Truth & Rumors > NBA

LeBron likely to test free-agent market

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08:49 AM ET 08.08 | LeBron James all but said he plans to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. This does not mean James will leave the Cavaliers, but it does mean he wants to keep all his options open. In his strongest comments on the subject to date, the NBA's reigning MVP indicated Friday that he would not sign the extension, believed to be three years, offered by the Cavs on July 18 nor pick up his player option that would keep him with the team through the 2010-11 season.

Cleveland Plain Dealer

LeBron James, AP LeBron James, AP
August 8, 2009  08:54 AM ET

SHOCKING!!!

August 8, 2009  09:17 AM ET

Hahahah.... where my Cleveland people at? It's his polite way of telling management to get it together else New York....

August 8, 2009  09:21 AM ET

james has other options other than new york.

August 8, 2009  09:31 AM ET

I really hope Lebron stays in Cleveland. I'm no Cavs fan, but it's cool when a star player stays with one team for their entire career. IMO.

August 8, 2009  09:48 AM ET
QUOTE(#2):

Hahahah.... where my Cleveland people at? It's his polite way of telling management to get it together else New York....

ahhhh New York is not the end all be all in basketball. Lebron would take less money on a high caliber team before he goes to a bunch of scrubs.

August 8, 2009  09:54 AM ET
QUOTE(#5):

ahhhh New York is not the end all be all in basketball. Lebron would take less money on a high caliber team before he goes to a bunch of scrubs.

dude - you are totally off.....
Ain't NO WAY IN HELL LBJ goes to a team that has a 'max' player
cause that max guy will be making MORE than him.....
it's all about $$ but it's also about EGO

Forget NY- but you think LBJ would come to Miami for LESS $$$
than what Wade was making ???....lol.....no freakin way

I'm not saying he won't re-up with the cavs- but any team that
already has a max-type guy is OUT...cause of his ego

August 8, 2009  10:09 AM ET

I cannot see LBJ going anywhere but NY or Cleveland. I do not think he would leave cleveland to go anywhere but NY. He will not go to the bulls b/c he surely does not want to play under the shadow of MJ.

August 8, 2009  10:10 AM ET

I'd like to see LeBron remain with the Cavs, but He's made it clear that he wants the Cavaliers to get him some help. Dan Gilbert must fire Danny Ferry, and bring in someone capable of puting a deal together. If LeBron leaves, the Cavaliers will never recover.

August 8, 2009  10:11 AM ET
QUOTE(#7):

I cannot see LBJ going anywhere but NY or Cleveland. I do not think he would leave cleveland to go anywhere but NY. He will not go to the bulls b/c he surely does not want to play under the shadow of MJ.

chicago strange as it sounds may be just the place for him. one of three big markets that increases his nike contract LA and newyork are the other two.

August 8, 2009  10:13 AM ET
QUOTE(#9):

chicago strange as it sounds may be just the place for him. one of three big markets that increases his nike contract LA and newyork are the other two.

The history of the cavs and the bulls may be why he says no to the bulls, but doan rule them out they are closer than the 15yrs away knickerboxers.

August 8, 2009  10:16 AM ET
QUOTE(#10):

The history of the cavs and the bulls may be why he says no to the bulls, but doan rule them out they are closer than the 15yrs away knickerboxers.

how can you possibly say the knicks are 15 years away. U R clueless. The knicks are rebuilding like every team does when the stars they had get old. Isiah didnt understand that and put us back a few years. Donnie fullly understands that and amazingly has us under the cap for next year. 15 years away.....dumb.

August 8, 2009  10:21 AM ET
QUOTE(#8):

I'd like to see LeBron remain with the Cavs, but He's made it clear that he wants the Cavaliers to get him some help. Dan Gilbert must fire Danny Ferry, and bring in someone capable of puting a deal together. If LeBron leaves, the Cavaliers will never recover.

agreed.

August 8, 2009  10:27 AM ET
QUOTE(#9):

chicago strange as it sounds may be just the place for him. one of three big markets that increases his nike contract LA and newyork are the other two.

Chicago ?

you do realize there is a thing called a salary cap, right ?
chicago already has roughtly 37 mil guaranteed
through next year....
you think LBJ is going to take a pay cut to play there???

