December 22, 2008 9:00 am  |  45 Comments

OK, Now LeBron Is Just Messing With Everyone’s Heads


by Marcel Mutoni

Last month, during a visit to New York, LeBron James ominously declared (for fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball franchise, that is) that July 1, 2010 was going to be “a very big day”, with the implication being, of course, that he and several other big names could leave their current teams via free agency.

On Saturday, Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain Dealer asked him about another possibility, something no other media member had previously brought up: signing an extension one year earlier, in the summer of 2009. And LeBron hinted at endorsing the idea:

James said Saturday that he is going to consider signing an extension with the Cavaliers this summer, well before he can become an unrestricted free agent.

“You play out this season of course; I will consider it,” James said Saturday before the Cavs practiced at the Pepsi Center. “The direction we are headed is everything I expected and more.”

That sound you hear? Oh nothing, just a bunch of League execs - namely the gentlemen in New York, Detroit, and New Jersey - slamming their foreheads into the nearest wall.

I love this new scenario; it’s insanely brilliant. Not only will Cavs fans rest easy (to an extent) thinking they have a shot at LeBron sticking around next summer (for another three-year deal), but teams around the NBA who’ve destroyed their rosters in the hopes of acquiring his services must, effectively, get back to the drawing board.

Of course, it should come as absolutely no surprise that LeBron is eating up all of the attention that his quotes generate.

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This story is filed under: NBA, News & Rumors, The Wire, Top News

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  • BETCATS Posted: Dec.22 at 9:01 am
    or maybe the media has been messing with everyone’s heads by creating stories off what Lebron HAS NOT said in the past few mounths, so Lebron made them make a story about what he did say. Just a thought.

  • BETCATS Posted: Dec.22 at 9:05 am
    and the Caviliers are 1 All Star power forward away from a ring. If they can get a dude that can score with KG and do a good job defending him, they would be a better team.

  • Co Co Posted: Dec.22 at 9:07 am
    Ain’t happenin.

  • riggs Posted: Dec.22 at 9:10 am
    even if he stays he will not be the only big name in the pool, thats why as a new yorker i do not care about this man and whether or not hes coming here.

  • BETCATS Posted: Dec.22 at 9:13 am
    riggs, as a person who likes the Knicks and is not from New York, i can tell you are screaming on the inside. Their are websites, facebook groups, and tee shirts made by Nike all dedicated to this cause. Dont tell me you dont care.

  • k.o. Posted: Dec.22 at 9:16 am
    something he shoulda said a LLLLLLOOOOOONG time ago - even if he didn’t mean it. just to deflect all this ridiculous forecasting of ‘what if’ scenarios. must be a pain in the ass for the entire organization to listen to broadcasts about how much he’s itching to leave the cavs.

  • Wes Posted: Dec.22 at 9:21 am
    What if this was all a plan to ruin any possible competition so the Cavs could get save all their energy for Boston and whoever comes out the west? LeBron could will 8 games away if it came down to it. Maybe not from Boston. Still, if he just re-upped after all this is would be the slickest move ever.

  • SLAM ONLINE | Posted: Dec.22 at 9:45 am
    [...] LeBron Wants Extension? [...]

  • Blue Posted: Dec.22 at 9:58 am
    He ain’t stayin…throughout this whole ordeal, LeBron has never shown himself to be LeLoyal…

  • J d Unbreakable Posted: Dec.22 at 10:22 am
    Who gives a f***?
    Go Boston!!!

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Dec.22 at 10:57 am
    I can’t wait until he signs with the Browns in 2010.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Dec.22 at 10:59 am
    He’ll force them to change their name to the Brons, break all of Jim Brown’s rushing records, and then re-join the NBA in 2015. Unless he signs a $400 million deal with the Yankees to be C.C. Sabathia’s personal closer.

  • wilz Posted: Dec.22 at 11:03 am
    I believe you riggs, I wouldn’t want to see his big ugly mug everywhere I went either…or his ugly brick of a jumpshot, or his duck feet barely keeping control as he’s barreling through the lane, or the same 3 slams over and over again every night….

  • neaorin Posted: Dec.22 at 11:07 am
    Honestly he has almost nothing to gain by extending next year. His money will still be there waiting for him in 2010. (Ladies and gentlemen, your 2010 Dallas Cowboys tight end!) This was more of a “will you consider it?” “sure, why not” situation; but if it gets the media off the whole 2010 thing for a while, hey, why not.

  • Z Posted: Dec.22 at 11:12 am
    I love how people that have no connection with him are 100% SURE that he’s leaving… or staying. The thing is, nobody knows and he prolly doesn’t know either. I mean, on a smaller scale, who’s absolutely certain that they’ll be working for their actual firm/company/gov’t org 2 years down the road? This is a non-issue. There’s a 2009 NBA champ to be crowned, why don’t we focus on that?

  • Z Posted: Dec.22 at 11:13 am
    neaorin, nothing to gain EXCEPT attract quality free agents to Cleveland to, you know, win trophies. Nothing except that.

  • Moose Posted: Dec.22 at 11:23 am
    I hope that Bron re-signs with the Cavs. He got them to the point that they are now, or at least they wouldn’t be anywhere near as good as they are without him, and he should stay there. He’ll get a chip or two if he stays for his whole career. They’d be able to build around him permanently.

