Cleveland Cavaliers Trade Rumors

Amar'e Stoudemire trade scenarios still plausible for Suns
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February 9
Arizona Republic
 
"On this final march to the Feb. 18 NBA trade deadline, there is no imminent Amar'e Stoudemire trade, but a deal with major franchise implications remains quite possible. The Suns' most frequently mentioned potential trade partners are Cleveland and Philadelphia. A trade prospect with Cleveland combines a financial windfall and a young, promising power forward replacement in J.J. Hickson, whom the Suns liked in the 2008 draft when they tabbed center Robin Lopez. Phoenix would stand to save several million dollars in a deal involving center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who received most of his salary up front and could be bought out to move Phoenix toward the possibility of being a luxury tax ..."
Kurt Thomas: The fallback trade option
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February 8
ESPN.com
 
"In college at TCU, Kurt Thomas once led the nation in scoring and rebounding, making him one of only three players in NCAA history to do so. Two-and-a-half years ago, his expiring $8 million contract was deemed so unappealing by Suns owner Bob Sarver that Phoenix agreed to surrender two unprotected 1st-round draft picks to Seattle, getting back only a 2nd-rounder in return (the second of those unprotected 1st-round picks goes to the Thunder this June, which is why Phoenix is currently looking for at least one 1st-round pick in any Amare Stoudemire trade). Thomas is currently playing for his seventh NBA team as he works his way through his 15th NBA season, and he soon could end up with his ..."
Cavaliers may not wait until deadline to make a trade decision
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February 3
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Technically the NBA's trade deadline is February 18th at 3 p.m., which means there's 15 shopping days left. But for the Cavaliers, who are one of the more active teams examining the market, that may not turn out to be the case. According to various league sources, the Cavs may compress their time schedule and make a decision on whether or not to make a trade by the start of next week's All-Star break. As it is, the vibe the team has been giving in talks lately is that they are willing to make a deal, but do not feel it is necessary. Over the last two months, the front office has been in talks with various teams about good shooting forwards and good shooting guards with defensive skills. ..."
Hmmm ... just another impressive victory for the Cavs ... but how about those trade rumors?
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February 3
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 columnist Terry Pluto
"Nine in a row. Anyone notice that the Cavaliers have won nine games in a row after Tuesday's 105-89 romp over Memphis? Sure, they've been winning, but what about Antawn Jamison? Not only have the Cavs won nine in a row, but the last six have been without Delonte West and Mo Williams -- the starting guard for last season's team that was 66-16. OK, but how about Andre Iguodala? The Sixers want to dump his salary. Let's see, the Cavs have won their last four games by an average of 18 points. They have been winning big without huge minutes from LeBron James. The current MVP took only five shots in the first half Tuesday, making all of them. He played 37 minutes, scored 22 points and had 15 ..."
Pacers asking for too much for Murphy
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February 2
Indianapolis Star
 
"The Pacers have work to do if they expect to be able to trade forward Troy Murphy before the Feb. 18 deadline. The Pacers have already tried to send him to Cleveland, but those talks didn't last long because they were asking for too much, according to a source. The Pacers wanted the Cavaliers to give up forward J.J. Hickson, center Zydrunas Ilgauskas and multiple draft picks for Murphy, the source said."
Cavs face plenty of speculation before trade deadline
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January 31
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"Trade season in the NBA is akin to trying to sift out plot points in a soap opera. The rumors and innuendoes fly from every direction, most fueled by rampant speculation and fan desire. In the past couple of seasons, the Cavaliers have been a curiosity in the process. They went from a blockbuster trade two years ago - acquiring Ben Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West - to not making a move last season. Most outside of the organization believe the Cavs are desperate to make any kind of move before the Feb. 18 trade deadline to ensure LeBron James doesn't leave as a free agent after the season. History shows, though, that General Manager Danny Ferry will ultimately make a decision ..."
Amare Stoudemire trade talks aren't exactly heated quite yet
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January 26
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"There's a new name, a big one at that, being linked to the Cavaliers on the ever-developing trade market. But like most of the musing this time of year, it seems there's more smoke than fire to it. There was a report in the Arizona Republic Sunday that the Cavs were one of the teams who have talked to the Phoenix Suns about the availability of star big man Amare Stoudemire. According to league sources, the Cavs have talked with the Suns recently in standard due diligence calls around the league. But currently the two sides are not heading toward a trade. The Suns are concerned they may not be able to re-sign Stoudemire -- a former first team All-NBA selection and Western Conference starter ..."
Suns' Amar'e Stoudemire drawing trade interest
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January 25
Arizona Republic
 
