Send Feedback

Cavaliers Scott Free Agency Basketball

CLEVELAND – After three days being romanced by six NBA teams, a few billionaires, coaches, executives, hip hop’s biggest star, and fixating the sports world on his every move, LeBron James got behind the wheel of his customized car and drove home.

Only he knows where he’s going next.

James concluded his personal free-agent summit on Saturday by hearing presentations from the Cleveland Cavaliers, whose pitch focused on his familiarity with their franchise and tickled his sense of humor, and the Chicago Bulls, the last team and the one believed to have the best chance of stealing him from Ohio.

Click below to view photos of LeBron in action:

The meetings are over.

The guessing game has begun.

The ball is in James’ court.

The Cavs came away from their 90-minute sit down with a renewed confidence that James will re-sign with them.

“It went very well,” said a person with knowledge of Cleveland’s visit, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks. “It was very easy, very relaxed. There were moments of emotion and moments of laughter.”

Knowing James as well as they do, the Cavs, who were represented by owner Dan Gilbert, new coach Byron Scott, general manager Chris Grant and assistant GM Lance Blanks, tried to lighten things up by showing the 25-year-old a cartoon featuring him and his friends as characters.

The team had an animated video made in the style of “Family Guy” — one of James’ favorite TV shows — that depicted some inside jokes and locker-room humor as the Cavaliers reminded James that he is indeed part of their extended family. James was joined in the meetings by business manager Maverick Carter, close friend Randy Mims and agent Leon Rose.

The Cavs’ entourage only had to make a three-block drive from Quicken Loans Arena to James’ downtown business offices to make their homespun proposal to the mega free agent. Instead of making a national tour, James decided to have the New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, Cavs and Bulls meet him on his home turf. At this point, he has not other scheduled visits.

Indications are that James will spend the remainder of the holiday weekend considering the offers before announcing his decision sometime next week.

The Cavs did not ask James when he will announce his decision, the person said.

Because it’s home, because they can offer him $30 million more than any other team on a maximum-length contract, and because they’ve built a championship-caliber team around him, the Cavs feel good about their chances of keeping the two-time MVP.

Hoping to tug on James’ heart strings, the Cavaliers organized a “fan tunnel” down East 9th Street to welcome him. Hundreds of fans lined the sidewalks outside the IMG building, and when James pulled into the parking garage, fans held up signs that said “Home” while others tossed white powder in the air, mimicking his pregame ritual.

As the Cavs departed, the Bulls’ delegation arrived for their meeting — the last of the six scheduled teams to see James and his advisors.

Owner Jerry Reinsdorf, general manager Gar Forman, vice president of basketball operations John Paxson and new coach Tom Thibodeau showed up at 1:15 p.m. dressed business casual in sport coats. Unlike the other suitors, the Bulls did not cart any visual aids or equipment, and as the foursome made its way across the intersection, it looked like basketball’s version of the Beatles on Abbey Road.

The Bulls stayed for three hours, one day after they sat down with Dwyane Wade for the second time since free agency opened. Chicago’s group left in two black SUVs to a chorus of boos from the Cleveland fans who hung around while they were upstairs.

Chicago is hoping the chance to follow Michael Jordan’s larger-than-life legacy, a talented roster featuring rising star guard Derrick Rose and forward Joakim Noah, and nearly $30 million of space under the salary cap will be enough to lure James to the Windy City.

It’s ironic that James would consider joining a team he knocked out of the playoffs last season. But he has said his goal is to win multiple championships, and his addition to the Bulls would make Chicago among the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

With James as their leader, the Cavs made it to the playoffs in each of the past five years, including their first visit to the finals in 2007. But despite having the league’s best regular-season record, they fell short of a title, losing this year to the Boston Celtics in the second round.

James has higher goals, and the Cavs share his vision.

“We’ve done some amazing things the last five years,” Grant said. “We won a lot of games and went deep into the playoffs, but we’re not satisfied with anything we’re doing. We continue to make improvements and upgrade our roster as we move forward. This is the time of year we do those things.

“We think it’s pretty incredible that LeBron chose to have these meetings here in Cleveland, at his home. We want to thank the fans for unbelievable support and support from our city. Very proud of that, and very proud of Northeast Ohio.”

Cleveland fans, pained by decades of sports heartache and without a championship team to call their own since 1964, can’t bear the thought of life without LeBron.

