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In my opinion, the above article is bad news. The Cavs would technically only be getting two more guaranteed years out of Lebron under this deal than they would have without it. It shows that Lebron is very much thinking about money.
 
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ABJ

7/10/06

LeBron contract in flux

ESPN report says deal only for four years

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->The LeBron James contract story won't go to bed.
Late Sunday night, ESPN reported James will not be accepting the full five-year maximum contract extension worth $80 million as widely assumed after he announced he'd re-sign with the Cavaliers on Saturday.
Instead, the network reported, he'll sign a four-year deal worth close to $60 million and have an opt-out clause after the third year of the extension, giving him a chance to be an unrestricted free agent in 2010. The extension begins in 2007.
The report appears both premature and flawed. NBA officials confirmed the Cavs and James have not even discussed final terms of the deal yet. Those talks are scheduled to begin today or Tuesday.
According to the new collective bargaining agreement reached last year, contracts of fewer than five years cannot have opt-out clauses, referred to as ``early termination options.''
ESPN also reported that James' strategy would be tied to a new collective bargaining agreement in 2011. But the current agreement actually runs through 2012.
James' contract might indeed have an opt-out clause after the fourth year, meaning he could be a free agent in 2011.
James' agent, Leon Rose, declined to discuss the contract terms until after the NBA's moratorium period ends on Wednesday.
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I will love to see Stephen A Loudmouth wrong on this one! Funny that deals shorter than 5 years are not allowed to have opt-out clauses... Hilarious!!! He is reporting something that legally cannot happen under the CBA!!! :slappy:
 
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In my opinion, the above article is bad news. The Cavs would technically only be getting two more guaranteed years out of Lebron under this deal than they would have without it. It shows that Lebron is very much thinking about money.

But it still is two more guaranteed years--are you more concerned about LeBron bringing home a title in the next 4 years, or in 2015?
 
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I want Lebron to be a Cavalier for life - and if that comes with championship(s), all the better.

I'm just extremely pessimistic about the situation.

This is the most important 4-5 years for the Cavs. They need to prove to Lebron that they can build a winning team around him. On the bright side no championship caliber team will have the salary cap room to offer Lebron more than the mid-level exception when his contract is up. I'm sure other teams will be able to offer him a max contract minus a year, but they probably won't have the team to be able to win right away. It's all on Ferry now to build the team that Lebron needs to go all the way. I say build a time machine go to next year, see who gets the first pick in the draft, come back, and trade Z or Gooden for it. :p
 
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It shows that Lebron is very much thinking about money.

I agree with you. Since all of this has come to light, it has caused me to rethink whether LeBron does want to spend his entire career in Cleveland. Maybe he does and maybe he will, but as far as I'm concerned, the odds that he will aren't nearly has high now as they were if you would have asked me a month ago.
 
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ABJ

7/11/06

LeBron for four more years?

Cavaliers all-star could sign a shorter extension

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->Signs point to the second LeBron James term being four more years.
The Cavaliers and James' representatives have not agreed on a contract extension yet and probably won't by the time the league's moratorium ends Wednesday.
James' agent, Leon Rose, declined to talk about contract figures but said the plan was to have the deal settled by the time James goes to Team USA training in Las Vegas on July 19.
There are strong indications that when all is settled, James will not be accepting a full five-year maximum deal as the Cavs offered.
First reported by ESPN Sunday, several NBA officials confirmed James and Rose broached this topic with the Cavs during initial contract talks.
The Cavs will likely give James whatever he wants, which seems to be a three-year extension worth $43 million to kick in after this upcoming season.
Instead of having an opt-out clause following the fourth year of a five-year deal as is standard in max extensions, James will likely ask for, and get, a fourth-year player option worth $17 million, making the potential value of the deal $60 million.
He would be on track to be free agent in the summer of 2010.
That means James could be leaving about $18 million in guaranteed money, for the fifth year the Cavs were offering, on the table.
That is a risky move in any profession, but one James might be comfortable in taking.
Why?
There is a multi-layered answer.
In four years James will be eligible to sign another maximum contract, starting at 30 percent of the salary-cap figure.
His upcoming extension with the Cavs will start at 25 percent of the cap, expected to be about $13 million.
He also will have more flexibility, with the chance to become an unrestricted free agent a year sooner than with the original max contract offer.
This will give him a quicker chance to pass his next judgment on the health of the franchise at the time.
Four years from now is also when James' near $100 million Nike contract expires. Though there's a good chance he will re-work and extend that deal, he could be a mega free agent from team and shoe in 2010.
James' apparent power play isn't standard, but it isn't unprecedented in the NBA. In 2000, San Antonio Spurs star Tim Duncan accepted fewer years.
Duncan turned down a seven-year max contract offer and instead signed a three-year deal because there was some uncertainty around the franchise.
San Antonio built a new arena, the Spurs won another title and when that three-year deal was up he committed for seven more.
Gibson ailing
Cavs second-round pick Daniel Gibson sat out theCavs' summer league game Monday in Las Vegas with a sore right knee.
Cavs first-round pick Shannon Brown took over at point guard and scored 15 points and handed out six assists as the Cavs beat the Golden State Warriors 91-66.
The team is 1-2 in the league and Brown has been playing well, averaging 17 points in the past two games.
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Dispatch

