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Home , Chris Bosh, Frank Vogel, Lou Williams, Micky Arison

8C • SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2014 NBA OMAHA WORLD-HERALD NOTES LeBron shows maturity in decision

BY JIM LITKE what’s worth saying after everything out of bringing a group together and THE ASSOCIATED PRESS that’s already been said? helping them reach a place they didn’t Just that the next chapter in James’ know they could go.” This isn’t Brett Favre or Joe Mon- story will turn out to be worth every Parse the entire statement if you tana, or any other over-the-hill star penny — if not quite every word — want. But everything you need to — insert your own favorite here — that’s been lavished on him. know is in those last two sentences. shopping teams in search of one last Going back home to try to win a When James announced the original hurrah. championship after what some of his decision in 2010, no athlete in histo- In the NBA, one supremely talented neighbors put him through takes real ry ever held so much sway over his individual can make a world of differ- guts. It’s what plenty of us wanted sport without winning a title fi rst. The ence. LeBron James proved as much James to do the fi rst time around: Be- only thing he could rightly claim to by carrying his team into fi ve of the have like a real king: Dig in his heels be the king of was hype, hypocrisy past seven NBA Finals. What’s going and redouble his effort to patch the and stacking the deck by lighting out to make this quest for a championship cracks in the foundation of a Cavaliers for South Beach to join superfriends in Cleveland the best sports story franchise that spent more than seven and . A few out there for some time is that he’s seasons and hundreds of millions of his tattoos — “Loyalty” and “330” committed to try to tip the balance of trying to build him a throne. (the Akron, Ohio, area code) — made power by himself, if need be, to pay That’s the way , a mockery of his words as they spilled back all of those folks who nurtured , and Kobe out of his mouth. him from the start. Bryant got their championship rings. He’d been trying so hard to please “My goal is still to win as many We even held out hope at the time that the various constituencies he’d ac- titles as possible, no question. But James might give the Cavs a home- quired since coming into the league what’s most important for me is town discount, taking less money than that you wondered whether James bringing one trophy back to Northeast he was worth to free up cap space even knew what he really wanted. Ohio,” James said in a Sports Illustrat- down the road, the way But the LBJ who returns four years ed fi rst-person story published Friday has done more than once. later is much different. announcing his decision to return to No disrespect to what James accom- For all of the grief he’s caught in THE ASSOCIATED PRESS the Cavaliers. plished in Miami: two NBA titles, two the four years since, James has been Free agent Chris Bosh was thought to be closing in on a max deal with “I always believed that I’d return to Finals MVPs and two more regu- a model citizen throughout — poised, before sources indicated Friday he would be signing a similar Cleveland and fi nish my career there. lar-season MVPs, among others. But polite, accessible, generous with his contract with Miami. Bosh spent the past four seasons with the Heat. I just didn’t know when,” he said. it will be even better when he wins time and money, durable — and he Had James delayed the announce- another one this way. plays hard every night. He went to Sources: Bosh agrees they would like Stephenson back, ment much longer, the army of in-stu- “It will be a long process, much Miami four years ago because it would they also realize that the Pacers dio analysts and on-scene reporters longer than it was in 2010,” he wrote be easier to win a title. He returns to to max deal with Heat must fi nd more scoring punch deployed by every media outlet on the in SI. “My patience will get tested. I Cleveland knowing exactly how hard — with or without Stephenson — planet would need catheters to stay know that. I’m going into a situation it will be. If you want to call that matu- Chris Bosh said countless after the Heat eliminated Indiana on the job. If nothing else, that part of with a young team and a new coach. I rity, and put that quality at the top of times in recent weeks that he in the playoffs each of the past our long national nightmare is over. So will be the old head. But I get a thrill the list, you’ll get no argument here. did not want to leave Miami. three years. Not even LeBron James’ departure changed his mind. Knicks waive Odom, And shortly after the Heat — LeBron James in letter to Sports Illustrated took a King-sized hit, their future re-sign Aldrich “I feel my calling here goes above . ... I’m coming home.” started coming together. NEW YORK — The New York Bosh is staying in Miami, Knicks waived veteran forward agreeing Friday to a fi ve-year and re-signed contract that will be worth Cole Aldrich. about $118 million, said two Knicks President people familiar with the deal. signed Odom, who played for They spoke to the Associated him in Los Angeles, at the end of Press on condition of anonymity last season. But the former Sixth because neither side had Man of