It's basically impossible to escape news about LeBron James and where he might play.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Who knew that one man's decision could be so exhausting for millions of people?

That's where we are with LeBron James and fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Thursday brought a litany of rumors during the wait for Decision 2.0 ... with no way to know if any of them have any validity. What we are certain were wrong: Reports that James would make his announcement at 3:30 p.m., then 4:30 p.m., then around 7 p.m., then at 11 p.m.

Now the thought is the decision will come on Friday. Again, no one really knows. 

The wait has kept thousands glued to social media. For many it's becoming an obsession:

Refreshing my TL is comparable to grabbing a handful of potato chips... "Okay, just one more" #LeBronWatch2014

— Freeman[?] (@Mfreeman34) July 11, 2014

I doubt I am getting any sleep tonight #LeBronWatch2014

— Chris Fuentes (@Fuentes2484) July 11, 2014

And for many others, it's a huge aggravation:

Lebron James is going to I don't care. #LeBronWatch2014

— Michael Sandler (@notthatsandler) July 11, 2014

Even me as a #LeBronJames fan I'm sick and tired of the only thing talked about is #LeBronWatch2014 and #TheDecision

— Jacob Austin Day (@Day_Jacob16) July 11, 2014

It's a mixed bag. See more reactions from the unfolding saga below. 

Check out our podcast with SheridanHoops.com reporter Chris Sheridan on the day that his Wednesday report of LeBron James to the Cavaliers was finally made true.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Shortly after 7 p.m. on Wednesday, multiple NBA reporters were Tweeting the news that the Las Vegas meeting between LeBron James and Heat president Pat Riley had completed. All would eventually say that no decision would be coming that night.

But one longtime NBA observer -- former Associated Press and ESPN reporter Chris Sheridan, who now runs SheridanHoops.com -- was much more definitive.

LeBron James is returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers, a source tells http://t.co/Cc9XrPZuuu. @KingJames #LeBronToClev http://t.co/yaNgQDrcff

— Chris Sheridan (@sheridanhoops) July 9, 2014

There was no hedging from Sheridan, who wrote that James' decision was already determined. Not maybe, not likely, but certain.

For nearly 36 hours, Sheridan was essentially the one NBA source who said there was certainty about James and the Cavaliers. Shortly after noon today, James proved him right.

Early Friday evening, Sheridan talked about the vindication of the day's events, how likely it is that Kevin Love joins LBJ in Cleveland and what the expectations of the 2014-15 Cavaliers should be. Just check the podcast above.

Seen and heard Friday at Progressive Field, including reaction to LeBron James' return to Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Seen and heard Friday at Progressive Field:

Clubhouse confidential: The city of Cleveland rejoiced when LeBron James made his decision to come back to Northeast Ohio and play for the Cavaliers.

The four-time MVP announced his decision on Sports Illustrated's website Friday afternoon, sending shockwaves of excitement throughout Cleveland and Akron. That same excitement echoed through the Tribe's clubhouse.

The outspoken Nick Swisher expressed his joy before Friday's game. "All teams from the Browns to the Cavs to the Tribe it seems like everyone is stepping their games up. I can't wait to meet him and so stoked he is coming back."

But can the Cavs win a championship? Swisher says with LeBron, it's possible. And with the Indians making the playoffs last season, he's excited about the future of Cleveland sports.

"A guy like that with the talent he has. Single-handedly he can win you a championship," Swisher said. "With what we did last year, so many awesome things are happening. Now we have to go out there and keep winning. It's hot in the 2-1-6 for sure."

Indians manager Terry Francona also touched on James' return, stating it's great for the city to have extra excitement.

"This is a guy coming home that grew up here and achieved unbelievable success. Not only here but to go on and win, some of it is kind of personal."

The Indians did welcome James with a greeting on the scoreboard during Friday's game against the White Sox, which received a loud ovation.

Brownie on the mound: Cleveland Browns quarterback and St. Ignatius High School product Brian Hoyer will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Saturday's game.

Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel was scheduled to throw the first pitch back on June 4, but was washed out due to a long rain delay.

