Lebron Still Thinking About Cleveland's Max Offer - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

nashtymavsfan13 · 07-07-2006, 11:24 PM

Cavaliers still waiting on LeBron

By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer
July 5, 2006

CLEVELAND (AP) -- LeBron James has the Cleveland Cavaliers waiting and their fans wondering.

James has yet to announce if he's going to accept the club's maximum contract extension, a five-year offer worth about $80 million. Although James isn't eligible for free agency until after next season, his silence -- he received the offer on July 1 -- has led to speculation that he has other plans.

Adding to Cleveland fans' anxiety is that the agents for Miami's Dwyane Wade, Denver's Carmelo Anthony and Toronto's Chris Bosh have told media outlets that their clients have accepted and intend to sign deals with those clubs identical to the one the Cavaliers offered James.

James was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 draft class that included Anthony, Wade and Bosh.

James' agent, Leon Rose, met with the Cavaliers before family commitments kept him away for the holiday weekend. He has not returned phone or e-mail messages.

The contract extension isn't the only thing keeping James busy this summer. He committed to playing for Team USA in the FIBA World Championships and must report to training camp in Las Vegas later this month.

NBA rules prohibit the Cavaliers from commenting on their negotiations with James, who can sign anytime between July 12 and Oct. 1. While waiting for the All-Star forward's decision, the club has not reached agreement with any free agents.

General manager Danny Ferry said last week that his top priority after James' contract is re-signing restricted free agent forward Drew Gooden. The club has had preliminary talks with Gooden's agent, Calvin Andrews.

dude1394 · 07-07-2006, 11:33 PM

Cleveland really doesn't have anything more than the max to offer james. I've heard speculation somewhere that Nike is offering lots more bucks if he goes to a big-market.

Cleveland isn't exactly a great place to be king of the world either.

nashtymavsfan13 · 07-07-2006, 11:43 PM

That's a good point. I was wondering why it was taking so long, cuz it's a max contract, but that's why. Great point.

Tokey41 · 07-07-2006, 11:51 PM

He should go elsewhere... I mean really, forget the money and win a ring with a championship team (because we know no one can do it by themselves, it takes two)... out west... in the southwest division... with a big white guy... yep Housten would be perfect.

#1MavsFan · 07-08-2006, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dude1394

Cleveland really doesn't have anything more than the max to offer james. I've heard speculation somewhere that Nike is offering lots more bucks if he goes to a big-market.

Cleveland isn't exactly a great place to be king of the world either.

Yeah, I read somewhere that if Lebron goes to either nyc, la, or chicago his nike contract will double. So he'll get 200 million out of it instead of the current 100 mil. Also some of his other endorsement deals include something similar to this.

edit: bill simmons mentions it

Quote:

I keep writing about this, and everyone in Cleveland keeps sending me hate mail, and I don't really know what else to tell you ... but people around the league swear that there's a clause in LeBron's Nike contract (already worth $100 million) that doubles the money if he plays for an NBA team based in New York, Chicago or Los Angeles AND that some of his other endorsement deals have the same clause. Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger.

dude1394 · 07-08-2006, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by #1MavsFan

Yeah, I read somewhere that if Lebron goes to either nyc, la, or chicago his nike contract will double. So he'll get 200 million out of it instead of the current 100 mil. Also some of his other endorsement deals include something similar to this.

Hasta' la vista baby. Who the heck can argue with 100million. How long is that Nike contract for anyway?

That would be an interesting off-season. New York, Lakers would be going bonkers clearing cap room. Cleveland could do a lebron-rapist trade straight up! Yuck.

birdsanctuary · 07-08-2006, 12:18 AM

This isn't good for Cleveland...

If I were LA, I'd trade Kobe straight up in a heartbeat...in a heartbeat...

nashtymavsfan13 · 07-08-2006, 12:42 AM

Wow, that sucks for Cleveland.

chumdawg · 07-08-2006, 01:13 AM

James would be giving up a lot to stay in Cleveland.

Just as a side note, how big is Nike that they can afford a fifth of a BILLION dollars in marketing money for one man? Wow.

Dtownsfinest · 07-08-2006, 01:18 AM

I think he stays. He's the hometown kid and I don't know I have a feeling in the back of his head he wants to sort of do for Cleveland what Mike did for Chicago.

But boy if he does become a free agent. Knicks and LA would lose their minds. Knicks have a lot of tradeable assets its just their contracts suck to the point they are damn near untradeable lol. Jamal Crawford may be the only guy on that team with a decent contract.

nashtymavsfan13 · 07-08-2006, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chumdawg

James would be giving up a lot to stay in Cleveland.

