoudemire and D'Antoni had breakfast together Sunday. The purpose of the sitdown was to clear the air about any old grievances that may have existed between the two when they were with Phoenix in the mid-2000s, according to sources.

The first face-to-face meeting between Stoudemire's camp and a full Knicks contingent will take place Monday.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5355032

[heathmalc]

I think that is important for all Cavaliers fans to know a few things.

#1 The 2nd meeting with the Knicks was NOT secret! In fact, Brian Widhorst wrote in one of his recent articles that 2 teams would be meeting with LeBron's reps a 2nd time, and that two teams were going to meet with LeBron himself a 2nd time. It is surmised that the Cavs & Bulls will meet with LeBron a 2nd time, and that Jersey & Miami would meet with the reps a 2nd time... However, with NY meeting a 2nd time...perhaps that assumption was wrong. At any rate, it is no "secret" that the finalists for his services will likely meet with him again. Is NY one of those finalists? I doubt it...but it isn't out of the question.

#2 Maverick Carter isn't any better than William Wesley when it comes to keeping LeBron in Cleveland. Maverick is interested in making himself a rich and powerful man... not so much what is best for the Cavs, their fans, or maybe even LeBron. Carter already attempted to broker a deal that would have had Sterling selling a controlling interest of the Clippers to a guy that would have been partnered with Carter...With CARTER...NOT LeBron...CARTER!!! If that deal would have happened, then LeBron would have likely been going to the Clippers. However, Sterling refused to give up controlling interest in the team...perhaps saving the Cavaliers & their fans a ton of grief. Carter idolizes Wesley...and wants to be him. Keep that in mind when you root for that slime bag.

#3 The Cavaliers are not out of the woods. It is believed that LeBron would actually prefer to stay in Cleveland, but he wants a running mate who can help him. According to these same people, it is believed that LeBron has no real preference of who that running mate is, or what position he plays...only that he is all-star caliber and can play both sides of the ball, and have the ability to take over games. "I" believe that LeBron is procrastinating on his decision to give the Cavaliers & Gilbert every opportunity to make this happen. Whether it does or not, remains to be seen, but will likely be the deciding factor of whether LeBron stays or goes.

#4 LeBron DOES like New York.... A LOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, if they get some commitments, and the Cavs fumble the ball, then I'd not be surprised to see him go to the Knicks. Don't make the mistake of underestimating them.

#5 My odds of each team signing LeBron:

Cleveland - 50%
Chicago - 25%
New York - 10 %
New Jersey - 7 %
Miami - 7 %
Any other team - 1%

[heathmalc]

Adrian Wojnarowski WojYahooNBA

Column: For LeBron James, the moment of truth on how tightly his Cleveland ties bind him. http://tinyurl.com/2c9f8ht

[heathmalc]

Maverick Carter met with officials from a team (believed to be Bulls) around 5pm.
------------------------------------------------------
Hardwood Paroxysm HPbasketball

Honestly, Maverick. You couldn't take the meeting two hours later so I could go see Toy Story 3 with mother-in-law? Really?

[heathmalc]

chadfordinsider

Here's the Knicks story ... Donnie Walsh: Knicks still waiting on LeBron http://es.pn/aHJ4Kg

[heathmalc]

Maverick Carter met with officials from a team (believed to be Bulls) around 5pm.
------------------------------------------------------
Hardwood Paroxysm HPbasketball

Honestly, Maverick. You couldn't take the meeting two hours later so I could go see Toy Story 3 with mother-in-law? Really?

This may be NYK also... hard to tell from what ppl r saying. They say Knicks were in-town yesterday morning to talk to Rose, but other stories make it sound like they had "another" meeting with LeBron and/or his team. dunno yet, as nobody is being real clear.

One thing of note... Dan Gilbert had some HIGH PROFILE peeps at his place tonight... 3 limos in caravan. Just out of curiosity.... could it be Bosh? He did say on his twitter account he was going to a BBQ.

[Bushy]

i think LBJ has only 3 options

Stay at cavs or go to the bulls. simple as that. 3rd option goe to melbourne tigers and play for 100k a year. LOL

[epics2002]

Tommy Dee was the first one to break that the Knicks had tenative contract to Amare a day before
the main stream media picked up on it. People thought Tommy Dee was full of it,
but he appears to be in loop.Should be interesting...

[heathmalc]

Tommy Dee was the first one to break that the Knicks had tenative contract to Amare a day before
the main stream media picked up on it. People thought Tommy Dee was full of it,
but he appears to be in loop.Should be interesting...

Yeah, I noticed that. Don't know if he's in the "loop" or not, but I'll be keeping tabs on what he says anyway.

[LakersMoscow]

Mikhail Prokhorov said their chances of getting LeBron is 50%(according to some russian web site, i don't know the source). I think he will stay in cleveland for 3-4 years. If the Nets were in Brooklyn it would be a no-brainer. But since they are still in Newark....

[Pula_86]

When did Amare Stoudemire become this big time free agent? He is a talented player, but does anyone think that a LeBron-Amare pairing is anything close to a Shaq-Kobe dynasty. The hyperbole created by the media regarding some of these players is incredible. One would think that the fifty greatest players have become free agents when the truth is that after Dwayne Wade and LBJ, it is difficult to justify the rest of the players as max contract guys.