the Year never played a confirmed it publicly. game for New York. Keeping Bosh addresses one Jackson said Friday in a of Miami’s top priorities after statement: “Unfortunately, getting the news earlier in the Lamar was unable to uphold the day that James was leaving standards to return as an NBA the Heat and returning to the player. We found it necessary to . free up the roster spot.” There’s still plenty of work But the Knicks are keeping for Heat President to Aldrich, who averaged 2.0 points do, however. But fi rst, he and and 2.8 rebounds in 46 games the team lauded what James last season. meant to them over the last four seasons. “While I am disappointed Suns get guard Th omas by LeBron’s decision to leave in sign-and-trade deal Miami, no one can fault another person for wanting to return PHOENIX — The home,” Riley said in a statement agreed to a sign-and-trade deal Friday night. “The last four years with the for have been an incredible run for guard Isaiah Thomas, two South Florida, Heat fans, our people with knowledge of the organization and for all of the situation said Friday. players who were a part of it. The people, who sought LeBron is a fantastic leader, anonymity because the deal has athlete, teammate and person, not been officially announced, and we are all sorry to see him say Thomas is signing a four- go.” year, $27 million contract. In Next up for the Heat: More exchange, the Kings get the than likely, it’s a deal with rights to center Alex Oriakhi, a Dwyane Wade, who has spent second-round draft pick of the all 11 of his NBA seasons in Suns in 2013, plus a $7 million Miami. Wade and Miami were trade exception. negotiating a new contract Friday, Thomas was a restricted THE ASSOCIATED PRESS a move that was expected from free agent who was in Phoenix Graphic designer Alvin Smith holds up a poster across the street from the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, heralding the return of LeBron James to the the moment the 2006 NBA meeting with the Suns on NBA’s Cavaliers. News of James’ return triggered a spontaneous downtown celebration during Friday’s lunch hour. Finals MVP opted out of a deal Thursday and Friday. that would have paid him about The Kings were not expected $42 million during the next two to match any offer sheet for LeBron: seasons. Thomas after agreeing to a James, Cavs’ owner work out their differences “I know where I’m going,” Wade three-year, $15 million deal with Continued from Page 1 WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING was in Las Vegas earlier this told the AP on Thursday, one day free agent Darren Collison last A sampling of the reaction to LeBron James returning to Cleveland: week, James met with Heat before James let the world know week. With Friday’s agreement, “I looked at other teams, but I President Pat Riley, the archi- wasn’t going to leave Miami for that he was going elsewhere. the Kings at least get something “YESSSSSSSS!! Couldn’t be happier for my guy @KingJames and the @ tect who assembled Miami’s anywhere except Cleveland,” While Miami is working to get a for Thomas. cavs #Cleveland.” back-to-back championship he said to SI. “The more time Wade deal fi nalized, it’s unclear In other news: — Johnny Manziel, Cleveland Browns quarterback teams. passed, the more it felt right. when Bosh will actually sign his » Jazz: Formally signed draft Riley made a fi nal pitch, but This is what makes me happy.” “Welcome Home @KingJames. I am excited for the fans and people of contract — though that won’t picks Dante Exum and Rodney he had nothing to match the James had not yet signed a Cleveland and Ohio. No fans and people deserve a winner more than hold up the Heat from making Hood. overwhelming lure of home. contract, but he made it clear them.... My 8-year-old: “Daddy, does this mean I can fi nally wear my other moves. He’s expected to “Before anyone ever cared Exum, a 6-foot-6 guard from he will wear a Cavaliers jersey Lebron jersey, again?”...Yes it does, son. Yes it does!” where I would play basketball, be in Ghana until next week, Australia, was the fi fth overall next season. — Cavaliers owner I was a kid from northeast which creates a logistical pick in June’s NBA draft. He “When I left Cleveland, I was “I am shocked & disappointed in today’s news. However I will never Ohio,” James told SI. “People challenge. averaged 18.2 points, 3.6 on a mission,” James said in forget what Lebron brought us for 4 years. Thanks for memories @ Bosh is an All-Star who rebounds and 3.8 assists with the SI fi rst-person story. “I was there have seen me grow up. I averaged 16.2 points on 52 the Australian team at last year’s KingJames” sometimes feel like I’m their seeking championships, and we — Heat owner percent shooting last season FIBA U19 World Championships. won two. But Miami already son. Their passion can be over- whelming. But it drives me.” and now fi gures to get more Hood was the 23rd overall pick knew that feeling. Our city “Can’t blame a man for wanting to return home to play. Wish nothing but James may never surpass Mi- shots in the Heat offensive in the draft out of Duke. hasn’t had that feeling in a long, the best to @KingJames !!” scheme. Bosh has averaged The terms of the deals were long, long time. My goal is still — Team USA soccer player Jozy Altidore chael Jordan’s six titles, but his 19.2 