"A league source said Golden State, Minnesota and Cleveland have shown interest in acquiring Suns power forward Amar'e Stoudemire. Major hang-ups in a possible deal are the Suns' need to get good value in return and the other team's need to feel secure in knowing it has a chance to keep Stoudemire, who can opt out of his contract this summer. Stoudemire has said he wants to play for a title contender but prefers to stay with the Suns, who met with his agent Thursday."
Free agent treatment of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade couldn't be more different by Cavaliers, Heat
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January 25
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Imagine for a moment that there was an alternate universe, where almost everything that was up was down in the Cavaliers' expensive and multifaceted plan to re-sign LeBron James. Say, for example, that last summer instead of trading for Shaquille O'Neal and signing three free agents to bolster the team's depth that they did nearly nothing. Even with James wanting improvements to the team more than ever. Envision that, in defending this maneuver, they pointed the finger at James, saying the team cannot plan for the future until he gives it an answer on the contract extension offer he declined. What if, citing a hit to his core business from the recession, owner Dan Gilbert said that now ..."
Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns talking Amare Stoudemire trade according to report
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January 25
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The Arizona Republic reported late Sunday night that the Cavaliers are one of three teams to be in talks recently with the Suns about trading for star Amare Stoudemire. The reporter on this story is the Republic's Paul Coro, which why there is a blog going up on this topic now and it is not being regarded as common fodder. Coro has a good reputation for being credible. For example, was the first to report the Cavs and Suns had re-started trade talks for Shaquille O'Neal last June. I had not heard the Cavs have discussed trading for Stoudemire, but league sources have said the Suns are quite worried that Stoudemire plans to leave via free agency next summer and have been looking for a ..."
Shaq tells skeptics to "skepticize this"
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January 24
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Thoughts following the Cavs' 100-99 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder: * There are a lot of things to talk about after this game, but Shaquille O'Neal compels us to start with this: The Cavs gave him the most touches he's had this season, partially because the Thunder doesn't have a center to match up with him and partially because he had to take some of the load with three players out. He responded by scoring 22 points (um, 6-of-15 at the foul line). And then he said this, in case anyone questions whether he still can get it done: "The only skeptics than can skepticize me are the skeptics that have been where I've been." No idea what it means, but it sounds good. * Setting aside the ..."
Assessing the Cavaliers' chances for Washington's Antawn Jamison
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January 10
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"It is open season on some Washington Wizards right now -- Gilbert Arenas for critics and Antawn Jamison for trade speculation. The Cavaliers and their fans only seem to care about Jamison, the talented stretch power forward with high character who seems destined to be traded as his team attempts to start anew. It isn't a certainty, but several league executives said this week that the Wizards are listening to offers for every player on their roster and not ruling any sort of deal out. "If you're running a team you can either sell success or you can sell hope but that's about it," said one high-ranking executive. "They've got a new owner coming [in Washington] and right now they sure ..."
Zydrunas Ilgauskas' expiring contract certain to incite trade talk
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January 9
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Zydrunas Ilgauskas is bracing himself for the storm. For at least the next six weeks he has a new attachment to his name when it comes to clandestine trade talks and media reports: expiring contract. Players with that designation are the center of the NBA's universe at this time of year, trade season. "I'm sure there are going to be some teams that take a very hard look at me," Ilgauskas said before the Cavs took on the Denver Nuggets to begin their five-game Western trip Friday night. "Because so many teams are trying to dump salary, I know the talks are going to pick up." That is what an expiring contract does. NBA trades have to be balanced by the salaries of the players being ..."
Jamison could be good deal for Cavs
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January 7
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"Nothing extraordinary transpired at Quicken Loans Arena Wednesday night. An outmanned rival showed up to be pounded into submission by the Cavaliers 121-98. I know that has not always been the case this season, when the home team so often has played down to the level of its opponent. But on this occasion, the Cavs toyed with the Washington Wizards, who were without Gilbert ''Doc Holiday'' Arenas, whose indefinite suspension for bringing a firearm (or two or three) into an NBA venue began hours before the game. The Wizards shouldn't be a stern test for the Cavs even with Arenas, and without him the club's firepower (pardon the expression) was reduced to that of a cap pistol. But there was ..."
Looming contract deadline date could prompt Cleveland Cavaliers to do a little roster shuffling
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January 5
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"It seems rather certain the Cavaliers roster is likely going to be changing in the next couple of days. Just how radical the changes will be, however, is still up in the air. Sunday is Jan. 10, which is the NBA contract guarantee date. All non-guaranteed contracts become guaranteed for the rest of the season after that date, which leaves teams making judgment calls on numerous players every year. This year, because Jan. 10 is a Sunday, players will have to clear waivers by Friday. With a 48-hour waiver period, most teams will make decisions on players by Wednesday. The Cavs are in a unique position. They have four players with non-guaranteed contracts among the 25 still on league rosters. ..."
Disgruntled Lakers likely to bring some attitude to January rematch at The Q
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December 26
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"As with any good heavyweight battle, sometimes the best event is the rematch. That may prove true with the Cavaliers and Lakers. They didn't exactly stage a classic Christmas Day at Staples Center, but certainly built up some bad blood for the next meeting. That will take place Jan. 21 at The Q, and it might be a good idea to clear the calendar for that Thursday night. The Lakers made it clear they felt victimized a bit by the officials and they, and their fans, responded with some harsh words and actions. Meanwhile, at least in the eyes of some of the Cavaliers, the Lakers got so frustrated by the defense that they began tossing what certainly looked like cheap shots. Most directly, ..."
Fans hope Lebron James will choose to sign with New York Knicks as free agents in 2010
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December 26
New York Daily News
 
