LOCAL/OP-ED The Gardner News, Weekend, July 10-11, 2010 - 3 LeBron hourlong show brings end to free agent ‘decision’ circus ven with six possible and come away confident of a If James wanted to take on a dusting off Isiah Thomas. This spotlight with two other stars: Celtics’ fold three years ago, the destinations that free return. Hurculean challenge, Clipper-land was the same embarrassment, Dwyane Wade, who has been in two and Pierce were tagged with a Eagent LeBron James was That leaves the other five, who was certainly beckoning, but who as president was pushed out Miami for his each of his seven familiar nickname from the 1980s purportedly “considering” as worked themselves into a lather to many a player has headed to that the door two years ago by the years and earned one ring, and when Larry Bird, Kevin McHale cities where to continue his NBA have enough cap room to sign sad franchise, only to quickly dis- Knicks with an agreement pre- Chris Bosh, another top free agent and Robert Parish were running career, his self-aggrandizing James to a maximum deal, or at cover that only miracles akin to venting him from contacting signee from Toronto, likely mean- the parquet floor in Boston: The ESPN special Thursday night least close to one. turning water into wine might Knicks players. With all other ing that their power has likely dis- Big Three. proved to be the cherry on top, make the Clippers a .500 fran- NBA teams scared at the prospect appeared. Move the clock to the begin- reaching new levels of how a ON THE SUBJECT OF chise. of hiring Thomas — from his Heat fans, though, were among ning of the 2010-11 season, and player wrongly tabbed as the Even New Jersey seemed numerous failings as an executive, the most excited at learning of it’s hard to picture that a younger “King,” allowed his individual SPORTS viable early on, shortly after the his options were so limited he was James signing on, coming out in trio of James, Wade and Bosh — “decision” to supercede all things Cavs’ season ended, with new left to coach Florida International throngs to swarm the Heat Web at the primes of their career — NBA these last few weeks. owner Russian billionaire Mikhail University the last two years. site, buying up every last season won’t rightfully take ownership of Prokhorov openly talking about In Chicago, the picture was ticket before the night was out. that title. As impressive the work With such a nickname, it would ANDRES be expected that James would be buying up all the best talented more promising, with the tantaliz- So too did wrongfully hopeful done by Heat president Pat Riley hands down considered the best CAAMANO players in the league — which he ing prospects of playing with Knick fans, who snapped up more to fit those three under the cap, his player in the league, but with could, if not for that pesky thing Carlos Boozer and Derrick Rose, than $20 million in tickets, only to next challenge will be to fill out Kobe Bryant and his having won called a salary cap. Even being but with the inevitable compar- be let down hard by James’ the remaining spots with comple- five titles, and hoisting the cham- friends with minority owner Jay-Z isons to Michael Jordan ready to announcement. mentary players, and not just bod- pionship trophy the last two, the evidently did little to ramp up the weigh on James from day one, For anyone in need of a game ies to occupy roster spots. Nets’ chances at snagging such a move seemed unlikely. day ticket in New York, plenty of Riley worked some contractual best one can say is that argument Therein lies an interesting LeBron. Then again, with the daunting tickets outside Madison Square magic this offseason by having is up for debate. conundrum. Just because the Cavs Leading up to the “decision,” it Jordan statue right in front of the Garden should be available this Carlos Arroyo, Yakouba Diawara, While James had racked up could have paid James more than seemed clear that James was United Center, could James have season, as scalpers will more often Udonis Haslem, Jamaal Magliore, individual accomplishments in the other franchises, doesn’t mean going to leave millions on the asked the Bulls whether his comi- than not look to shed their tickets Shavlik Randolph, Quentin Cleveland, though, he’s yet to put the two sides couldn’t have table to play somewhere other cal possé could topple the Airness for little or no profit. Richardson and Dorell Wright all his hand on the trophy, failing to arrived at a contract to allow the than Cleveland, and with LeBron much like seven years ago in Iraq While LeBron talked glowing- come off the books at the same make it to the finals the last two Cavs to also add an impact player as a brand thought to need a big when Saddam’s statue suffered a ly during his over-the-top ESPN time. Prior to the signings of years, and swept out of the finals from this year’s free agent class market to grow even bigger in, it similar fate, but was refused? charade about his wanting to play Wade, Bosh and James, or the in his lone appearance three years for another run at a title over the seemed natural that Chicago or As mad as Cleveland fans have with Wade and Bosh in Miami, his drafting of three second round ago. next few years. New York would become his new a right to be following the decision to seek out a team loaded picks (each of whom will earn a Among the places on James’ Much like the Celtics decided home. announcement, letting off their with talent will likely bog him non-guaranteed minimum) the radar to potentially play beginning to reup with Paul Pierce and Ray The Knicks had been preparing frustration in a growing haze over down much like it once did Heat had on the books for the next next season were Chicago, New Allen, understanding how close for this day for the last three years, the city from Cavalier jerseys Bryant, even after winning his season just two players: Michael York, Miami, New Jersey...even they were to a title this past year, to have enough cap room to bring burning en masse bearing his first three titles, because each was Beasley and Mario Chalmers. the Los Angeles Clippers. the Cavs weren’t exactly eons on James and a second, or possi- name, the ones who lost the most with Shaquille O’Neal. And even being the second Or staying in Cleveland. from making a run at it them- bly a third star. In signing Amar’e were his entourage groupies who Once Bryant was able to earn a overall pick in the 2008 draft was- Even with NBA rules that selves. Stoudemire to beef up their front had enjoyed power handed to ring in 2009 without the help of n’t enough to guarantee Beasley encourage players to not jump When looking at the five teams court earlier in the week, it them by Cavs management who O’Neal, though, the sting from playing time with the new trio, as ship, to where the Cavaliers could trying to snag James from seemed to line up for that bigger bent over backwards to try to keep O’Neal’s laughable rap a year ear- Riley dispatched him to have paid James $30 million more Cleveland, it’s rather easy to cross shoe to drop. their star player happy. lier: “Kobe, tell me how my a** Minnesota in a clear salary cap than any of the other suitors, it off the Clippers, knowing that That was not to be, in part Headed to Miami, the likes of tastes,” was mostly lost. dump. would have been hard to digest James wasn’t about to associate because Knicks owner James 29-year-old Maverick Carter will When Celtics general manager (Andres Caamano is the Senior James’ embarrassing play against himself with such a cursed fran- Dolan made a horrible miscalcula- have swallow hard at the reality Danny Ainge was able to bring News Editor/NIE Director at The the Celtics this past postseason chise for the long term. tion in his effort to woo James — that James will have to share the Kevin Garnett and Allen into the Gardner News.)