7/11/06

CAVALIERS

Report casts hint of doubt on deal

ESPN saying James is expected to sign shorter extension

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

James Walker
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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CLEVELAND — LeBron James’ impending contract extension continues to raise questions after he agreed Saturday to sign a multiyear deal with the Cavaliers.
ESPN reported late Sunday that James did not agree to the reported five-year, $80 million maximum extension, instead saying the star forward will sign a four-year deal worth approximately $60 million, with the possibility he could opt out after three years. Yesterday, the television network’s report was slightly altered, saying it was a three-year deal with a player option for a fourth year.
The details of the contract will not be verified until James and the Cavaliers make it official, which would be Wednesday at the earliest.
According to the collectivebargaining agreement, players with James’ level of experience cannot have an early termination contract — in which he can opt out of the final year of the deal — of less than five years. In that case, he could leave the Cavs after four years.
If he signs a three-year deal with a player option — in which a player can add a year if the team agrees — he could stay with the Cavs a fourth year.
The timetable of ESPN’s report also appears to be off. It said James would sign a shorter deal in an effort to make more money under the next collective-bargaining agreement.
The current collective-bargaining agreement will expire after the 2011-12 season. If James signs a three-year extension, it would be in effect starting with the 2007-08 season and would end after the 2009-10 season. An option year would carry it through the 2010-11 season. Following the ESPN timeline, James would become a free agent under the current collective-bargaining agreement.
Because James has so much leverage in the negotiations, he likely will insert some sort of player option in the final year of the contract, regardless of the length.
If James’ camp decides a player option after three years is the way to go, it could be to his advantage. A shorter contract would give him the ability to monitor Cleveland’s progress or shop for a new team earlier than expected. A shorter contract also could add up to more money in the long run, provided he stays healthy and continues to be an elite player. [email protected]
 
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So basically the Cavs have 4 years to prove to Lebron that they can win a title. Those 4 years also take them through the contracts of all of the FA's they signed so Lebron should have a pretty big say in who the Cavs will bring in with the next round of FA's. IIRC everyone but Hughes have <=3 years left on their contracts and Hughes will be done in 4 years as well. I'm sure the Cavs will sign Varejao for as long as they can when his contract is up. It's pretty much all on Ferry to build the team through the draft and fill any holes in 3 years when they will probably be under the cap again.
I'm hoping the Cavs will have the pull now to get the aging stars to sign lesser contracts with them in order to have a chance to win a title.
IMO the East is open now for anyone to win. The Pistons won't be able to dominate without Big Ben. The Heat will still be good, but they are getting old. The Bulls will be a lot better and could have a chance to go really far in the playoffs depending how their draft picks come along.
If Lebron makes anywhere near the improvement that he did the past couple years, Hughes stays healthy, Shannon Brown can be an adequate 6th man, and they figure out something with Gooden the Cavs are right up there with any team from the East.
 
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In four years lebron will be with the nets ( owned partially now by jay-z) who is a friend of lebrons. By the time lebron is their the nets will have been moved to Brooklyn and have a new stadium and have the start of a big team
 
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Nah - by the time his contract expires, Nike will have colonized the moon, and LeBron will sign with the lunar expansion team - because it's in his shoe contract. :roll2:

Jesus Christ, you guys are crazy. I as a lifetime Daytonian, I just happen to be a fan of two teams from Cleveland. Do you know how it can be spending your whole life as a sports fan telling everybody you know that you're not a jackass like the rest of the fans of the teams you root for?
 