"Knicks fans already have their wish list for next Christmas - and it's topped with LeBron James. "If he came here, it would be a big boost for the team, for the city and for the fans," Brooklyn native Todd Fritz, 40, said after Friday's 93-87 loss to the Miami Heat, the 18th loss this season. Fritz envisioned the 6-feet-7 Cleveland Cavalier performing his signature move - rubbing talcum powder between his hands and explosively throwing it into the air - before games at Madison Square Garden. "It would bring the fans to their feet," said Fritz, a television producer. Daily News columnist Mike Lupica wrote a Christmas column betting that James would come to New York in part for the lucrative ..."
Madison Square Garden fans can start believing LeBron James will be a Knick in 2010
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December 25
New York Daily News
 columnist Mike Lupica
"I choose to believe on this Christmas that LeBron James is going to be in New York, playing for the Knicks, next Christmas. You can try to out-debate me on this, give me your own reasons why you think he will stay in Cleveland even though he's never going to win there. Or why you think he will go somewhere else looking for a championship. But more and more I believe the guy is coming, which would only be the modern, hoops version of Babe Ruth coming to town. And not just because I want this to happen, the way everybody else around here does who loves basketball and remembers what the Knicks and pro basketball were still like at Madison Square Garden. That was before James L. Dolan became ..."
LeBron with Clippers? Don't dismiss it
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December 23
San Antonio Express-News
 