points in 11 NBA seasons. not released. Both players are to win as many titles as possible, legacy could be bringing one to eligible to play for the Jazz in no question. But what’s most “Thank you to @KingJames for giving us 4 great years! Wish you much Cleveland, devoid of a champi- Pacers fi ll holes, still waiting the NBA Summer League in Las important for me is bringing one success back home in Ohio.” onship in any sport since 1964. Vegas. trophy back to northeast Ohio.” — U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. “I’m not promising a cham- on Stephenson pionship,” he said. “I know how » Hawks: Requested waivers The talented kid from Akron, “Had the Heat the entire way. Lebron is a bigger man than me. I would on forward . now a homecoming king. hard that is to deliver. We’re INDIANAPOLIS — The Pacers have had a hard time forgiving Gilbert after that letter. Props to Lebron.” not ready right now. No way. Of couldn’t keep waiting around for The move announced Friday Cleveland is thrilled to have — Former tennis great Andy Roddick was expected after the Hawks him back. James is the league’s course, I want to win next year, Lance Stephenson to make up but I’m realistic.” his mind. acquired Salmons from best all-around player, a four- “Sitting in France when I got the news that @KingJames is going home to last week. time MVP who was dubbed “The Cleveland. Congrats to LeBron and the Cavs fans!” He’s starting fresh with So Friday, they went to work. Gilbert, who famously wrote Atlanta dealt away guard Chosen One” as a can’t-miss — Magic Johnson The two-time Eastern Conference a blistering letter condemning Lou Williams and the rights to high school star who learned the runners-up announced they “What he just did was patriotic in its own way, was courageous. It’s going James and calling him disloyal, Brazilian center game on the playgrounds of Ak- had signed three free agents to be one of the most historic things of our generation. I’m glad I got to narcissistic and cowardly. — backup big man Lavoy Allen, in a move to clear space under ron, about 40 miles from Cleve- land. At 6-foot-8, 260 pounds, he witness this moment for sure.” At some point, the two worked swingman C.J. Miles and Damjan the salary cap. can score from all over and is — Rapper , a friend of James out their differences. Rudez, a sharp-shooting forward By paying the $1 million buyout “I’ve met with Dan, face-to- of Salmons’ $7 million salary, one of the game’s best passers from Europe. and defenders. face, man-to-man,” James said. Coach hopes those the Hawks will have about $11.5 the head coaching job, too, and during Friday’s lunch hour. Staying in Miami would have spent the past fi ve seasons as an Car horns blared and strang- “We’ve talked it out.” moves are just a precursor to million for additional signings. Now, like a kid who spent four been easy. He could have made assistant for coach ers high-fived on the sidewalks re-signing Stephenson, who led They opened free agency by years away at college, James is another run at a third title with Boston and the L.A. Clip- outside Quicken Loans Arena, the NBA with fi ve triple-doubles formally announcing a deal for coming home. and fi fth straight NBA Finals pers. Lue is also friends with where James had so many big last season. Oklahoma City swingman Thabo appearance with close friends “I feel my calling here goes James. moments during his fi rst seven Indiana has offered Sefolosha. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, above basketball,” he said. “I James will again work for seasons as a pro. Stephenson a fi ve-year deal » Warriors: Signed guard the other members of a “Big 3” have a responsibility to lead, in owner Dan Gilbert, who torched Four years ago, some fans worth $44 million, but the Shaun Livingston to the contract who have been the league’s team more ways than one, and I take thought that agreed to last week. to hate since 2010. James on his way out the door burned his jersey. On July 11, that very seriously. My presence he could land a more lucrative The Warriors announced Instead, James picked the in 2010. 2014, all was forgiven. can make a difference in Miami, deal when some of the biggest Livingston’s signing Friday. The young, unproven Cavs, with a For Cleveland, a city accus- The Cavs were considered but I think it can mean more names available in free agency deal is worth three years and rookie coach, David Blatt, who tomed to so much sports heart- a long shot when free agency where I’m from. In northeast — James, and about $16 million using Golden spent last year in Israel. Former ache — as the Cavaliers, Browns opened. But as the days went Ohio, nothing is given. Every- Bosh — decided where to play. State’s full mid-level exception, Husker is the asso- and Indians have come close by, Cleveland emerged as the thing is earned. You work for While Pacers president of which starts around $5.3 million ciate with Cleveland, but failed to win it all — news of leader, especially after clearing what you have. I’m ready to basketball operations Larry Bird next season. hired just after Blatt. James’ return triggered a spon- salary-cap space to offer him accept the challenge. and Vogel have made it clear — The Associated Press Lue was in the running for taneous downtown celebration a maximum contract. While he “I’m coming home.”