“Without him, we won’t be anything,” said 20-year-old Jordan Martin, who came to see James with his father and three brothers. “If he leaves, the team and the city won’t be the same.”

For others, this was one last chance to show James some love.

Tom and Jill Galmarini, who both grew up in Cleveland, made a 12-hour drive from Charleston, S.C., with their 1-year-old son, Riley, and 4-year-old daughter, Katie, to support James.

“I don’t think he’s going to go anywhere,” Jill Galmarini. “I think he likes being in his hometown.”

RELATED STORIES

Teams Prepare To Woo LeBron As He Enters Free Agency

OPINION: Why LeBron At $125 Million Is Still A Bargain

Tags: Cleveland, LeBron James, NBA
Recommend to friends!
  • BlackPlanet
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • email

News One Links

 
  • http://www.blackplanet.com/digg_it_up/ digg_it_up

    after they screwed his mom….how brave

  • http://www.blackinfo.net/?p=1823 Black Info.Net » Blog Archive » Cavaliers Try To Sell LeBron On Staying In Cleveland

    [...] original post here:  Cavaliers Try To Sell LeBron On Staying In Cleveland No Comments Read [...]

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/STL2THICK1/ STL2THICK1

    If he leaves & takes the offer he will b the highest paid player ever n the history of sports 2 b playing…They r talkin billionaire status god luck Lebron on watever u decide luv…

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/DJ_Panik74/ DJ_Panik74

    I say he should go to either Chicago or Miami, at least it’s a better shot at a chance at the finals…why stay with a team that has been, and always will be just playoff contenders?

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/geode07/ geode07

    Doesn’t really matter WHERE he goes. He is not a KOBE or SHAQ who can make teams instant contenders. It’s a fact that he’ll crack under pressure and all it would take to derail him is for a team-mate to have sex with his “horish” momma. He’ll never SMELL a ring let alone win one.

  • http://www.stressgames.org/cleveland-might-feel-economic-pinch-without-lebron/ Cleveland might feel economic pinch without LeBron

    [...] Cavaliers Try To Sell LeBron On Staying In Cleveland | News One [...]

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/austered_man/ austered_man

    Monday Night’s @ 9pm listen to The Grill, the most controversial, web cast call-in radio show hosted by General Yahanna at http://isupk.org/Radio_Show/in dex.htm Come and listen to the one man even Washington, D.C. city officials could not stop from being heard. His provocative perspective is sure to challenge you to think twice on controversial topics in our community that today’s leaders will never discuss. Bring your questions to General Yahanna on The Grill, Monday night’s @ 9pm!

    LOST SHEEP OF ISRAEL
    JUDAH….THE NEGROES
    BENJAMIN….WEST INDIES
    LEVI….HAITIANS
    SIMEON…..DOMINICANS
    ZEBULON….GUATEMALA TO PANAMA
    EPHRAIM….PUERTO RICO
    MANASSEH….CUBANS
    GAD….NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS
    REUBEN….SEMINOLE INDIANS
    NAPTHALI….ARGENTINA TO CHILE
    ASHER….COLUMBIA TO URUGUAY
    ISSACHAR….MEXICANS

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/CaliFemme23/ CaliFemme23

    He’s already shown he can’t get that ring…MVP or not, championship is where it counts…

    Send the boy to the NETS and wrap this up already….

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/AsileeDotCom/ AsileeDotCom

    I hope he leave. So everyone here can get off his nutsac and rip the murals off the walls. I’m sick of seeing his face and hearing his name. The economy will do fine without him. The citizens of Cleveland, Ohio are pathetic.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/tmac25nyc/ tmac25nyc

    Lebron gonna team up with Stoudemire and Anthony on the Knicks baby!!!!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/jazzwatch/ jazzwatch

    Go where the BEST is, and Cleveland isn’t it….neither is that SITCOM, even with that legend Betty White…..

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Poppy-oya/ Poppy-oya

    I truly think now that LB will stay with the Cavs

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/chooseylover3/ chooseylover3

    “GEODE07″ YOU ARE AN IGNORANT SON OF A B***H. Why would you talk about his mom that way? Maybe someone needs to f**k the s**t out of your “hoe-ass mammy”!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/chooseylover3/ chooseylover3

    Now back to the issue, i think he really wants a ring, and he sees that it’s not likely to happen in Cleveland. Come to Chicago and team with Rose, Noah, Deng, and Bosh will come too. You can make more money here AND have a better shot at winning than in New York Or New Jersey, they BOTH SUCK, and our PIZZA is the best:)

  • http://newsone.com/breaking-news/newsonestaff2/lebron-announces-hell-go-to-the-miami-heat/ LeBron Announces He’ll Go To The Miami Heat | News One

    [...] Cavaliers Try To Sell LeBron On Staying In Cleveland TAGS: Basketball, LeBron James, Miami Heat, NBA Recommend to friends! [...]