"About halfway through the preseason, a friend who shares a pair of Spurs season tickets asked for advice about games worth putting dibs on when the ticket group met to slice up the season. One recommendation was Monday's game against the Clippers, a tout based entirely on the potential No. 1 overall draft pick Blake Griffin had shown, both in summer league and preseason games. I believed Griffin had the potential to be a true impact rookie, perhaps even capable of helping the Clippers return to playoff contention in the brutally tough Western Conference. Griffin wasn't in San Antonio on Monday, and he hasn't suited up since being diagnosed in late October with a stress fracture of the left ..."
With GMs beginning to assess rosters and playoff chances, the trade market begins to simmer
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December 20
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"It isn't listed on the official NBA calendar, but Dec. 15 sort of serves as the unofficial beginning of trade season. That is the day players who were drafted or signed as free agents last summer become eligible to be traded. It coincides with the point in the season when general managers begin to make decisions about their rosters. Then the normal flow is the dialogue picks up across the league to see who is available. All of that is indeed taking place, according to league sources, and the Cavaliers have been following their plan to be buyers before the trade deadline. While the team was deeply involved in trade talks for Stephen Jackson last month, getting a shooting guard is not the ..."
Dallas Mavericks' Nowitzki expected to miss Cavs game
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December 20
Dallas Morning News
 
"Dirk Nowitzki was excused from practice Saturday, staying home to recover from the nasty cut he received just below his right elbow when he collided with Houston's Carl Landry on a move to the basket. Landry lost all or part of five teeth, at least two of which ended up lodged under Nowitzki's skin. Nowitzki is questionable for tonight's game against Cleveland. The Mavericks were preparing as if he won't be playing. "Everybody's going to have to be ready to step up and take up the slack," coach Rick Carlisle said. "We obviously hope for the best. But we don't know what the timetable's going to be. We've got to have other guys ready. We've had a lot of guys play well this year and I ..."
Nets to audition for LeBron James
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December 15
Bergen Record
 
"LeBron James will get a firsthand look tonight at the team he could join this summer — unless he dies of laughter first. James is No. 1 on the Nets' wish list, but the 2-22 record they bring into Quicken Loans Arena probably will have the King clicking his Nikes together three times and saying, "There's no place like home." The Nets could have the most money available when free agency hits July 1, but it's hard to imagine marquee players leaving good situations or bypassing potentially better ones to come to a team that could challenge for the worst record in NBA history. "I can't really say," Devin Harris said through a telling smile. "Just living day to day right now, as tough as it is. ..."
Chinese investor Kenny Huang sees bigger, better things for both Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James
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December 15
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Kenny Huang is a man who understands. He speaks Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese and English. He has an undergraduate degree from a Chinese university and postgraduate degrees from two American universities. He knows about roads, electrical infrastructure, used to work on Wall Street and soon will own pieces of basketball teams in both China and America. He splits his time between Hong Kong, Guangzhou and the United States. His perspective on the world, and specifically the way Americans and Chinese relate and can do business, is unique. When he sees the Cavaliers and LeBron James he thinks big, grand long-term ideas. Then he executes them. On Monday Huang (pronounced Hwong) finalized his ..."
Banged-up Shaq questionable tonight
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December 13
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"In the wee hours of Saturday morning, Shaquille O'Neal sent out a message of reassurance to the Cavaliers and his fans. "Eye see you all," he wrote from his Twitter account, THE_REAL_SHAQ, at about 2 a.m. Accompanying the words was a close-up picture of his noggin with the focus on his left eye, perhaps a bit swollen and reddened, but otherwise seeming to match its right-sided twin. After a poke by Portland center Joel Pryzbilla in the third quarter of Friday's victory over the Trail Blazers sent O'Neal to the Cleveland Clinic, he wanted to let everyone know that he might have been knocked out of the game, but he's not out for long. O'Neal is questionable for tonight's game against the ..."
Magic Johnson believes LeBron will be a Knick
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December 12
New York Post
 