Stat of the day: Going into Friday, Cleveland's pitching staff has posted an AL-low 2.74 ERA since June 25. The club's overall season ERA has fallen from 4.18 to 3.95 over that 14-game span.

St. Vincent-St. Mary basketball coach Dru Joyce talks about the return of LeBron James to Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- All of the news on Friday has been of the return of LeBron James back to his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers team.

However, before he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft, he was a standout player at St. Vincent-St. Mary. His coach at the time was current Irish coach Dru Joyce, who stopped by cleveland.com to talk about the return of his former player.

Joyce talked about how, like the rest of the nation, he was out of the loop and did not know of Lebron's decision until he was asked in the barbershop.

The local high school talent on the boys basketball scene is expected to be very big next year, and Joyce said that James coming back will take it to another level.

"I think it is going to create a lot of energy," Joyce said. "Basketball has been at the forefront of Northeast Ohio, and I think it just propels basketball to another level."

Contact high school sports reporter Mark Kern by email mkern@cleveland.com or Twitter (@Markkern11). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

A deal for Kevin Love will be complicated. There are many reasons why the Cavs don't want to give up Andrew Wiggins.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Now that LeBron James is back, what comes next:

1. For a while, it will be all Kevin Love, all the time for fans. Can the Cavs deal for Minnesota's power forward? It won't be easy. Love makes $15.7 million. The Cavs will be close to the salary cap once they sign James. His maximum contract will begin at $20.7 million next season. The math and nuances of the salary cap are complicated, but the franchise will have to find a way to give Minnesota a package of players with salaries of at least $14 million.

2. Minnesota would like to begin a deal with Andrew Wiggins. The Cavs want to keep Wiggins out of the trade. But my guess is they won't allow that to keep them from getting Love. They had put out word that they weren't trading Wiggins. Now, I'm not so sure.

3. That's because Love is reportedly willing to sign an extension to play with James. His contract is guaranteed at $15.7 million this year. He has a player option of $16.7 million in 2015-16. The Cavs can then add on three more years. Love is only 25. He averaged 26.1 points and 12.5 rebounds last season. For his career, it's 19.2 and 12.2. He's never been on a playoff team in six seasons. His defense is iffy, and he can force up bad shots. But he also can score, and very few men average 12 rebounds.

4. In other words, Love is a valuable property and just the right age at 25. The Cavs can build a deal with Anthony Bennett ($5.5 million), Wiggins ($4.6 million) and Dion Waiters ($4.0 million). But I'd HATE to give up that much. I'd prefer (as would the Cavs) to start with Bennett and Waiters, and find another player to make the deal work.

5. Why Wiggins over Waiters? Think about how General Manager David Griffin talks about "fit," and what that means. If the Cavs have Kyrie Irving, James and Love -- another player who needs the ball (Waiters) is one too many. Irving, James and Love all are "high usage" players, meaning they need the ball to be effective.

Will first-round pick Andrew Wiggins be around to wear his Cavs uniform?Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer 

6. The fleet 6-foot-8 Wiggins is more of a slasher, a guy who scores flying down the court on the fast break. His specialty is defense. He loves to play that part of the game. He can defend small forwards or shooting guards. Having Wiggins will give James a break on defense. The four-time MVP won't always have to defend the most athletic opponent.

7. Think about a lineup of Irving and Wiggins in the backcourt, James and Love at the forwards with Anderson Varejao in the middle. Trading Varejao ($9.7 million) would help the deal, but James loves to play with his old teammate. He mentioned Varejao in his Sports Illustrated essay. James already thinks the team is very young -- he wants to play with Varejao.

It's doubtful the Cavs will trade Anderson Varejao, who fits well with LeBron James on the court. Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer 

8. Also, Varejao is "low usage," meaning he doesn't care about having the ball on offense. He loves to rebound and defend. Varejao and Wiggins "fit" with James, Love and Irving.

9. That said, I can't figure out how to make a deal work with Love and Minnesota. Maybe the Cavs can get a third team involved.

10. The Cavs may have as many as three first round picks in 2015. They have their own. They have Miami's (protected 1-10) and they have one from Memphis (protected 1-5 and 15-30). Perhaps one or two of these can help in a trade for Love.