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ABJ

7/12/06

Extension for James confirmed

Cavaliers will announce three-year deal with option

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->The deal is done. LeBron James will be a Cavalier for at least another four years.
Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry and James' agent, Leon Rose, reached an agreement on a contract extension following a meeting in Las Vegas. The team is expected to formally announce the commitment today, when the NBA moratorium period is lifted.
James has commitments this week, so the signing and formal press conference might not happen for several days.
He will receive the maximum allowable salary for three years, worth an estimated $43 million, with his option for a fourth season at $17 million. It will kick in after this upcoming season, assuring he'll be with the team until 2010.
The Cavs extended a five-year, $80 million extension offer on July 1, and Saturday James announced he intended to re-sign. It leaked out in the following days, kicked off by a report on ESPN, that James was going to reject the full five-year deal and sign for fewer years to take advantage of some salary-cap rules and retain some flexibility.
Determined to keep their franchise player by any means, the Cavs were open and accepted James' terms.
Becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2010 would allow James to get a hefty raise, because he'll have seven years experience, which makes him eligible for a new maximum contract that starts at 30 percent of the salary cap.
The extension he agreed to Tuesday starts him at 25 percent of the cap figure, expected to be about $13 million.
In a time in the NBA when several superstars are on middle-of-the-pack teams on long-term contracts, notably Kevin Garnett and Allen Iverson, James might have a desire to protect his interests if the Cavs don't continue to improve.
At the same time, James has never given any indications or any statements that his long-term plans are to leave Cleveland.
Gooden meeting
Drew Gooden's representatives held a meeting with Cavs officials concerning the free-agent forward Tuesday. Insiders report the talks weren't very productive, which increased the chances of a long, drawn-out process that has the potential to get contentious.
Gooden is restricted, meaning the Cavs can match any offer, but there are few teams that have significant salary-cap space to offer Gooden. That limits Gooden's bargaining position. His agent, Calvin Andrews, has said Gooden is using the six-year, $60 million contract the Denver Nuggets gave free-agent forward Nene as a basis for negotiating and is open to looking for sign-and-trade options as well.
With James, Larry Hughes and Zydrunas Ilgauskas all having massive deals and promising forward Anderson Varejao up for free agency next summer, reason dictates that the Cavs cannot afford to give Gooden anywhere near as rich a contract or take one back in a trade. They can also force Gooden into playing on a one-year contract if they so choose.
Dribbles
The Cavs had some interest in free-agent swingman Anthony Parker, who has starred in Israel the last few years. That door might be shut, as he reportedly agreed to join the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday.... There have been some rumors the Cavs had interest in New York Knicks free-agent center Jackie Butler, but that apparently is not true at this point. ``I haven't had any substantive talks with the Cavs regarding Jackie,'' Butler's agent, Keith Glass, said.

ABJ

7/12/06

Shorter deal isn't worry with James

By Terry Pluto

<!-- begin body-content -->Guess what Cleveland sports fans love to do best?
Worry.
Now that it appears LeBron James will sign a three-year extension instead of a four-year extension, Cavaliers fans are worried.
Guess this means LeBron really doesn't like it here. Maybe he won't sign at all. Maybe he is going to the New York Knicks. LeBron doesn't love us after all.
LeBron hates it here so much, he booked a local high school gym Sunday night so he could play ball with his friends from high school.
At the start of last season, if someone had told you that he would be guaranteed to stay with the Cavs through the summer of 2010, would you be happy?
Thought so.
That's the case with LeBron, assuming he signs the three-year extension. Right now, that is the contract being discussed.
Keep in mind that he still has one year left on his old deal that takes him through the summer of 2007 and pays him $5.8 million. Then, the three-year extension would begin, carrying him through 2010.
Four more years for LeBron. Guaranteed.
Remember that LeBron is a shrewd businessman. Also know that agents have been trying to find a way to deal with these five-year maximum contract extensions allowed under the NBA's latest labor agreement.
LeBron wants two things: to make sure the franchise keeps moving in the same direction as it is now -- into contention, and to maximize his earnings.
If you're LeBron, you've had two tough years with the Cavs -- followed by a 50-win season and a trip to the second round of the playoffs. You've had three coaches, two general managers and two owners in three years.
You would want to make sure that things continue to settle down and progress in the next few years under owner Dan Gilbert and General Manager Danny Ferry.
You would want Mike Brown to continue to grow as a coach, and the team to draft and sign productive players.
You want to win.
This is the same approach Tim Duncan took a few years ago. After the first three years of his rookie contract, he was eligible for a maximum deal, which at that time was seven years.
Instead, Duncan signed a three-year contract similar to what the Cavs are discussing with LeBron.
Duncan since has signed another extension that takes him through 2010.
The Cavs are not about to panic because LeBron wants a three-year deal with an option for a fourth year, rather than a four-year deal with a fifth-year option.
They can't comment on the contract talks, but it's safe to say they feel confident they'll put together a deal for the three years. That gives them time to continue building a better team with LeBron as a magnet.
It also is interesting that players such as Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade are considering the same approach LeBron is taking. These guys have known each other for years, dating to the summer AAU basketball circuit when they were in high school.
The key is the NBA labor agreement, which guarantees that no team can offer LeBron more money or more years than the Cavs. It's a true home-court advantage, one that does not exist in baseball or football.
So you can worry about LeBron, but why bother? At least not for the next few years.
The labor agreement allows the Cavs to approach LeBron with another extension in a few seasons -- while he's still under his new contract.
By the end of the new deal, LeBron will have been with the Cavaliers for seven seasons. That's a significant commitment to the Cavs from the St. Vincent-St. Mary product.
Seven years is also how long it took for the Chicago Bulls to put a team together to win a title with Michael Jordan. Hopefully, the Cavs can shorten that process.
But at worst, the Cavs have LeBron James for four more years. Most of us would take our chances with that.
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