"Magic Johnson said he believes LeBron James will decide to leave Cleveland to play for the Knicks -- but urges Knicks team president Donnie Walsh to lure "The King" by first signing a marquee free agent such as Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire. The Hall of Fame point guard/businessman, asked by The Post for his gut feeling on LeBron in 2010, said: "I think he's going to go to New York. "They're in the lead, they just have to make it [attractive] for him. LeBron will come to New York if he knows they're gonna win. . . . So, if they sign a free agent first, that would probably seal the deal, I believe. They should have somebody else on their radar to make him want to come." UPI, Getty Images ..."
O'Neal suffered a bruised left eye, not expected to miss time
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December 12
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 (scroll down)
"It is hard to attach the word underrated to any sentence that includes the name LeBron James, but that may indeed be the case when in comes to the Cavalier star's rivalry with his counterpart from Portland. Even before Friday night, James and Trail Blazers' franchise player Brandon Roy already had some good matchups, including a game in 2008 when James scored over Roy in the final seconds for a one-point win. This edition wasn't quite as exciting, but the young stars did stage a quality fourth-quarter battle that should have satisfied the national television audience. Both were controlling the ball and everything the offense did while coming up with some clutch defensive plays. In the end, ..."
Losing trip doesn't have to be a lost chance at improvement for Cleveland Cavaliers
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December 11
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"In a certain way, the Cavaliers owe the Grizzlies and the Rockets a measure of gratitude. The losses over the last two games have given the team valuable information it now has a chance to apply. With trends established, likes and dislikes established, a book has formed throughout the league on how to play the Cavs. Now it's time for the team to adjust, perhaps starting Friday when the wounded Portland Trail Blazers come to town. Both Memphis and Houston were provided three days of preparation leading up to their games and the matchup held value to both teams. Some Grizzlies said the win was the biggest in the past three seasons. Rockets coach Rick Adelman said beating the Cavs "makes a ..."
Eurotrip in works for Danilo & Co.
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December 8
New York Post
 
"LeBron James better brush up on his French and Italian. The Knicks were informed last week they are tentatively headed to Paris and Milan in October to play two or three preseason games, according to a league official. The Knicks would head to Europe on Oct. 1 and stay until Oct. 5. They are expected to play Milan's Armani Jeans team and an NBA team. It is the first time the Knicks have gone overseas under the current NBA Europe format. If the Knicks do land King James as a free agent this summer, David Stern would reap the global benefits of having him debut in France. The NBA has wanted to send the Knicks to Italy since they drafted Danilo Gallinari in 2008. The NBA tried to send the ..."
Shaq returns, Cavs fall
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November 28
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"It was as if Shaquille O'Neal came back and the Cavaliers hit the reset button on their season, which was not a good thing considering how the season actually started. Looking just as out of sorts as they were exactly a month ago in the opener, the Cavs' win streak crashed to a halt in a heap of sloppy defense, hideous scoring droughts, bizarre lineups, foul trouble and occasional bouts of malaise. In other words, the Charlotte Bobcats won Friday night at Time Warner Cable Arena, 94-87. It wasn't just O'Neal -- though he certainly didn't play well for most of the night as he finished with 11 points and eight rebounds -- but his return made the Cavs (11-5) look uncomfortable with just about ..."
Jordan would be best bait to lure LeBron
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November 27
Charlotte Observer
 