Just as a side note, how big is Nike that they can afford a fifth of a BILLION dollars in marketing money for one man? Wow.

Yeah, it seems like a lot, but Nike is a huge company.

dude1394 · 07-08-2006, 01:28 AM

It looks like they spend a ?? billion a year?? Wonder how long LeBrons deal is for?

Quote:

Trying to burnish its image and protect a billion-dollar annual advertising

fluid.forty.one · 07-08-2006, 02:50 AM

He's going to stay, he's just being a big drama queen so people will write articles like this. Free publicity.

#1MavsFan · 07-08-2006, 01:53 PM

LeBron to sign five-year, $80 million extension
Associated Press

CLEVELAND -- LeBron James won't be leaving home anytime soon.

LeBron James
Small Forward
Cleveland Cavaliers

Profile
2006 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
79 31.4 7.0 6.6 .480 .738

Cleveland's All-Star forward accepted a five-year contract extension worth about $80 million from the Cavaliers on Saturday, a huge relief for the rising team and its fretting fans who worried he might be planning an escape.

James, who in three seasons as a pro has turned the Cavaliers from doormats into a playoff team, will sign the deal once the league's moratorium ends Wednesday, said his agent Leon Rose.

"I am very excited and happy to be re-signing with the Cavaliers. Staying in Cleveland ... provides me with the unique opportunity to continue to play in front of my family, friends and fans," James said in a statement released by his publicist. "I look forward to working toward bringing a championship to our great fans and the city of Cleveland."

Unlike fellow 2003 NBA draft classmate Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat, James waited a week before announcing his intention to take the deal, a delay that had Cleveland fans, who have been burned by broken promises before, fearing the worst.

Ever the showman, James let the drama build before agreeing to a deal that will start after the 2007 season and run through 2012-13.

James will make $5.8 million next season, the final year on his rookie contract. The exact amount of James' extension won't be known until later this summer when the league determines the salary cap for next season.

James, who wasn't eligible for restricted free agency until after next season, has said for months that he loves playing in Cleveland and wants to help the Cavaliers win their first NBA championship.

James was the final member of the '03 draft class to accept the extension. Wade, Denver's Carmelo Anthony and Toronto's Chris Bosh all earlier announced their intent to sign.

Almost from the moment the club selected him with the No. 1 overall pick three years ago, insecure Cleveland fans have worried about a day when James would bolt for a bigger paycheck and brighter spotlight in a bigger market such as New York, Los Angeles or Chicago.

It didn't help that James often wears a New York Yankees baseball cap, a fashion accessory looked upon as blasphemous in Northeast Ohio.

V2M · 07-08-2006, 02:13 PM

Glad it's over... was getting tired of media (read ESPN) focussing on this issue for the past week or so!

fluid.forty.one · 07-08-2006, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fluid.forty.one

He's going to stay, he's just being a big drama queen so people will write articles like this. Free publicity.

See?

fluid.forty.one · 07-08-2006, 02:26 PM

Btw stupid of them to think he's going to new york, do you really think the knicks can swallow another 80 million?

#1MavsFan · 07-08-2006, 02:32 PM

The knicks would have found a way to sign him if he wanted to come there. Lebron showed that he isn't a quitter by signing this and continuing to help turn around a team that hasn't had much to look foward too until now. And not to mention he left over a hundred million on the table, wow.

nashtymavsfan13 · 07-08-2006, 02:41 PM

AP NewsBreak: James agrees to extension with Cavaliers

By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer
July 8, 2006

CLEVELAND (AP) -- LeBron James won't be leaving home anytime soon.

Cleveland's All-Star forward agreed Saturday to sign a contract extension of up to five years and worth as much as $80 million with the Cavaliers, a huge relief for the rising team and its fretting fans who worried he might be planning an escape.

James, who in three seasons as a pro has turned the Cavaliers from doormats into NBA title contenders, will sign the deal after the league's moratorium ends on Wednesday, said his agent Leon Rose.

"I am very excited and happy to be re-signing with the Cavaliers. Staying in Cleveland ... provides me with the unique opportunity to continue to play in front of my family, friends and fans," James said in a statement released by his publicist. "I look forward to working toward bringing a championship to our great fans and the city of Cleveland."

Unlike fellow 2003 NBA draft classmate Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat, James waited one week after the team made the offer before announcing his intention to take the deal. The delay since July 1 had Cleveland fans, who have been burned by broken promises before, fearing the worst.

But as he has always done, the 21-year-old from nearby Akron came through in the clutch.

Ever the showman, James let the drama build before agreeing to a deal that will start after the 2007 season and run through 2012-13.

