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LeBron Fever Enters The Final Stretch
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 26, 2010
Modified Jun 26, 2010
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 26, 2010
Modified Jun 26, 2010
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When July 1 comes, LeBron James will, officially, be pursued by numerous basketball teams hoping to land a "King." According to Yahoo Sports, his advisors plan to allow the "New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers make presentations," with NJ making the first one in Akron, Ohio. And New York will be heading to Ohio, too, since their fancy plans have been put on ice.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported on Thursday, "The tentative plan is for Knicks management and officials to host James and his various agents and friends for a large dinner party catered by a celebrity chef. The Knicks are currently scouring the city for an available high-rise condo or apartment with a great view to rent for the event, the source said." But then James's business manager said, "LeBron is not going on a tour. He never planned to go on a tour and has not been a part of any team's plans for a recruiting trip." Still, James was in NYC on Thursday, partying with Mary J. Blige and Jeremy Piven (?!).
The Daily News' Frank Isola tries to rally the spirits of those hoping for LeBron to join the Knicks, "Although the Bulls and Heat are clearing cap space, several people familiar with James' thinking believe that the Knicks are still his desired destination if he elects to leave Cleveland in his rearview mirror. 'He told me after the Olympics he wanted to live in New York. And as far as I know nothing has changed.' "
Still, the Bulls are apparently a favorite, because besides clearing salaries, they have a great point guard in Derrick Rose. But David Letterman would rather LeBron stay in Ohio, as shown in this interview with Jay-Z (Nets part owner). Jay-Z was also careful in his words about James:
Outgoing Nets President Rod Thorn thinks the Nets have a decent shot, telling the Post that new owner, Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, is serious about success, "He wants to win -- and he's made it very clear he wants to win -- and we happen to have a lot of cap room. With his persona, with all the publicity and everything around his buying the team and his public pronouncements that he is going to do whatever it takes to have a top flight team, I think it's got the attention of players and agents. People are at least curious."
Tagged
basketball
cleveland cavalier
free agency
knicks
Lebron James
Mikhail Prokhorov
nets
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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