11. The Cavs can cut some players, trade some players and create room: Scott Hopson ($1.4 million) and Alzono Gee ($3 million) have been traded. Carrick Felix ($816,000) and Matthew Dellavedova ($816,000) could be cut. They really like Dellavedova and think the gritty guard fits in with James and the others. They also added a $3 million trade exception in another small deal.

12. It's getting complicated (I know, I already wrote that), but the Cavs will eventually qualify for something called the "room exception." It's worth $2.7 million. They can use it to sign Mike Miller, the smooth shooting forward who played with James in Miami. He loves James setting him up for open shots. Ray Allen may be willing to sign a veteran minimum contract to play with James.

13. General Manager David Griffin will shop for shooters. It's a shame they couldn't keep Spencer Hawes. He would have been ideal, a 7-footer shooting 41 percent on 3-pointers. But salary cap space had to be cleared to sign James. They also traded two young players they like -- Tyler Zeller and Sergey Karasev -- to make room for James.

14. Right now, the roster has too many players (Irving, Waiters, Wiggins) who are most effective driving to the rim. Yes, Waiters (.368) and Irving (.358) were not bad from the 3-point line. But they are not stationary shooters who create space for James and others to operate. That's why Miller and Allen are appealing.

15. Two other shooters available are Kirk Hinrich and Anthony Morrow. Not sure if the Cavs can sign either. Former Miami small forward James Jones also is on the market. Other names will emerge. Hard to know exactly what the Cavs will -- or can -- do. But you can be sure that there will be more rumors, and the roster is in for more changes.

The baseball season can be a roller coaster ride. The Cleveland Indians are a perfect example. They had have highs and lows and find themselves hovering around the .500 mark.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The baseball season can be a roller coaster ride. The Cleveland Indians are a perfect example. They had have highs and lows and find themselves hovering around the .500 mark.

Unexpected heroes are a part of a season. The Indians are also experiencing that with a flourish of newcomers making contributions at the big-league level.

Chris Dickerson, 32, acquired in a trade from Pittsburgh on Monday, made his 2014 debut that day in the series opener against the Yankees, then proceeded to go 7 for 15 over the four games.

"It's one thing to come in and get settled on a new team, but to come in and start contributing right away, that's a big deal," Dickerson said.

Making his debut Thursday against New York, Roberto Perez gathered his first career MLB hit and home run in the same night. His homer helped the Indians earn a win and series split with the Yankees.

Perez was hitting .305 with 11 doubles, eight homers and 43 RBI in 53 games at Columbus with the Clippers. He ranked 11th in the International League in RBI despite missing two weeks with a strained left hamstring.

On Friday, the Indians optioned left-hander T.J. House to Class AAA Columbus and promoted reliever Austin Adams to the big league roster. House is another player who has helped recently without being on the roster to start the season. Before being sent down Friday, House sported a 1-2 record with an 4.40 ERA. The crafty lefty showed signs of being a reliable starter and has earned the trust of Terry Francona.

With Justin Masterson on the disabled list and other youngsters in the rotation, House will surely get another opportunity this season.

Breakout campaign: Going into Friday, Corey Kluber allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last five starts. He's been especially solid over his last three, going 2-1 with a 0.82 ERA.

After winning 11 games in his first full season with the Indians in 2013, Kluber ranks among the AL leaders in ERA and strikeouts (137) and had a chance to pitch in Tuesday's All-Star Game via the fan vote. White Sox starter Chris Sale was awarded the final spot Thursday.

"I'm trying to be as consistent as I can from start to start," Kluber said. "I try to avoid the downs as much as possible and keep the good stuff rolling."

Getting hot: Jason Kipnis entered Friday 7-for-15 (.467) in his last three games. Mix in scoring four runs and stealing five bases, the interim leadoff hitter has set the table for the rest of the lineup.

He also enters good company, as the last Indian with at least one stolen base in three consecutive games was Kenny Lofton (eight straight, Sept. 9-16).

Home cooking: The Tribe's homestand is the second-longest of the season. The longest is 11 games from Sept. 1-11.

When it comes to series wins, Cleveland is 13-11-5 in 29 total series, including 9-4-1 at home. The Indians own the third-highest home winning percentage in the AL and MLB at 27-18 (.600), going into Friday. That's despite dropping seven of their last 12 at home.

