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It's that starting spot.
Not sure if this was posted already or not..
Sources: LeBron says he'll stay
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By Chris Broussard
ESPN The Magazine
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The Cleveland Cavaliers got some bad news followed by some potentially terrific news on Sunday. In a last-ditch effort to recruit Trevor Ariza away from the Houston Rockets, LeBron James told Ariza he would remain with the Cavaliers past 2010, according to a person close to Ariza.
Even that wasn't enough to get Ariza, who verbally committed to join the Rockets last Thursday, to change his mind and go to Cleveland.
James
But the Cavaliers will gladly settle for the consolation prize; if indeed James' statement to Ariza was more than an empty sales pitch.
"Trevor asked LeBron if he would be in Cleveland after next season," the source said. "And LeBron said, 'I'll be there. Of course, I'll be there.'"
James could not be reached for comment on Monday.
James' conversation with Ariza was part of the Cavaliers' attempt to make the free agent swingman the next Hedo Turkoglu, who backed out of his promise last week to join Portland and instead accepted a deal with Toronto.
Cavs general manager Danny Ferry and head coach Mike Brown flew to Los Angeles and met with Ariza on Sunday, according to several sources with knowledge of the situation.
Ariza
Ariza, who had accepted a five-year, $33.5 million offer from the Rockets last Thursday, also received telephone calls from James and Shaquille O'Neal. When James told Ariza he'd be a Cavalier past next season, Ariza was less than convinced.
"He thought it was just a recruiting tool," the source said. "LeBron definitely said it, but until he signs the contract it doesn't mean much."
The Cavaliers did not ask James or O'Neal to call Ariza, but as he did with Ron Artest, James took it upon himself to reach out. James' future in Cleveland has been an issue with potential signees.
Artest, whom the Cavaliers had interest in before he agreed to terms with the Lakers, was concerned about signing a multiyear deal with Cleveland because of James' ability to leave in 2010. And even O'Neal, who was traded to the Cavs less than two weeks ago, tried to find out about James' long-term plans with the club during trade talks.
Even so, according to sources, a flattered Ariza strongly considered reneging on his agreement with the Rockets and heading for Cleveland, which made him the same offer as Houston last week. In the end, however, he decided to keep his word to the Rockets.
"He's a very loyal person," the source said. "[Rockets coach] Rick Adelman had lunch with him for three straight days last week and that meant a lot to him."
Ariza presumably will sign with the Rockets on Wednesday, the first day free agents are allowed to sign contracts. But until then, other teams can recruit him, and he can change his mind.
Though Ferry and Brown left Los Angeles Sunday night thinking their mission had failed, the Cavaliers spoke with Ariza's representatives one last time Monday afternoon, only to be told that he still planned to be a Rocket.
Sources say several factors led to Ariza's decision. First, his toddler son lives in Los Angeles with his mother and Ariza liked that Houston was a much shorter flight than Cleveland. Second, Adelman promised him the Rockets would feature him offensively while the Cavaliers refused to guarantee him a starting job. Instead, the Cavs told him he'd be given a legitimate chance to compete for the spot against last year's starter, Delonte West.
"He wanted to be sure he'd start," the source said. "That was a big hang-up."
While an about-face is still possible, the Cavaliers, who met with Channing Frye in Cleveland on Monday, aren't holding their breath.
"As far as we're concerned, he's going to Houston," a team executive said. "We've moved on."
The Cavaliers, of course, are hoping James doesn't do the same thing a year from now.
Chris Broussard covers the NBA for ESPN The Magazine.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4310284
It's that starting spot.
^ It's also the fact that it's a five year commitment, and there's a pretty good chance that the last four of those years will be without Lebron. No Lebron means no shot at another ring.
that genius business move is starting to hurt the team. lebron didnt expect this but he will become filthy rich eventually . a champ maybe not soon
He's leaving the Lakers. If LeBron left it would mean a starting spot for him.
Lol Knicks.
Those rings must be why he has verbally committed to Houston. Afterall only a winner would want to go a team whose franchise players are injured with not much likelihood of ever fully recovering.
he chose a place where he can start over a place he could help a team win a championship. Says alot about the make up of the 2009-10 Rockets
Sorry homie, but Boston is comin out of the east next year
and the Rockets won't be anywhere near the Finals
Thank God we don't have to climb & claw over all that (Cleveland, Boston, Orlando) to get there again. Just cruise around San Antonio, leaving Pop in the rear view mirror. Buh, bye, Pop.
& Lordy if Boston gets hosed somehow by Cleveland on Stern's behalf. Oh, me/Oh, my, it's gonna be a sight. Wallace & Garnett wronged? Can ya imagine it?
no it means he is thinking about his future rather than the .1% chance that the cavs have to win the 2010 championship. he knows lebron's ass is gone. shaq is a fat . why the would he want to be stuck in broke down cleveland? unlike lebron, ariza will actually keep his word.
Neither will Cleveland after Lebrick leaves
Doesn't matter if you don't make the finals, even a 2nd round appearance doesn't win you anything. A high draft pick does.
John wall be a rocket at the end of next season
haha, or maybe ariza has respect for a team that took his lakers team 7 games and posed more of a challenge than the cavs ever would have.
The facts are simple.
-Lebron is staying which automatically makes the Cavs better than any team the Rockets can assemble.
-A guy who can start for the Rockets would come off the bench in Cleveland
-The same guy chose being a me-first player in Houston over a chance at a ring in Cleveland. Proving he is not hungry to win, just hungry to put up stats. Might as well go and sign Ricky Davis while you are at it
Oh really??? I guess it's just a coincidence that everybody but Lebron choked in the playoffs
I didn't say the role players were great, but the Cavs with Lebron are better than whoever the Rockets can put together. Especially with Ariza as your focal point
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Heart and hustle beats talentI didn't say the role players were great, but the Cavs with Lebron are better than whoever the Rockets can put together. Especially with Ariza as your focal point
i hope he does, but its certainly not sure
http://blogs.chron.com/jeromesolomon...uille_one.html
First, his toddler son lives in Los Angeles with his mother and Ariza liked that Houston was a much shorter flight than Cleveland. Second, Adelman promised him the Rockets would feature him offensively while the Cavaliers refused to guarantee him a starting job. Instead, the Cavs told him he'd be given a legitimate chance to compete for the spot against last year's starter, Delonte West.
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