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It was four years ago Tuesday that LeBron James told Jim Gray at the Boys and Girls Club in Greenwich, Connecticut that he was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers and taking his talents to South Beach to join the Miami Heat. Brandon Flowers Jersey . Four seasons, four NBA Finals appearances and two NBA titles later, another decision awaits the 29-year-old Akron, Ohio native. Opting out early from the six-year deal he signed with the Heat, James is once again a free agent with no shortage of suitors. While some clubs may be overly optimistic about their chances of attracting the four-time NBA MVP, there are a handful of teams that realistically can bring the games best player to their city...or, in the case of one team, back to its city. So which jersey will LeBron James be wearing come this fall? The fact that James and the other two members of "The Big Three" - Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade - opted out of their deals with the Heat isnt necessarily an indicator that they want out of Florida. When a player has the leverage that all three possess and negotiated, it only makes sense to use and thats just whats happened here. By opting out, the three can all improve their deals with the Heat. Call it greed if you want, but the Heat were prepared for this development and have already begun to address it. The talk following Miamis six-game loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals was that LeBron wanted Pat Riley to provide him with a better supporting cast. That began in earnest on Monday when the team brought in forwards Danny Granger and Josh McRoberts. Point guard Shabazz Napier, a player admired by James, was acquired on draft night as a means to improve the beleaguered back court (both Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole were benched during the Finals). These three additions may not have James sprinting back to the Heat yet, but LeBron himself must recognize the Catch-22 Miami finds itself in right now - James wants the team to add to quality, but his choice to opt out has negated the biggest carrot the Heat have to dangle to free agents - the chance to play with James. Still, the Heat will feel confident in being the devil that James knows. Hes won with this team and he knows the coaching staff and the players. Hes reportedly been in constant contact with Wade over the free agency process and his close friendship with the 10-time All-Star will go a long way to inform Jamess choice. While James and Wades futures may likely be entwined, Bosh is an intriguing factor when it comes to Jamess future in Miami. If one of the Big Three is most likely to leave South Beach, its Bosh. Reports surfaced on Monday that the Houston Rockets had tabled a four-year, $88 million offer to the nine-time All-Star and Bosh was seriously considering it. Its also been suggested that Boshs first choice would be to stay in Miami with James and Wade, but heading to the Rockets would give Bosh the opportunity to form a brand new Big Three with Dwight Howard and James Harden. What would that mean for James? Bosh leaving would provide the Heat with ample cap space to bring in another marquee free agent in the form of, say, Carmelo Anthony. What better way to assuage Jamess call for support than bringing in a premier scorer whose averaged 25.3 points a game over his 10-year career? Now, whether or not there would be enough ball to go around for both James and Melo is something to be addressed for another day, but the signing of Melo would go a long way to signal the Heats continued ambition and desire to retain LeBrons services. If one calls the Heat the front-runner for James, then who else is potentially in the conversation? Daryl Morey and the Rockets are focused on their first title in 20 years - luxury tax be damned. If Bosh doesnt want to form a new Big Three in the Lone Star State, then perhaps LeBron can do it himself. Dwight Howard would easily be the most talented centre that James has ever played with and James Harden as a No. 3 scoring is a proposition that no defence in the league wants to consider. The Los Angeles Lakers, who look more likely to be players in next seasons free agent frenzy rather than now, have $37 million committed to just five players including the aging Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash. Still, the team seems to be interested in getting James and Melo together at the Staples Center. For this to work, one of the two would have to agree to less than a max contract, but would the allure of trying to win an NBA title with one of the leagues preeminent franchises and two future Hall of Famers in Kobe and Nash be too much for James to resist? They won 48 games last year and still managed to miss the playoffs, but the Phoenix Suns are one of the finest young teams in the NBA right now and the addition of James to a line-up that includes the dynamic Eric Bledsoe and, arguably, the most underrated guard in the NBA in Goran Dragic could turn the Suns from a team with boundless potential to one capable of competing overnight. Oh, and theres the Cleveland Cavaliers. With the level of sheer acrimony that existed when LeBron left for Miami in 2010, the idea that James could someday return to the team he took to the 2007 NBA Finals seemed preposterous. But here we are. The disdain for LeBron from Cavaliers fans and even team owner Dan Gilbert was palpable and bridges didnt just seem burned, but nuked and the earth was salted. James is an Ohio kid. In leaving the Cavs, his intent was to win a championship. Obviously, alienating himself from Cavs fans who once idolized him was a by-product of this and some of their vitriol is understandable. Sure, LeBron James was a free agent and only exercising his rights as a free agent to sign with the Heat, but its hard as a fan to not take your best player deciding that there better options out there as a bit of a slap in the face. They say that time heals all wounds and that seems to be the case here to some extent, but theres more to it than just that. So whats changed? Well, James left four years ago because he