Knicks And Nets Visit Lebron James As Cleveland Begs The King To Stay

Yesterday (July 1)  was the first day of the NBA free-agent signing period… a day that will forever be known as LeBron James Day.  The two time MVP became the most celebrated free agent of our time; and in the next few days, at least six teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, will have audiences with James to try to convince him to sign.

Cleveland can offer James $30 million more than any other team, thanks to the NBA players’ collective bargaining agreement.

Money, though, is not all the 6-foot-8, 260-pound player wants. He’s after titles.

While James has led the Cavs through their most successful stretch in team history over the last few seasons, he has come up short in his pursuit of a championship to solidify his legacy. Cleveland was bounced in the second round of the playoffs this season by the Boston Celtics. The New Jersey Nets were the first team to be granted an audience with James on Thursday. Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov brought an entourage that included team president Rod Thorn, coach Avery Johnson and music mogul Jay-Z (who owns 1 percent of the Nets) to meet with James at the office of his business manager, Maverick Carter.

“It went well,” Johnson yelled at reporters as the group left the building.

The New York Knicks then got their chance. The Knicks’ crew included owner James Dolan, president Donnie Walsh and coach Mike D’Antoni. This was New York’s moment, one the franchise has been building toward for more than two years. The Knicks have endured a franchise-record nine straight losing seasons but gutted their roster with the hope of signing James. “I think it went well,” D’Antoni told The Associated Press after the Knicks completed their two-hours-plus session with James. “But obviously everyone that gets the chance to talk to him will probably say the same thing.”

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