There won’t be a second version of “The Decision,” but the LeBron James free agent watch took off to a whole new level this weekend.
Fans and members of the media went as far as tracking down the location of Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert’s plane—an extravaganza that reportedly included former Cleveland centre Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
So with LeBron expected to make a decision at some point over the next week, here is the latest on where each of the major players stand and what could hold them back from landing the NBA’s biggest superstar.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The latest: What appeared to be a longshot heading into free agency, the Cavs have now surfaced as a favourite for LeBron. Yahoo! Sports reported Monday morning that LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, is pushing his client to re-join the Cavaliers. According to the report, Paul has been “funneling belief” to Cleveland that they are in strong position to land the four-time MVP. The Cavs appeal to LeBron because of roster flexibility and an impressive group of young talent in the organization (which includes Andrew Wiggins and Kyrie Irving).
Why he won’t sign there: Gilbert still owns the team and LeBron may not want his contract to be written in Comic Sans. Somehow, the Cavaliers never removed Gilbert’s angry post-Decision letter from their official website until this weekend.
Miami Heat
The latest: LeBron is planning to have a face-to-face meeting with Heat president Pat Riley in the next few days, according to multiple reports. The four-time NBA MVP is intent to find out what Riley’s plans are for the roster. So far, Miami has reportedly pursued a group of free agents that includes Pau Gasol, Luol Deng, Trevor Ariza, Marvin Williams and Josh McRoberts.
Why he won’t sign there: After the ugly showing in the Finals, LeBron may be looking for a new challenge. Unless Miami can upgrade its roster, it might not be enough to keep LeBron’s talents in South Beach.
Phoenix Suns
The latest: LeBron’s representatives reportedly met with Phoenix owner Robert Sarver last week in Cleveland, and the Suns remain determined to make a strong pitch. Like Cleveland, Phoenix has an impressive young core mixed in with the cap space to land another superstar on a max deal.
Why he won’t sign there: Phoenix offers intrigue on paper, but it’s tough to imagine King James choosing a franchise that has been so irrelevant as of late. Obviously, Cleveland is a bit of an exception considering his history there.
Houston Rockets
The latest: The Rockets expressed interest early in the free-agency period, but the team has shifted its focus to landing free-agent forward Chris Bosh, according to ESPN.com. Landing Bosh, who grew up in Texas, could be dependent on whether LeBron is willing to leave Miami.
Why he won’t sign there: By amping up their pursuit of Bosh, the Rockets have made it pretty clear that LeBron likely isn’t going there. Playing with Dwight Howard isn’t as appealing a prospect as it once was. Just ask Kobe.
Los Angeles Lakers
The latest: Like the Rockets, the Lakers do not appear to be big players in the LeBron sweepstakes. They met with Paul on Friday, but they have shifted their focus elsewhere and now have emerged as legitimate contenders to sign Carmelo Anthony. It’s expected to come down to Los Angeles and the New York Knicks to land the 30-year-old Anthony.
Why he won’t sign there: The Lakers can’t offer as much money as Miami, and LeBron isn’t a great fit basketball-wise beside aging guard Kobe Bryant. It would take a serious sell from GM Mitch Kupchak to make this work.
Dallas Mavericks
The latest: Mavericks owner Mark Cuban reportedly met with LeBron’s agent in Cleveland last week, but there hasn’t been much talk beyond that. The Mavs, who have ample salary-cap space, could create even more cap flexibility by dealing Brandan Wright or Raymond Felton.
Why he won’t sign there: The Mavericks have an aging core that doesn’t offer LeBron much young talent to work with. That might not be the championship window that suits what the Akron native is looking for.
Chicago Bulls
The latest: According to NBC, LeBron’s representatives took a meeting with the Chicago Bulls when free agency opened. Since then, the Bulls haven’t made much progress in their pursuit of other top free-agent options. They are essentially being held hostage until LeBron makes a decision.
Why he won’t sign there: LeBron has been compared to Michael Jordan throughout his entire career and he doesn’t want to be in his shadow. There’s already a statue outside of the United Center.
New York Knicks
The latest: The Knicks have been reportedly ruled out by LeBron’s inner circle and he will be not be meeting with the club. They are now putting all their efforts into re-signing Anthony.
Why he won’t sign there: Before Phil Jackson was hired, the Knicks were the definition of dysfunction and a laughing stock around the NBA. They do not have nearly enough talent on its roster and LeBron is looking to play for a contender.