James will make $5.8 million next season, the final year on his rookie contract. The exact amount of James' extension won't be known until later this summer when the league determines the salary cap for next season.

James, who wasn't eligible for restricted free agency until after next season, has said for months that he loves playing in Cleveland and wants to help win the Cavaliers their first NBA championship.

Almost from the moment the club selected him with the No. 1 overall pick three years ago, insecure Cleveland fans have worried about a day when James would bolt for a bigger paycheck and brighter spotlight in a booming market like New York, Los Angeles or Chicago.

That fear was well founded since big-name athletes like Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez and Carlos Boozer all left Cleveland as free agents despite saying they would stay. It didn't help that James often wears a New York Yankees baseball cap, a fashion accessory looked upon as blasphemous in Northeast Ohio.

James, though, kept his word. And at least for now, he plans to stay with Cleveland. He has said repeatedly that he wants to bring the city its first world championship since the Browns won an NFL title in 1964 -- three years before there was even a Super Bowl and 20 years before James' birth.

Following the Cavaliers' impressive run in this year's NBA playoffs, that title might not be far off.

Rose said he hopes to have the deal signed before James reports July 19 to training camp for the U.S. team playing in this summer's World Championships.

With James' extension looming, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert did everything he could to keep the superstar happy.

Last summer, the club spent millions on free agents Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall and Damon Jones and re-signed center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, a player James personally campaigned to keep. In addition, Gilbert renovated Quicken Loans Arena, upgrading the Cavs' locker room and remodeling a family area partly to accommodate the overflow of James supporters at every home game.

The club also is building a high-tech, $20 million training facility in Independence, a short drive from James' suburban home.

At 21, James has more scored more points, handed out more assists and grabbed more rebounds at a younger age than any player in history.

Last season, the 6-foot-8 standout became just the fourth player to average at least 31 points, seven rebounds and six assists, joining an elite group with Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and Michael Jordan. He was named the youngest All-Star game MVP in history, and he finished runner-up to Phoenix's Steve Nash for league MVP honors.

James led the Cavs to 50 regular-season wins and carried them back to the NBA playoffs for the first time since 1998. He recorded a triple-double in his first postseason game against Washington and averaged 30.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists as Cleveland advanced past the Wizards before losing in seven games to Detroit in the second round.

Off the floor, James' No. 23 jersey is everywhere and he's easily Cleveland's most recognized athlete since Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown ran roughshod over NFL defenses for the Browns.

Last season, Nike hung a 10-story banner of a dunking James with the phrase "We Are All Witnesses" written across it on a building across the street from Quicken Loans Arena.

fluid.forty.one · 07-08-2006, 03:15 PM

I'd rather be a Nowitzness than a Witness.

dude1394 · 07-08-2006, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fluid.forty.one

He's going to stay, he's just being a big drama queen so people will write articles like this. Free publicity.

What an asshole.

fluid.forty.one · 07-08-2006, 04:04 PM

That isn't what I meant man

Hey people have done worse for free publicity, I was just calling him out on it anyway.

#1MavsFan · 07-08-2006, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fluid.forty.one

That isn't what I meant man

Hey people have done worse for free publicity, I was just calling him out on it anyway.

If he really wanted publicity he wouldn't have signed it until next season or at least after the 12th. This would have become a much BIGGER topic of interest had he waited a little longer. 4 or 5 days to mull on whether or not you want to lose over a hundred million is acceptable.

nashtymavsfan13 · 07-08-2006, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by #1MavsFan

If he really wanted publicity he wouldn't have signed it until next season or at least after the 12th. This would have become a much BIGGER topic of interest had he waited a little longer. 4 or 5 days to mull on whether or not you want to lose over a hundred million is acceptable.

Yeah, I agree. It was a big decision, and taking 4 or 5 days isn't a big deal. If it was anyone other than Lebron or Wade it wouldn't be so publicised.

sike · 07-09-2006, 12:38 AM

good for Cleveland...they might just get to Rock once again...

#1MavsFan · 07-09-2006, 10:59 PM

LeBron may take less now, for much more later
ESPN.com news services

LeBron James showed himself to be a shrewd businessman as an 18-year-old when he signed gigantic endorsement contracts before even entering the league. The Cleveland Cavaliers star may have pulled off another smart deal.

LeBron James
Small Forward
Cleveland Cavaliers

Profile
2006 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
79 31.4 7.0 6.6 .480 .738

Sources have told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith that James has agreed to a four-year extension worth approximately $60 million, and he can opt out of the deal after three seasons. It had been widely reported that James would sign a five-year, $80 million maximum contract Wednesday. He could have very good reason to settle for less now.