"I respect young athletes who respect those who came before them. So I respect LeBron James. LeBron said two weeks ago that the NBA should retire No.23, Michael Jordan's number. LeBron has worn No.23 since he was a high school sophomore and he's willing to give it up. LeBron and his Cleveland Cavaliers are in Charlotte tonight to play the Bobcats. This is a glamour game, so I suspect Jordan, the Bobcats' managing member of basketball operations, will be there. I also suspect he and LeBron will talk. If I'm Michael, this is what I say: "LeBron, you're the best player to come into the NBA since me. Instead of retiring No.23, how about you wear it next season - with the Bobcats. Stephen Graham ..."
Shaq is still resting shoulder, but his heart is making moves
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November 26
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Mike Brown made his decision based on a feeling he had in his gut. Shaquille O'Neal made his own decision based on a feeling he had in his heart. O'Neal sat out Wednesday's game against the Detroit Pistons despite being medically cleared and practicing the past two days. Brown said he made the final call on sitting O'Neal for a sixth consecutive game with a strained left shoulder merely to give his 7-1 center additional time to rest and recover. "He wants to play," Brown said. "But I tell you what, every time I tell him to do something, he does his Confucius thing and says, 'Yes sir.' I sit there in bewilderment. He keeps telling me he's the son of a military man. He's well disciplined." ..."
Shaq back practicing after rehab
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November 24
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"Times have changed for Shaquille O'Neal. When he was younger, he often took a shot of cortisone to treat an injury such as the shoulder strain that has sidelined him for the past five games. The Cavaliers resisted that option with their 37-year-old center, preferring to let his shoulder heal rather than mask the pain and allow him to play with the injury. ''I was cursing and screaming and trying to get them to shoot me up, but they wouldn't do it,'' O'Neal said. ''You can tell it's a good organization: They told me no. They had me do it through regular rehab.'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said it's a matter of looking out for players and their long-term interests. '''We don't want to rush anyone ..."
Shaq hopes to rejoin Cavs Wednesday in Detroit
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November 24
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The Cavaliers have one huge reason to be thankful this week: Shaquille O'Neal returned to practice on Monday. After missing five games with a shoulder strain, O'Neal said he expected to play Wednesday night at Detroit. Asked to put a percentage on his chances of returning that night, O'Neal grinned and said, "Twenty-seven percent." But he amended that later and said he expected to play as long as he doesn't have any setbacks. "It felt pretty good," O'Neal said of his first practice in a couple weeks. "I got it banged up once or twice today, so I'll go home tonight and hopefully it doesn't feel too bad in the morning." O'Neal said that he hurt his shoulder trying to block a shot by Michael ..."
Browns would welcome LeBron
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November 19
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"Last season, Cavaliers star LeBron James played out his football fantasies in an insurance commercial that had him clad in a No. 23 Browns jersey. Members of the struggling Browns are now willing to make that a reality. ''I think he should come on down,'' Browns coach Eric Mangini said Wednesday. ''I know he's pretty busy right now, but if he wants to give it a shot . . . the guy's gifted, gifted athletically, he's competitive, he's tough. I'm sure whatever he applied himself to, he'd probably be good in baseball, or soccer or or swimming. The guy's a freak athletically.'' After watching the Browns fall 16-0 to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, James suggested he could help ..."
Wizard beat Cavs, James injures wrist on dunk
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November 19
