LeBron James, the prize of the 2010 NBA free-agent class, looks into the crowd during the 2010 Eastern Conference semifinals.
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James has not tipped his hand in terms of what direction he is going to go regarding his future. He claimed his hometown Cavaliers “have an edge,” but the Bulls, Heat, Clippers, Knicks and Nets are potential landing spots.
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James has met with the Knicks and Nets and will meet with the rest of his suitors over the July 4th weekend.
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LeBron James has made it known that his idol is Michael Jordan, which could be a hint he will sign with Jordan’s old team, the Chicago Bulls.
JCalderon / Splash News
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Coming off of two consecutive MVP awards, signing James will make any team an automatic contender.
EPA
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Part of the Knicks’ pitch was New York’s endless energy — and the chance for “The King” to reap as much as $1.94 billion in salary (from a five-year max deal) plus endorsements if he bolts Cleveland and finishes his career with the Knicks.
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According to a source in the room during the Knicks meeting, James told Knicks brass his decision will come very soon. One report said he wants to decide by Monday.
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James is the leading member of one of the most highly touted free-agent classes of all-time.
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If James were to choose another city, his signing would be as big as Shaquille O’Neal’s free agency departure from Orlando to Los Angeles back in the 1990s.
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James has played his entire career in Cleveland, with the highest point reaching the NBA Finals in 2007.
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Many people believe the key to signing James is the pledge to build a championship caliber team around him.
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The Cavaliers are believed to have gained more leverage in the James saga by hiring former Nets and Hornets coach Byron Scott.
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The Miami Heat may have a slight edge in signing LeBron, with an outside possibility of uniting him with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
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James reportedly met with the Miami Heat for over three hours on the second day of free agency.
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LeBron could wind up joining the New Jersey Nets, who are partially owned by his good friend Jay-Z.
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James was apparently a good listener when he met with the Knicks, not saying much during the meeting. “He didn’t give us much feedback,” said Allan Houston, assistant to the president, who was present.
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A team source said the Knicks realize the primary way to win the LeBron Sweepstakes is for James to want part of the sizzle of New York.
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LeBron is no stranger to glitz and glamor, a point New York tried to sell to him during their pitch.
Vogue
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LeBron has said that no matter what his team of advisers says, the decision is his and his alone.
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LeBron is one of the most marketable athletes in all of sports, meaning the number of endorsements in a major market is endless, a point the Knicks sold during their presentation.
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Despite winning 12 games last season, Nets brass seemed to come out of the meetings with more swagger than the Knicks.
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The Knicks recruiting team did its best to wow James with a series of videos from fans, celebrities and former Knicks greats.
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James will be looking to team up with another max-contract free agent and help bring a championship to whichever team he decides to join.
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Which team will James be taking pictures of next year? His role as the locker room leader was visible in his pregame warmups and antics with his Cavaliers teammates.
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James sits with his girlfriend Savana Brinson and son Bryce Maximus. Will they soon be courtside fixtures at MSG?
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James was strangely quiet when he left the meetings Thursday. As he whisked through the hallway of the IMG building in jeans, shades and a white T-shirt after the meetings, he had no comment when reporters asked how it went.
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Madison Square Garden will need to have a large amount of chalk on demand if they manage to sign James for five years.
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The basketball world will sit and wait as James and the rest of the free agent class make their decisions where to play in 2010-11.
AP
