Ouch!
In a setback to the Knicks’ grandiose free-agency dreams, LeBron James yesterday made the Cavaliers the favorites to re-sign him this offseason.
And in a double whammy, Dwyane Wade offered a similar sentiment to the Associated Press regarding staying in Miami.
In an interview with CNN’s Larry King conducted at James’ Akron, Ohio, home, the Cleveland star said the Cavaliers “have an edge” with the free-agent shopping period less than a month away.
Asked if he was leaning toward the Cavaliers or if they had an edge due to his familiarity with the team, James responded “absolutely.”
“Because, this city, these fans, I mean, have given me a lot in these seven years,” he told King. “And, you know, for me, it’s comfortable. So I’ve got a lot of memories here … so it does have an edge.”
But by no means does that make the Cavaliers a slam-dunk to retain his services.
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“I’m far from close [to a decision],” James said. “I’ve thought about it, but I haven’t begun to strategize exactly.”
Wade was leaving a Miami courtroom yesterday when asked if the Heat were his top choice.
“You know that hasn’t changed,” he said after reaching a settlement regarding a failed restaurant deal with former business partners.
James’ interview with King was taped yesterday and is scheduled to air Friday on “Larry King Live.” James agreed to the interview to pay homage to the show’s 25th anniversary.
In other comments, James said:
* On a proposed summit meeting with other top free agents: “It will be fun to get all the free agents together and … figure out a way how we can make the league better.”
* On perhaps teaming, somewhere, with a second maximum free agent: “If you put me and [Chris] Bosh on the same team, if you put me and Wade on the same team … a lot of teams would be much better.”
* On his impact on the local Cleveland economy: “As far as saving the city economically, I can’t get too involved. I can’t let that be a decision of mine or what I do with my future.”
* On loyalty: “It’s not always about the city. It’s about winning.”
There marked James’ first public comments since his postgame press conference after the Cavaliers were eliminated by Boston in the second round of the NBA playoffs. James left the door wide open to a messy exit, saying his “team,” referring to his inner circle of friends and advisers, would “execute a gameplan” this summer. Free agency begins July 1.
But since the Cavaliers’ ouster, they have fired coach Mike Brown, whose offensive strategy, sources have said, clashed with James’ vision. Plus, the Celtics proved no fluke and are four victories away from winning their second title in three years after battering Orlando in the Eastern Conference finals.
The Bulls have emerged as the favorite if James leaves Cleveland, with the Knicks appearing a second choice.
Miami has long been viewed as Wade’s preference, and it appears he will try to recruit either Bosh or Amare Stoudemire with its open salary-cap room. Wade and Bosh have the same agent, Henry Thomas, who denies a grand summit will be held with the top free agents.
Where does that leave the Knicks, who have enough cap room to sign two maximum players? If James stays and Wade and Bosh pair up in Miami, the best they could do is lure Hawks All-Star Joe Johnson, along with either Dirk Nowitzki, who could be on the market if he doesn’t sign a contract extension by July 1, or Stoudemire. It hardly is a home run, but it would avert a disaster.
Yesterday, on a conference call to promote the NBA Finals that begin tomorrow, NBA TV’s Chris Webber said he felt the Knicks have an “uphill climb” in free agency and felt the Bulls might not be a good fit for James because of Derrick Rose’s need for the ball. Webber said he felt James would stay in Cleveland.
“I had the feeling if he won one, he’d definitely leave,” Webber said. “He didn’t, so I don’t know.”
Webber, a prominent free agent in 2001, was interested in the Knicks, wanting to team with Latrell Sprewell, but ultimately the Knicks didn’t have cap room. But that was when the Knicks made the playoffs annually.
“New York always had the allure, playing in one of the best arenas ever,” Webber said. “It’s definitely on the world stage. But guys want to win. The fact of the matter is they don’t have the framework with players to come in. It may be an uphill battle, but you never know. Anything’s possible. It will have to take more than one superstar to agree. I can’t see one superstar taking it on.
“I would have to think that would be a situation you see two powerhouses go there at the same time,” Webber added. “The worst thing a free agent can do is go to a team and start over, because having to lose is so exhausting in the NBA. They’ll have to do a great PR and selling job that they can win.”