The only two teams ahead of the Tribe are the Angels (.681) and A's (.667).

Advantage White Sox: After finishing 17-2 against their AL Central foes, the White Sox hold the advantage so far this season. The Indians were 3-7 so far before Friday. The Sox have won four straight, although the Tribe was 2-1 at Progressive Field.

Season tickets nearly gone in wake of LeBron James' return to Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Season tickets for the Cavaliers' 2014-15 season are going fast to a point where they could be sold out soon. This comes after LeBron James announced on Friday in Sports Illustrated that he will rejoin the franchise.

"I couldn't get through on the phone, email, I even tried fax and the website," season ticket holder Joe Prekop said. "So I just decided to walk on down."

Fortunately for Prekop, he went at a good time as multiple media outlets have stated the box office has all but sold out its self-imposed limit of 12,000 season tickets.

The seating capacity for Quicken Loans Arena is 20,562.

The communications office could not be reached, but a spokesperson stated earlier that "Cavs fans are excited and it's been a very active day with high volume of sales with near unprecedented volume of calls."

Spectators are asked to deposit $200 per season ticket before being contacted by box office representatives. The office is open at The Q on Mondays through Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday for special events.

Individual tickets will be offered at a later date.

In 2003, James was drafted by the Cavaliers and spent seven seasons before signing with the Heat.

James, a native of Northeast Ohio, made four appearances in the NBA Finals with Miami and was crowned MVP and champion twice.

Contact sports reporter Nathaniel Cline by email (ncline@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@nathanielcline). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

Rick Fox says he couldn't escape the buzz about LeBron James' decision the past few weeks in South Africa.

LAS VEGAS --- The media frenzy over the past week surrounding LeBron James' landing spot was like nothing ever witnessed.

It was certainly nothing like former Los Angeles Laker Rick Fox experienced during his 14-year NBA career. The three-time NBA champion retired in 2004, before social media took over and free agency became the spectacle it is today. Fox spent the past few weeks in Cape Town, South Africa, but even there he couldn't escape the buzz about James' decision.

"I don't think it's just here in the states that people are tracking it," Fox said. "Fans of basketball in general are global, and I think it also comes from the NBA being so global, which raises the level of conversation."

Fox believes players being more inclined to communicate their free agency plans with teams before hitting the open market has transformed the league.

"I just think that now, the conversation gets turned up every year because unlike before when players would wait until they are a free agent to explore free agency, now guys are forcing teams' hands, such as Kevin Love, to deal with them a year early," said Fox.

Fox, who works for NBA TV and was a candidate for the New York Knicks coaching job, spoke on the different challenges front offices face.

"Now you're not only dealing with the current crop of free agents and the current crop of rookies who are either going to be renewed or negotiated with, but you're now dealing with guys that are a year out."

When James finally did announce his intentions to return to his home state, it ended one of the most frenetic weeks of sports media history. In the end, Fox believes James made the right decision.

"I think he wanted to go home," Fox said. "I don't think he ever wanted to leave. He won some championships, but his heart is in Cleveland, so he's following his heart."

Jesse Granger is a freelancer in Las Vegas.

New Cavaliers coach and players react to news of LeBron James choosing to rejoin Cavaliers, and other Summer League game notes.

LAS VEGAS -- The story on opening day of the NBA Summer League was supposed to be about the showdown between the Cavaliers' No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins and Milwaukee's No. 2 choice, Jabari Parker.

LeBron James' decision heard round the world quickly changed that.

"First and foremost I'm happy for LeBron, because he made a very difficult decision," said new Cavaliers coach David Blatt after his team's 70-68 win. "Obviously he made a decision from the heart more than anything else and I respect him for it and I'm joyful for it.

"Second of all, for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the state of Ohio – if you were around Cleveland today you would understand what I'm talking about – he just lifted a whole state by himself."

Blatt said he learned the news at 9:45 a.m. Las Vegas time – 12:45 p.m. Cleveland time, about 30 minutes after the news broke -- during his team's shootaround.

Wiggins said he was elated to find out he would be playing alongside James.