With the NBA's collective bargaining agreement set to expire at the end of the 2010-11 season, James could be positioning himself for an even bigger payday as a free agent when the cap goes up. Under a new agreement, James and other big stars could be in line for deals in the neighborhood of six years and up to $150 million.

Unlike others from his draft class, James waited one week to agree to the Cavs' contract offer. Cleveland, which saw Carlos Boozer bolt for Utah after verbally agreeing to a deal, started to worry. It could be that James' representatives and the Cavaliers were fine-tuning this aspect of his deal.

No contract can be signed until Wednesday, after the league sets the salary cap for teams. That will establish the exact figure for a "max contract," a number that only the Cavaliers, as the team that drafted James, can offer him.

James is heading into the final year of his rookie contract and will earn $5.8 million this season. He would have been eligible for restricted free agency in 2008, but James has said all along that he wanted to return to Cleveland, which is close to his hometown of Akron.

"I am very excited and happy to be re-signing with the Cavaliers. Staying in Cleveland ... provides me with the unique opportunity to continue to play in front of my family, friends and fans," James said in a statement released by his publicist this week. "I look forward to working toward bringing a championship to our great fans and the city of Cleveland."

That a superstar would ask to be paid less than that max would be a groundbreaking maneuver. Then again, James has made a habit of redefining the league. Last year, he became the youngest player in NBA history to average at least 30 points per game over the course of a season. His averages of 31.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game allowed him to join Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to average at least 30 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in a single season.

Now, he could be in line for even more record-setting numbers, these ones on his paycheck. How this affects other superstars around the league remains to be seen. Miami's Dwyane Wade and Denver's Carmelo Anthony also agreed to max contracts this past week. According to Smith, James discussed the deal he was planning to sign with those players. LeBron could be leading the league again ... in business acumen.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

hmmmm

nashtymavsfan13 · 07-09-2006, 11:05 PM

Wow, what a selfish loser.

fluid.forty.one · 07-09-2006, 11:13 PM

150 million for 6 years will be possible after 2011...

wow

nashtymavsfan13 · 07-09-2006, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fluid.forty.one

150 million for 6 years will be possible after 2011...

wow

Yeah, nobody needs that much money. 25 million dollars a year to play basketball?

fluid.forty.one · 07-09-2006, 11:34 PM

This is starting to feel like baseball.

Murphy3 · 07-10-2006, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nashtymavsfan13

Wow, what a selfish loser.

Why?

u2sarajevo · 07-10-2006, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy3

Why?

No kidding.... dude's gotta eat.

nashtymavsfan13 · 07-10-2006, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy3

Why?

Making sure he dos everything possible to get the most money out of everything he does. Instead of just signing and continuing his future with the Cavs he decides to sign for a certain amount of years so they'll have to re-sign him again and for as much money as possible. It's just annoying.

fluid.forty.one · 07-10-2006, 01:28 AM

It's money man, they don't play in the NBA to have fun. If you could choose between 15 million a year and 25 million a year, you'd pick 25 every time.

Heck baseball players make a LOT more (play a lot more games too, but still make a lot more on a yearly basis)

nashtymavsfan13 · 07-10-2006, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fluid.forty.one

It's money man, they don't play in the NBA to have fun. If you could choose between 15 million a year and 25 million a year, you'd pick 25 every time.

Heck baseball players make a LOT more (play a lot more games too, but still make a lot more on a yearly basis)

Yeah, I know, but it bugs me. Nobody needs that much money, especially for playing baseball and basketball.

u2sarajevo · 07-10-2006, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nashtymavsfan13

Yeah, I know, but it bugs me. Nobody needs that much money, especially for playing baseball and basketball.

No kidding. Capitalism sucks.

Five-ofan · 07-10-2006, 08:51 AM

How the hell did none of the other stars from that class' agents find this loophole? Great job by his agent. As for the money, we would all take more money. No matter what you say about how much they make and everything anything more than a million bucks even for nba players is ALOT of money.

dude1394 · 07-10-2006, 09:26 AM

I take back my criticism of him as a prima donna. Smart dude... Way to go lebron...you've got bucks, he got some good advisers going there.

sike · 07-10-2006, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dude1394

I take back my criticism of him as a prima donna. Smart dude... Way to go lebron...you've got bucks, he got some good advisers going there.

all in all...I think he's a good kid...and I hear he plays baketball rather well too.

mary · 07-10-2006, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nashtymavsfan13

Wow, what a selfish loser.

I have the same question...why? I have no problem with the move. He's putting himself in the best postion possible - which is pretty much what the Cavaliers were trying to do as well by offering him a longer extension. Its not selfish at all, just smart.