LeBron James will not meet with the Cavaliers in person when free agency begins, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. Cleveland will not be meeting with James’ representatives in person either. It’s unclear if an in-person meeting between James and the Cavs will be scheduled down the line.
Rich Paul, the agent that represents James as well as several other players entering free agency, will conduct all business over the phone to kick off free agency. Sources tell McMenamin that re-signing James is the Cavaliers “plan A, B and C,” and the organization believes it is still in the mix to bring back the four-time MVP.
The franchise has found it difficult to plan its full team around James with the way he has approached The Decision 3.0. While the Cavs lack flexibility, they have the taxpayers mid-level exception, worth $5.3MM, at their disposal.
Potential free agents may be hesitant to sign with Cleveland without knowing James’ plan. Other teams interested in trades won’t know which way Cleveland is leaning and it may hinder trade talks from occurring. However, the uncertainty resulting from James’ approach isn’t likely to alter the franchise’s view of re-signing him, McMenamin hears.
It’s likely he’s already informed them that he’s leaving for the Lakers
He ain’t coming back
The Cavs probably best have a Plan D ready…
Right!? Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.
Let him go #GilbertsLetter2.0
In other jaw-dropping, mega-star news, the Sacramento Kings have decided not to re-sign Jack Conley.
Even without George or Kawhi the Lakers still have a very good nucleus for Lebron to play with. Kuzma and Ball compliment him perfectly.
Agreed
He’s in the Carribean with his family, friends, and business associates. They’ve been saying to expect him to announce early in July. Some teams have contacted his agent to set up a meeting, and LeBron said no. They’ve said he’s already told his sponsors.
If it’s not L.A., it’ll be a huge shock. His tee shirt maker has to take back jerseys and give customers LeBron shirts with L.A. on them. Saying it will cost them millions.
If that does happen (the tee maker having to make amends), that really speaks more to a company that should know better than to jump the gun before a legal contract is signed…
I was gonna say the same thing
Nope, he just touched down here in L.A. about a half hour ago.
Well, unless they come to L.A. they CAN’T meet with LeBron. Local media is blowing up as LeBron just got to town about a half hour ago. Of course local media is speculating that this is more than just a coincidence. Free agency starts at 9:01pm local time.
CONFIRMED, LeBron landed on a private jet at Van Nuys airport at noon, local time here in L.A. (about an hour ago)
Wonder if Magic Johnson will be at his house tomorrow night?
Technically it starts tonight at 9:01p local time
So what? He has a home in Los Angeles. If I lived in Cleveland during the NBA season (Oct-June) then I would want to spend the rest of my time in my LA home too.
As for meeting w/ Cleveland, for what? He already knows the team. It doesn’t mean anything. He might still decide to come back but I doubt there was anything relevant that Gilbert or Altman could say that he isn’t already well aware of.
You know he has a home in LA right? Not like a mystery here Nancy drew.
They are saying that. They said he spends his summer there. Las Vegas just changed it’s odds of the Lakers signing LeBron to -5000 meaning you have to put down $5000 to win $100. Sounds real promising for Lakers since he’ll be there tomorrow night and won’t speak to the Cavs in person. He’ll see Magic. He won’t see Dan Gilbert.
people betting on free agency need help. if I were a bron insider my cousins cousin would put down money lmao
Haha, everyone knows he has a house out here, many NBA players do, but I think it’s newsworthy that he came back from his vacation, to his LA home, on the eve of free agency.
yea he said this year will be decided sooner too via his PR guy brian windhorst
Why would it matter where he is now? Why would it not make sense that he spends his summers in LA? Why have a 2nd house at all if you don’t spend time there when the season is over?
He may well be headed to LA but you guys are really ignoring common sense reasoning to guess his intent.
My bad! Free agency starts tonight at midnite. Where will Magic be?
Actually 9pm locally
His family wasn’t with him, so that does look like business.
Really would like to see LBJ in the gold & purple, what a historic team to play for, also the city… no way you can compare playing in the eye of the storm in LA, or play in a God forsaken place like Cleveland… SMH
It will be his first time playing in one of the 3 major markets, the other two(Chicago, NY) don’t make sense to sign w/ if you’re LeBron. I think this also spells the end of the Lonzo/Lavar Ball drama in L.A. I doubt Bron wants to deal with any part of that circus at this stage of his career.
cesc shuttup with your “God forsaken”s. I doubt you even know what that means. Don’t go there if you don’t like it, nobody will miss you there, but there’s no reason for James to have that attitude, or to suppose he does. Baseless speculation.
Never would I ever say that Clev is better than LA but you really need to choose better words. I’ve lived in Cleveland and it’s a nice place with great people. Of late, LA hasn’t been succesful in luring stars to LA. When’s the last significant FA that’s signed as a FA there? LA hasn’t been relevant since Phil Jackson left after the 2010-2011 season. If he decides to go to LA it’s because it’s where he wants to be vs being swooned by Magic Johnson or the swaginess of LA.