http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5363055Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Sources: James leaning toward Heat
By Chris Broussard
ESPN The Magazine
All indications are that LeBron James is leaning toward signing with the Miami Heat Thursday night, according to several sources with knowledge of the situation.
Barring a late change of heart, sources say James has decided to join buddies and fellow All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to form a potential NBA powerhouse.
Chris Paul, one of James' best friends, has urged him to stay and let new Cleveland Cavaliers coach Byron Scott coach him, according to sources. With such strong sentiment around him to not go to Miami it's possible James could alter his decision.
James' family and friends are divided over his decision to play in Miami, according to sources. Opinions range from understanding his desire to play with All-Star teammates, to feelings that he is selling himself short by joining "Wade's team,'' to concerns that by playing on such a power-packed squad he will hurt his brand even if he wins championships.
Some in James' camp would like him to stay in Cleveland, and James indeed worked hard to help the Cavaliers improve their roster. He tried to sell Bosh on the idea of coming to Cleveland, but the 6-11 forward was adamant that he did not want to play in northeast Ohio.
While sources close to James insist that his heart is in Cleveland and that remaining with the Cavaliers was his preferred choice, they say he had concerns about signing a six-year deal there and ending up "31 years old, with bad knees and no title."
James will make his announcement from the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich, Conn. during an hourlong special on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday called "The Decision." Sales of sponsorship for the program will go to the Boys and Girls Club of America.
James, Wade and Bosh had been discussing joining forces in Miami for several weeks, according to the sources. ESPN.com reported on June 28 that the trio met in Miami on Saturday, June 26. However, sources now say the players actually met in Cleveland roughly a week earlier.
James averaged 29.7 points for Cleveland last season, Wade averaged 26.6 points for Miami and Bosh averaged career-bests of 24.0 points and 10.8 rebounds for Toronto.
By joining the Heat, James will leave nearly $30 million on the table, unless the Cavaliers agree to an unlikely sign-and-trade. The Cavaliers could give him a six-year, $128 million contract, while Miami can only offer him a five-year deal worth up to $99 million.
Wade does not know what the terms of the next contract he'll sign with Miami will be, nor when he'll sign the paper. Bosh doesn't have terms of his next deal done either. It's all contingent on what James says Thursday night, and Wade insisted he knows nothing about what the two-time MVP will say or where he'll be saying it from.
Contracts cannot be officially signed until Thursday.
Asked why he didn't agree to a sign-and-trade that would have paired him with James in Cleveland, Bosh said he decided that Miami was the best choice available to him.
"I wasn't sure if LeBron was coming back [to Cleveland] and I just wanted to leave that decision up to him," Bosh said. "I wanted to choose the best situation for me and my family and Miami was the best decision for me."
The salary cap released for the 2010-11 season on Thursday was just over $58 million, about $2 million more than teams expected, and that extra money could likely be yet another free-agency edge for the Heat.
"We'll see what the best thing is for us to win," Wade told The Associated Press. "I'm going to make a lot of money, no matter what happens. I've been blessed. I'm not counting every dollar and every cent. Let's sit down, let's see what the best thing is for us, for the long haul."
Miami came into free agency with what turned out to be roughly $46 million of cap space, not including $16.5 million or so earmarked for Wade, thanks to years of avoiding just about any deal where money would have been committed for the 2010-11 season.
"We want to build a dynasty," Riley had told fans entering free agency.
By scheduling his special show and essentially putting a deadline on himself to make an announcement, it would appear that James has made up his mind. If he does, however, change his decision, the Cavaliers, the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls would all be possibilities, according to the sources.
Topic: Newsday: Lebron James has decided to join Miami (Read 6228 times)