  • http://newsone.com/entertainment/sports-entertainment/newsonestaff5/amare-stoudemire-embracing-jewish-roots-in-israel/ Amare Stoudemire Embracing Jewish Roots In Israel | News One

    [...] RELATED: Cavs Try To Sell LeBron On Staying In Cleveland [...]

  • http://symptomsoflowvitamind.blogspot.com/ Symptoms Of Low Vitamin D

    Symptoms Of Low Vitamin D…

    we like to honor many other internet sites on the web, even if they aren’t linked to us, by linking to them. Under are some webpages worth checking out…

  • http://smartwomanguides.com/2010/04/12/what-bad-internet-marketers-have-in-common-with-pedafile-priests international dating

    free dating sites…

    Here is a Great Blog You Might Find Interesting that we Encourage You…

  • http://facebookofsex.yaforia.com/ login zoosks

    dating site bambiss…

    here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting…

  • http://running.competitor.com/2010/09/training-tips/the-front-to-back-balancing-act_14676 click submit

    singles dating…

    Read was interesting, stay in touch………

  • http://mickey.ifp.uiuc.edu/wiki/User_talk:Tikimikazf ipad

    Totally free excellent opinion…

    Hey there and thank you on your information � I�ve certainly picked up anything new from right hereI did then again experience some technical points the usage of this site, sinceIskilled to reload the site lots of occasions previous toIcould get it…

  • http://www.bettersoftware.it/blog/2010/01/25/better-software-promuove-open-source click here

    dating games…

    Sites of interest we have a link to…

  • http://www.muzykomachia.pl/od-black-metalu-po-trip-hop-i-bog-wie-co-jeszcze site

    free dating…

    The information mentioned in the article are some of the best available…

  • http://www.bettersoftware.it/blog/2010/01/07/fan-page-vanity-url click here

    dating site reviews…

    The information mentioned in the article are some of the best available…

  • http://www.facebookofsex.adult-date.net/ enter your email

    dating site 2008 free…

    although websites we backlink to below are considerably not related to ours, we feel they are actually worth a go through, so have a look…

  • http://www.pwnordie.com/2010/02/24/guitar-hero-gets-a-third-eye-blind url

    military dating…

    Websites worth visiting……

  • http://howtofightdepression.weebly.com/ how to manage anxiety

    How To Fight Depression…

    We like to link to sites we think are especially good…

  • http://kinky.adultcrowd.com kinky

    dating site dating services…

    Websites worth visiting……

  • http://hivsymptomsinmen613.webs.com/apps/blog/show/7920442-construction-of-an-hiv-2kr-shuttle-vector-and-hiv-2-hiv-1-v3-chimeras- hiv symptoms

    {Superb|Excellent|Exceptional|Fantastic|Outstanding|Wonderful} {website|web site|site|internet site|web page|web-site}…

    Add to http://hivsymptomss915.wetpaint.com/page/AIDS%3A+Indications+and+indications+%2862%29 often an enormous admirer of linking to bloggers that I love but really do not receive a whole lot of link really like…

  • http://www.facebookofsex.unfaithfulwives.net/ facebook ofsex

    singles dating sites…

    Thanks for the recommendations on credit repair on this amazing web-site. Some tips i would offer as advice to people is to give up this mentality that they buy currently and pay out later. Like a society most people tend to do this for many factors. T…

  • http://www.biz33.com/small-biz/2006-email-address-of-sucker-within-incorporated-state-of-america/ 2006 email address of sucker within incorporated state of america?

    While searching Yahoo I discovered this page in the results and I didn’t think it fit…

    Looking around…

  • http://tinyurl.com/afacebookofsex facebookofsex

    free internet dating…

    I have been browsing online more than 3 hours as of late, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It๏ฟฝs pretty price sufficient for me. In my view, if all webmasters and bloggers made excellent content material as you probably did, the n…

  • http://www.avvo.com/attorneys/60601-il-hall-adams-1127229.html levitra

    Great article…

    thank you for sharing with us, I think this website truly stands out : D….

blog comments powered by Disqus
?>