"I was happy, the best player in the game today is coming to your team, that's just gonna be a great learning experience for everyone," Wiggins said. "He works hard; I know he's a hard worker, unselfish, so hopefully he takes all of us under his wing and teaches us what it takes to get to his level."

Wiggins, who has attended two of James' camps and met him both times, said he'd likely move to the shooting guard spot, to complement James. He added he feels there is no reason to alter the way he plays. (See analysis and breakdown of roster here).

"I think my game style matches his style," said Wiggins, whose explosiveness, athleticism and shooting ability ignited the crowd Friday night on several occasions. "I can play with anybody. I don't think I have to change my game for anybody."

Friday night, from media row, to fans in the stands, Summer League staff, to the person pushing buttons in the freight elevator -- everyone was talking about King James.

"When I learned about it, I wasn't altogether surprised, particularly after reading what LeBron wrote, which was heartfelt and so indicative of the kind of person that he is; that just made it all the sweeter," Blatt said. "I thought 'I'm gonna have an awfully good seat to watch the best player in the world play this year.'"

For now, though, the focus is on the Summer League and the team's roster composition.

Wiggins and Parker made history, as it was the first time in the 10 years the Summer League has been in Vegas that the top two picks in the NBA Draft played each other. In 2007, Portland's Greg Oden and Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant were scheduled to meet, but an injury kept Oden from participating.

Wiggins led all scorers with 18 points, while Anthony Bennett, Cleveland's No. 1 pick in 2013, added 15 points and seven rebounds.

Rebel homecoming: Bennett didn't get to participate in last year's NBA Summer League due to a shoulder injury, so it was the first time for him being able to play back in Las Vegas, where he starred for national high school powerhouse Findlay Prep and in college for UNLV.

"I thought everybody was really focused," said Bennett, who was matched up against Parker for much of the game. "We were really anxious at first, but then we settled in and just played our game."

Several members of the Las Vegas media who covered Bennett while he was with the Runnin' Rebels noted he is in the best shape they'd ever seen of him. And while everyone else was reveling in James' announcement, Bennett was ho-hum and shied away from talking about his new teammate.

"Honestly I'm not really worried about that," he said. "I'm focused on Summer League here with the guys trying to win games."

Hard play: Wiggins was pushed around early in his NBA debut, as the Bucks were physical with him right out of the chute. The 6-foot-8 forward was knocked to the floor at least three times by mid-second quarter, but handled it well and stayed aggressive.

On the offensive end, it was a good sign, as he looked athletic, used a quick first step to get into the lane and challenged the Bucks' big men at the basket. On the defensive end, the result was early foul trouble, as he had three after the first quarter. In perspective, albeit players foul out after their 10th foul in the Summer League, Wiggins had three or more fouls in 21 of his 35 games for Kansas last season.

Same problem, different team: Following his team's 76-64 win over the Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks coach Derek Fisher said as long as James is in the Eastern Conference, he's still a problem.

"It still makes my job difficult, in terms of playing him four times a year and hopefully in the playoffs as well," he said. "Anytime guys at that level - LeBron, Carmelo - those types of guys shift the league. LeBron has obviously done that and there will probably be some other dominoes that will start to fall around the league now that he's made his decision."

Fisher - who has seen his share of free agency days, playing for five teams during a storied 18-year career - said making a decision like James did is never easy, as there are a lot of intangibles people never consider.

"Decisions as free agents are never as easy as they seem," he said. "A lot of focus is obviously on the contract size, and the amount of money or the number of years. But oftentimes guys are thinking on a much larger level than that and athletes don't often get the credit for thinking beyond their sport. Whether that's LeBron or Carmelo or anyone, I think we all have to respect the fact that it's not just about basketball, guys have families, wives, kids - moving is tough.

"I can only go off of what (James) said himself. It's more than just basketball, that he has a relationship with that region of the state of Ohio and that part of the country that is personal to him. That seems to be truly what he wants to do, and that's the decision that he's made. From that standpoint, it looks like things are going to work out and I'm happy for him and his family if that's what he truly wants."