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"It is rare for anyone to straight up outplay LeBron James and it is simply unheard of to see anyone get inside his head. But no matter what the stats say, that certainly appears to have been the case Wednesday night. There's been so much trash talk and hard fouls -- and even venomous rap songs -- between James and the Washington Wizards' DeShawn Stevenson. The scoreboard is overwhelming in James' favor, from playoff victories to flagrant fouls to Jay-Z in the studio having his back. This time, though, the worm turned, and in a most bizarre and unexpected way. All on Stevenson's "bobble hand" night. That's right, the sellout got tattoo-free figurines with the Stevenson's hand wagging in ..."
Browns coach Eric Mangini to LeBron James: Come on down
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November 18
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns coach Eric Mangini was delighted to hear that Cavs superstar LeBron James thinks he could help the Browns' woeful offense. "I think he should come on down,'' said Mangini with a smile. "I know he's pretty busy right now, but if he wants to give it a shot, the guy's gifted, gifted athletically. He's competitive. He's tough. I'm sure whatever he applied himself to, he'd probably be good in baseball, or soccer or swimming. The guy's a freak athletically.'' Responding to a question about the Monday Night Football crew saying he'd be a great NFL tight end and has the "best offense in the city of Cleveland,'' James said, "If I put all my time and commitment into it, if I dedicated myself ..."
Stephen Jackson with the Cleveland Cavaliers? It's a matter of debate
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November 15
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"This week, Stephen Jackson will be in town with the Golden State Warriors for his one scheduled visit this season. The question that many fans seem to want to know is whether he will be back on a permanent basis. The answer is definitely maybe. It is understandable why the Cavs are so often attached to Jackson. For one, General Manager Danny Ferry has made big trades in each of the last three years. There's the uncertainty around Delonte West, who happens to play the same position as Jackson. Then there's Jackson's declaration that he wants to come to Cleveland to play, which frankly isn't something you hear every day from NBA players. For those reasons, yes indeed, according to multiple ..."
James planning to give up No. 23 out of respect for Michael Jordan
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November 13
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Basking in the glow of a victory over the Heat, Cavs superstar LeBron James looked over at his idol sitting in the stands at AmericanAirlines Arena on Thursday night and made a command decision. Out of respect to Michael Jordan, who sat courtside and watched James score 34 points, James said he is planning on switching his number after this season from No. 23 to No. 6. It just sort of came out, but it was obvious he's been thinking about it for a while. And James wants to lead a movement to get every player who wears No. 23 in the league to give it up as a tribute to Jordan. "I just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized some way soon," James said. "There ..."
Cavaliers seem to be preparing for life without Delonte West
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November 13
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Both consciously and subconsciously, the Cavaliers seem to be preparing themselves for life without Delonte West. Out of respect to his problems, both mental and legal, the team continues to be vague and clipped whenever addressing his status. But the more he's not around, the more the Cavs players and coaches are showing signs they're just moving on. West did not play Thursday against the Miami Heat and was not at AmericanAirlines Arena after he was with them the night before in Orlando but not on the bench. He was simply placed on the inactive list again. It didn't even seem to make a blip in the locker room or in coach Mike Brown's plans for the game. "My comfort level isn't ..."
If LeBron James, Dwyane Wade stay put, New York Knicks may target Chris Bosh and Joe Johnson
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November 12
New York Daily News
 