  • riggs Posted: Dec.22 at 11:34 am
    no BET, i do not care about this man and am probably one of the few who thought melo deserved ROY

  • Z Posted: Dec.22 at 11:39 am
    riggs, you seem like a bitter individual.

  • Mendel Posted: Dec.22 at 11:53 am
    He should have done that like 5 months ago.

  • B. Long Posted: Dec.22 at 12:32 pm
    LeBron James is like your best friends slutty girlfriend that he’s been with for like 6 years.

  • ClydeSays Posted: Dec.22 at 12:37 pm
    Just as a fan of the game, I find this all ridiculous. There is ALOT of basketball going on right now and many more games between now & then. Isn’t that enough?

  • Moose Posted: Dec.22 at 12:40 pm
    Care to enlighten us on your metaphor, B. Long? Is there a personal issue that needs investigating here?

  • riggs Posted: Dec.22 at 12:48 pm
    im bitter for not liking a certain individual? sure ill take your half-arsed logic young man.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Dec.22 at 12:52 pm
    It’ll be pretty cool if the entire American economy collapses before then. How’s Quicken Loans doing these days?

  • B. Long Posted: Dec.22 at 1:02 pm
    Don’t worry Moose, you’ll understand in a few years. Everbody has that friend that has an attractive yet ridiculously insecure girlfriend who flirts with any and everyone who will give them a second look. The boyfriend will put up with it because he doesn’t think he could do better. They will have horrible screaming matching and eventually she’ll admit to have cheated on him several times. Then just when you think they’re finally done…they’ll get engaged. Which is pretty much what this sounds like.

  • B. Long Posted: Dec.22 at 1:08 pm
    screaming matches^sorry

  • nothin personal Posted: Dec.22 at 1:37 pm
    stop worrying, he is just messing with you, he is waiting for 2010 to sign in Greece!

  • Chris Rodney Posted: Dec.22 at 2:12 pm
    As a Raptors fan, it pains me to say this, but Chris Bosh would be an AWESOME fit beside LeBron in Cleveland. The question is, was could the Raptors get back in a trade that would maintain the chemistry that Cleveland has developed (the Raptors have no chemistry), while meeting the Raptors’ (many) needs. Maybe a three or four team deal is required here…

  • Chris Rodney Posted: Dec.22 at 2:12 pm
    As a Raptors fan, it pains me to say this, but Chris Bosh would be an AWESOME fit beside LeBron in Cleveland. The question is, was could the Raptors get back in a trade that would maintain the chemistry that Cleveland has developed (the Raptors have no chemistry), while meeting the Raptors’ (many) needs. Maybe a three or four team deal is required here…

  • Anton Posted: Dec.22 at 2:16 pm
    if he goes to the Knicks his jersey will be the ugliest thing ever

  • Konate Posted: Dec.22 at 2:16 pm
    I actually said this this past weekend on a College radio show! wow!

  • Josh D Posted: Dec.22 at 2:25 pm
    Maybe he just signed the contract that made him a unrestricted free agent to make the other teams destroy their Rosters, to get rid of competition,so the Cavs have a better shot at the Title

  • Josh D Posted: Dec.22 at 2:26 pm
    And as we speak, Donnie Walsh is commiting suicide

  • teddy bruschi Posted: Dec.22 at 3:15 pm
    if he goes to the knicks it will be the highest selling jersey all time in basketball other than mjs

  • Darksaber Posted: Dec.22 at 3:29 pm
    Yawwwn… this story is boring me, as much as Lebron must be bored right now by 95% the teams he faces and their attempts to stop him.

  • mat smith Posted: Dec.22 at 4:17 pm
    nah he is gonna sign with the mighty Sheffield Sharks so he can hang with me, Duh….

  • ancarr Posted: Dec.22 at 7:51 pm
    And Now.. presenting number Twenty- three of the the New York Knickerbockers….. Lebroooon, Jamesssssssssssss!!!

  • J Buckets Posted: Dec.22 at 8:26 pm
    ^ This guy know the real deal
    If he doesnt recieve a ring by 2010 LeBron is in NY. He really isnt going to sign an extention in 09. He’s just giving the Cavs fans what they want to hear

  • Scruffz Posted: Dec.22 at 11:26 pm
    “Of course, it should come as absolutely no surprise that LeBron is eating up all of the attention that his quotes generate.” Somewhere, Stephon Marbury is smiling and nodding.

  • [...] the Suns. - Nets Daily - The Nets are leaving all options on the table for now with Nenad Krstic. - Slam Online - Oh, that LeBron James is such a kidder. - Interbasket - Bonzi Wells: 48 points, 11 boards, and 7 [...]

  • Jukai Posted: Dec.23 at 6:45 am
    I’m not sure if anyone else noticed this, but Kobe, Wade, Bosh, Amare, Dirk, Boozer, and a host of other stars will all be free agents in 2010. So, you know, I think those rebuilding teams can still grab a star or two.

  • Jukai Posted: Dec.23 at 6:46 am
    Also, the Cavs are doing so freaking well right now… why would Lebron go to New York to a worse team, ring or not? I don’t get people’s thinking.

  • J Buckets Posted: Dec.23 at 9:11 am
    Jukai - Money talks B.S. walks

  • GOSPURSGO Posted: Jan.1 at 4:06 am
    Maybe for the sake of prestige . . . but you must have forgotten where New York plays their homegames . . .

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