August 8, 2009  10:28 AM ET
QUOTE(#11):

how can you possibly say the knicks are 15 years away. U R clueless. The knicks are rebuilding like every team does when the stars they had get old. Isiah didnt understand that and put us back a few years. Donnie fullly understands that and amazingly has us under the cap for next year. 15 years away.....dumb.

don't bother with the haters- you'll get nowhere....

August 8, 2009  10:37 AM ET
QUOTE(#6):

dude - you are totally off.....Ain't NO WAY IN HELL LBJ goes to a team that has a 'max' playercause that max guy will be making MORE than him.....it's all about $$ but it's also about EGOForget NY- but you think LBJ would come to Miami for LESS $$$than what Wade was making ???....lol.....no freakin wayI'm not saying he won't re-up with the cavs- but any team thatalready has a max-type guy is OUT...cause of his ego

I guess you're the expert. He can get more money by staying in cleveland dumb arse.

August 8, 2009  10:38 AM ET
QUOTE(#14):

don't bother with the haters- you'll get nowhere....

it just pisses me off with people that are so ignorant. Every team rebuilds. There has not been 1 year in the NBA that didnt have to rebuild. So what...the kicks are rebuilding like every other team. LA, Detroit, boston, Clevelnd who took 7 years to rebuild, every team goes through that stretch. Look at the Bulls..once every got old...they rehauled the entire team and it took years. I guess people think you wave a magic wand and WALLA a championship....HA. sure if there was no salary cap or trade rules..than sure it can be done. But under the rules of the NBA it takes time to do it.

August 8, 2009  10:41 AM ET
QUOTE(#15):

I guess you're the expert. He can get more money by staying in cleveland dumb arse.

Cleveland will be able to offer LBJ the most money. But after that..that team will be so far over the salary and lux tax that whatever team they put on the floor will be the team for years to come. If LBJ doesnt feel he could win with that team..he will leave for NY. Ny will have more money to spend. They will have money for a max contract in 2010..than another 18 mil frees up after curry and jeffries contracts run out in another year. Plus if LBJ takes less money in NY he will make it up w/endorsements.

August 8, 2009  10:41 AM ET
QUOTE(#8):

I'd like to see LeBron remain with the Cavs, but He's made it clear that he wants the Cavaliers to get him some help. Dan Gilbert must fire Danny Ferry, and bring in someone capable of puting a deal together. If LeBron leaves, the Cavaliers will never recover.

We all like to see things but life is not a fairy tale. This is business so let the man keep his options opened. Forget the Cavs if they didn't get Lebron their best player will still be Ilgauskus.

August 8, 2009  10:42 AM ET
QUOTE(#16):

it just pisses me off with people that are so ignorant. Every team rebuilds. There has not been 1 year in the NBA that didnt have to rebuild. So what...the kicks are rebuilding like every other team. LA, Detroit, boston, Clevelnd who took 7 years to rebuild, every team goes through that stretch. Look at the Bulls..once every got old...they rehauled the entire team and it took years. I guess people think you wave a magic wand and WALLA a championship....HA. sure if there was no salary cap or trade rules..than sure it can be done. But under the rules of the NBA it takes time to do it.

True every team rebuilds. But as of now, the Knicks aren't even close. The organization is poorly ran and frankly the best thing going for the knicks right now is that they are located in New York City. If this same team was located anywhere else, knick fans wouldn't even be able to get their false hopes up anyway.

 
August 8, 2009  10:44 AM ET
QUOTE(#17):

Cleveland will be able to offer LBJ the most money. But after that..that team will be so far over the salary and lux tax that whatever team they put on the floor will be the team for years to come. If LBJ doesnt feel he could win with that team..he will leave for NY. Ny will have more money to spend. They will have money for a max contract in 2010..than another 18 mil frees up after curry and jeffries contracts run out in another year. Plus if LBJ takes less money in NY he will make it up w/endorsements.

This is the logic that makes no sense to me. You're saying that if the Cavs don't put a decent team around him he is going to go to a team with less talent? For some reason that just doesn't compute.

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