didnt have what he deemed to be a suitable supporting cast. In the 2010 playoffs, outside of James, Daniel Gibson was the only Cavaliers player 25 or under. The likes of Jamario Moon, 33-year-old Antawn Jamison and a 37-year-old Shaq didnt exactly instill confidence in LeBron that this team was equipped to compete in the long run. Flash forward four years and the long run is exactly what the 2014 edition of the Cavaliers are all about. Thanks to five lottery picks in the last four years, including three first-overall selections (Kyrie Irving and Canadians Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins), Cleveland is stockpiled with young talent. The environment that James wanted in Cleveland four years ago exists now. But what about the anger? Fans, perhaps reticent at first, will likely come around to a return engagement, but the enmity wasnt a one-way street. While fans were furious with the player leaving, James, himself, felt that the Cavs played into the fomenting anger of the fans and all too easily allowed him to be cast as the villain in his exit. There was also the now notorious open letter to the fans (bizarrely written in comic sans) from Gilbert posted on the teams website that, in no uncertain terms, casted aspersions upon James as both a player and a person. Thats not something that somebody quickly forgives and forgets. Gilbert certainly didnt forget, which is why, after four years, the letter was finally removed from the teams site. While the summer of 2014 wont bring with it the forced and ill-advised pageantry of the Decision, the fallout of LeBrons choice four years later may dwarf that of his first one. So until we know for a fact, well continue to wonder and ask this - Where is LeBron James headed? As always, its Your Call. Keenan Allen Jersey . -- Packers cornerback Tramon Williams has been fined $26,250 for contact with an official, per NFL guidelines. Doug Flutie Chargers Jersey . Ausmus says he realized his words were insensitive and in poor taste as soon as they left his mouth. The first-year manager was asked after Detroits 2-1 loss to Kansas City on Wednesday how his mood is when he heads home from the ballpark these days.MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester United conceded a contentious penalty after a linesman intervened to draw 1-1 with Newcastle at Old Trafford on Saturday, dealing a blow to its bid to retain the Premier League title. United defender Rio Ferdinand was judged to have brought down Hatem Ben Arfa in the 61st minute, although replays suggested the England international had made a perfectly legal tackle. Referee Mike Jones appeared happy to award a corner but linesman John Flynn indicated a penalty should be awarded, causing several angry United players to surround the match officials. Demba Ba kept his composure to convert the spot kick after a two-minute delay, drawing Newcastle level after United striker Javier Hernandezs 49th-minute goal. "I didnt think anyone in the ground thought it was a penalty apart from the assistant referee. The referee thought it was a corner. He was nearer to it. He was only eight yards away," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "The problem is that the referees are full-time and the linesmen are not, and whether he ever gets a game again, the assistant referee, is not for me to decide but it was an absolutely shocking decision. "I know what everyones view was, including the referees. He said he thought Ferdinand touched it and won the ball and he gave a corner kick. But he let the linesman overrule him. You knew that right away. We had a situation a few weeks ago when the linesman gave a penalty kick for handball but the referee knew what to do and overruled him. Thats what the referee should have done today." Newcastle played the last 12 minutes with 10 men after Jonas Gutierrez was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Patrice Evra. Hernandez had a goal disallowed for offside in the fourth minute of stoppage time, ensuring second-place United is four points behind Manchester City and having played one match more. Tottenham won 3-1 at West Bromwich Albion to rise to third, two points behind United with one match in hand on the defending champions. Junior Seau Chargers Jersey. At Old Trafford, there had been little indication of the drama to come following an open, if slightly pedestrian, first half. Three minutes after the restart, however, United was in front following a foul by Steven Taylor on Hernandez just outside the Newcastle penalty area. Wayne Rooneys free kick hit the opposition wall and his second shot was blocked Steven Taylor, but the ball struck Hernandez and ricocheted into the back of the goal. That appeared to inspire United and the hosts started to create chances. Fullback Fabio powered forward but shot over the crossbar, then Ashley Youngs corner was helped on by Nani for Rooney to head over from six yards. But there were warning signs from the visitors. Yohan Cabayes corner was well kept in by Taylor at the far post, and Fabricio Coloccinis downward shot drew a spectacular block from goalkeeper David de Gea. Then came the contentious penalty, although United responded impressively with Rooney making room for himself before shooting over. Nani then strode away from Cabaye to cross the ball into the area. Young appeared about to score before a desperate covering tackle by Taylor. Gutierrez clumsily fouled Nani in the 78th and was sent off, having already been booked 14 minutes earlier for a foul on Hernandez. Ryan Giggs resulting free kick found Nemanja Vidic, whose header was superbly kept out by goalkeeper Tim Krul, who did even better in the 83rd minute when he used both hands to turn Patrice Evras 18-yard shot around the post. The pressure continued late into the game with Nani crossing to Young, who steadied himself before shooting against the foot of the post. Four minutes from time, Newcastle defender Danny Simpson somehow managed to clear Hernandezs header off the line. Hernandez looked to have scored the winner but the linesman waved the Mexico international offside, further infuriating manager Alex Ferguson and his players. ' ' ' |
