Cavaliers fans tried to send a message to free agent LeBron James on
Thursday in Cleveland. James met with the Knicks and the Nets but still
could remain with Cleveland became the most celebrated free agent of our
time. In the next few days, at least six teams, including the Cleveland
Cavaliers, will have audiences with James to try to convince him to
sign.
Cleveland can offer James $30 million more than any other
team, thanks to the NBA players’ collective bargaining agreement. Money, though, is not all the 6-foot-8, 260-pound player wants. He’s after titles.
While James has led the Cavs through their most successful stretch in team history over the last few seasons, he has come up short in his pursuit of a championship to solidify his legacy. Cleveland was bounced in the second round of the playoffs this season by the Boston Celtics.The New Jersey Nets were the first team to be granted an audience with James on Thursday. Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov brought an entourage that included team president Rod Thorn, coach Avery Johnson and music mogul Jay-Z (who owns 1 percent of the Nets) to meet with James at the office of his business manager, Maverick Carter.
“It went well,” Johnson yelled at reporters as the group left the building.
The New York Knicks then got their chance. The Knicks’ crew included owner James Dolan, president Donnie Walsh and coach Mike D’Antoni. This was New York’s moment, one the franchise has been building toward for more than two years. The Knicks have endured a franchise-record nine straight losing seasons but gutted their roster with the hope of signing James. “I think it went well,” D’Antoni told The Associated Press after the Knicks completed their two-hours-plus session with James. “But obviously everyone that gets the chance to talk to him will probably say the same thing.”
OTHER NBA NEWS
•PITCHES MADE TO WADE: After the Nets’ contingent met with James, they left Cleveland for Chicago to meet with Miami Heat free-agent Dwayne Wade. Earlier in the day, Wade and his representatives spent about two hours with the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. Dwyane Wade grew up in Chicago and still makes his offseason home there. Wade did not comment to reporters as he left the United Center. He is set to meet with the Knicks today. •BOSH MEETS WITH HEAT: Raptors free-agent Chris Bosh met with the Miami Heat in Chicago, each side gauging the chance of him joining Wade in Miami, contingent on Wade staying with Miami. “It was good. It was good, real good,” Bosh said outside his agent’s office in downtown Chicago.
•GAY SIGNS WITH MEMPHIS: Rudy Gay agreed to a five-year contract that will pay him more than $80 million to stay with the Grizzlies. The deal will pay Gay, a guard, more than $13 million starting next season, with annual raises of 10.5 percent, a definite upgrade over the five-year, $50 million offer he turned down last season. The deal can’t be signed until July 8.
•GOODEN SIGNS WITH BUCKS: The Milwaukee Bucks made an early splash in the free-agency period, agreeing in principle to a five-year, $32 million deal with free-agent forward Drew Gooden. Gooden, the No. 4 overall pick out of Kansas in the 2002 draft, has played for eight teams, including the Clippers and Mavericks last season. He has averaged 11.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in his career. “He wants a home,” said his agent, Stu Lash. Lash noted that Gooden has a good relationship with Bucks coach Scott Skiles, dating back to his time with the Chicago Bulls.
•PITCHES MADE TO WADE: After the Nets’ contingent met with James, they left Cleveland for Chicago to meet with Miami Heat free-agent Dwayne Wade. Earlier in the day, Wade and his representatives spent about two hours with the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. Dwyane Wade grew up in Chicago and still makes his offseason home there. Wade did not comment to reporters as he left the United Center. He is set to meet with the Knicks today. •BOSH MEETS WITH HEAT: Raptors free-agent Chris Bosh met with the Miami Heat in Chicago, each side gauging the chance of him joining Wade in Miami, contingent on Wade staying with Miami. “It was good. It was good, real good,” Bosh said outside his agent’s office in downtown Chicago.
•GAY SIGNS WITH MEMPHIS: Rudy Gay agreed to a five-year contract that will pay him more than $80 million to stay with the Grizzlies. The deal will pay Gay, a guard, more than $13 million starting next season, with annual raises of 10.5 percent, a definite upgrade over the five-year, $50 million offer he turned down last season. The deal can’t be signed until July 8.
•GOODEN SIGNS WITH BUCKS: The Milwaukee Bucks made an early splash in the free-agency period, agreeing in principle to a five-year, $32 million deal with free-agent forward Drew Gooden. Gooden, the No. 4 overall pick out of Kansas in the 2002 draft, has played for eight teams, including the Clippers and Mavericks last season. He has averaged 11.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in his career. “He wants a home,” said his agent, Stu Lash. Lash noted that Gooden has a good relationship with Bucks coach Scott Skiles, dating back to his time with the Chicago Bulls.