"If the Knicks find themselves struggling to woo LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, who can become free agents next summer, they'll likely turn their attention to the players such as Chris Bosh and Joe Johnson, who are expected to headline the next tier of potential free agents at season's end. Regardless of how much money the Knicks will have to spend, there's no guarantee of landing a superstar given the state of the franchise, and because James grew up in Ohio and Wade appears to be staying put in Miami - on Tuesday Heat owner Micky Arison said he had "every indication" that Wade wants to finish his career where it started. And while Bosh isn't the same caliber of player, he has already and ..."
LeBron to stay silent on free agency
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November 12
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"To some it might sound like noise, but to Cavaliers fans, it will be music to their ears. LeBron James put a moratorium on talk of his impending free agency in the summer of 2010. ''I think, honestly, this free-agent talk is getting old,'' James said prior to Wednesday's game against the Orlando Magic. ''It's getting old and I think it's probably the last time I answer anymore free-agent questions until the offseason.'' James' future has been the object of speculation for more than two years. In New York, fans at Madison Square Garden encouraged him to make the leap to the Knicks. The media asked the question - and rightly so - in multiple ways hoping to get some feel for what James will ..."
Dwyane Wade: LeBron James as teammate improbable, not impossible
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November 12
Miami Herald
 
"The thought is tantalizing: The Heat's Dwyane Wade and Cleveland's LeBron James playing alongside each other as teammates. Wade said Wednesday ``it really could'' happen, though he cautioned the odds are against it even though both can be unrestricted free agents next summer. If it did, it would be more likely to happen in Miami than in Cleveland -- because the Heat has the cap space to sign two maximum-salary free agents (Wade and another player) in 2010, and Cleveland could sign only one maximum-salary player unless it can dump multiyear contracts. ``It's something we've talked about, of course,'' Wade said of playing together. ``No question, it's a long shot. He's put in position in ..."
LeBron says free agency 'is all about winning' -- does that open new 2010 options?
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November 10
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"LeBron James will be asked about his potential free agency hundreds of times between now and next summer. By and large, his answers have remained consistently vague. But every once in a while, he throws in a new wrinkle, like he did Friday night in New York. After the Cavs beat the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, he was asked -- again -- about next year. He admitted he visualized playing with a lot of different players and contending for an NBA title. Then he said, "At the end of the day, a max deal or anything like that doesn't really matter to me. It is all about winning for me. So I put myself in a position when that day comes next summer, I want to win. If I feel like the team is ..."
LeBron will have better options than Knicks
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November 8
New York Post
 columnist Peter Vecsey
"Big ups to the Cavaliers, who came into New York and rode roughshod over it . . . you know, like Bloomberg. As usual, the Knicks' sorry showing against the Cavs provokes the same old question: Why would LeBron James want to join forces with this motley crew's skeleton remains (with apologies to Eddy Curry) if he's aiming for a championship bull's-eye? Well, let's get two things straight at the top: Foremost, one of LeBron closest confidants, in response to those who mocked my disclosure Cavs chairman Dan Gilbert is terrified his meal ticket will abscond should the team not win a title, declared to friends, "They (Dan and his entourage; young owners have them, too) better be scared!" ..."
Wally Szczerbiak rehabbing knee, doesn't know if he will play in NBA again
Comment
November 7
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"As he sat courtside at Madison Square Garden about an hour before tipoff Friday night, Wally Szczerbiak accepted a steady stream of handshakes, hugs and smiles from his former Cavaliers teammates and coaches. Szczerbiak is in New York rehabbing from knee surgery, one that has left his future as a player in doubt. After his contract with the Cavs expired in June, he spoke to several teams but also ended up talking to his several doctors. During the Cavs' playoff run, his troublesome left knee started flaring up. He hoped rest would help, and he even was negotiating with several teams about a free-agent contract. "When I started to amp it up for the season, it was bugging me, so I had to ..."
A terrible audition for LeBron
Comment
November 5
New York Post
 
"The Knicks were still basking in the glow of their first victory of the season, allowing them to dream of an actual winning streak. Then came last night, a 101-89 collapse that served as both a bucket of cold water in their collective faces, and an ominous warning with LeBron James & Co. looming tomorrow. The same team that had hung a 40-point fourth-quarter on the Hornets was held to just 15 by the Pacers. The same club that couldn't miss on Monday couldn't buy a basket down the stretch, missing its last dozen shots. In short, all that good mojo left the Garden faster than a Hideki Matsui longball left Yankee Stadium. "We had an opportunity a couple times to put them away and let them ..."
Knicks just not fit for the 'king'
Comment
November 5
New York Post
 
"Bring on LeBron! Actually, not really a good time. If the Knicks were trying to impress LeBron James as he comes to town tomorrow night for his lone Garden appearance this season, the Knicks did the opposite in playing a horrifying fourth quarter last night. The prevailing theory is James would sign with New York as a free agent this summer if he genuinely feels he can make the Knicks a contender. But they looked like a laughingstock in losing last night to the previously winless Pacers, 101-89, to fall to 1-4. The Knicks shot 2-of-17 in the fourth quarter, 0-of-7 on treys, and missed their final 10 shots from the field. They went without a field goal for the final 9:21. They scored 15 ..."
Knicks president Donnie Walsh not surprised at Larry Bird's words about Lebron James
Comment
November 5
New York Daily News
 
"Donnie Walsh didn't take it personally when his former subordinate, Pacers president Larry Bird, lobbied against Le-Bron James coming to New York next July as a free agent. "I have no problem with what Larry said," the Knicks president said Wednesday night before New York took on his old team at the Garden. "I love Larry. I'm not surprised he'd say that, either." Bird's contention is that James, an Akron native, means too much to Ohio and would be a catastrophic loss to the franchise. It's hard to argue with either of those points. "I like to see the great players stay in the cities and with the teams that drafted them," said Bird, who played his entire Hall of Fame career in Boston. "So ..."