- By W.G. Ramirez

Ramirez is a freelance sports reporter in Las Vegas and the Southern Nevada correspondent for Associated Press. (Follow him at @AP_WG)

Watch highlights: Cavs beat Bucks in Summer League opener

A source told Sporting News on Friday that Wiggins will not be included in any trade for Love.

LAS VEGAS — As the list of available free agents began to shorten Friday in the wake of LeBron James’ announcement that he would be returning to Cleveland, the NBA's gaze turned northward, toward Minnesota, where the Timberwolves still remain with star forward Kevin Love under contract for one more tenuous season.

Love has informed the Timberwolves he will not sign an extension, which means he would become a free agent next summer and force the team to consider trade options.

The more the process plays out, the more the Wolves’ near-term options seem to be dwindling. The Cavaliers are said to be willing to consider a deal for Love, but No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins has been assured he would not be included in any such trade, a source told Sporting News. That leaves the Timberwolves to pick over the likes of forward Anthony Bennett (last year's top pick) and guard Dion Waiters.

The Cavs’ intentions of keeping Wiggins seemed to be confirmed Friday night, when he made his debut for the Cavaliers’ Summer League team here, facing off against No. 2 pick Jabari Parker of the Bucks.

The arrival of James in Cleveland, coupled with the news that Heat big man Chris Bosh pulled a surprise and would remain in Miami on a max-salary deal worth $118 million, set up the Rockets as another possible front in the quest for Love, which has already included the likes of the Celtics and, most notably, the Warriors.

But the Rockets present the same problem for Minnesota in that they also provide a less-than-appetizing set of options for coach and front-office head Flip Saunders. Houston was paving the way for a max contract offer to be made for Bosh when it traded away point guard Jeremy Lin to the Lakers on Friday morning, and while there are still some good young pieces in place for the Rockets (Donatas Motiejunas, Terrence Jones), there is likely not much that will immediately satisfy Saunders’ desire to remain competitive in the short term.

That could leave Saunders rather disappointed in the market for Love, even as he figures to become the best available asset on the market.

And it could be beneficial two the two teams who have been most active in the Love market — Boston and Golden State. While a source said recently that the Timberwolves and Warriors have moved on from their talks about Love, which hinged on Golden State including guard Klay Thompson, those talks can easily be revived at any point this summer if the market for Love continues to be dry.

Also, the Celtics remain hopeful of using its raft of draft picks to help the team lure Saunders into a deal. Boston acquired a pick from the Cavaliers to facilitate the trade that cleared room for James this week, and now could have as many as nine first-round picks in the next four drafts.

-- Sean Deveney, Sporting News

No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins scored a game-high 18 points as Cleveland edged Milwaukee in the Las Vegas summer league.

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins scored a game-high 18 points as Cleveland edged Milwaukee in the Las Vegas summer league, 70-68.

No. 2 pick Jabari Parker had 17 in the loss.

From cleveland.com's story:

Video: Click to watch highlights

The Indians are 5-3 on a 10-game homestand.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians played the White Sox in the opener of a three-game series Friday. Here is a capsule look from The Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff:

Game: 92.

Opponent: White Sox.

Location: Progressive Field, Cleveland.

Time of day: Night.

Time elapsed: 3 hours, 16 minutes.

Attendance: 24,652.

Result: Indians 7, White Sox 4.

Records: Indians 46-46, White Sox 44-50.

Scoreboard watch: The Indians remained 7.5 games behind first-place Detroit (52-37) in the AL Central. The Tigers defeated the Royals, 2-1, in Kansas City, Mo.

Breaking even: The Indians have not been at .500 since June 20 (37-37).

They are one victory from entering the All-Star break at .500 or better for the fourth consecutive season. It would be their longest such streak since eight in a row from 1994 through 2001. They were 51-44 at the break last year. 

Homestanding: The Tribe is 5-3 on the final homestand before the break. It went 2-1 against Kansas City and 2-2 against the Yankees. The series against the White Sox continues Saturday afternoon and wraps Sunday afternoon.

Murph's up: Right fielder David Murphy put the Indians on the board with a two-run homer in the second. It tied the score, 2-2.

Murphy, who snapped an 0-for-10, had not gone deep since May 21 against Detroit. He is batting .243 with six homers and 44 RBI.

Swishalicious is delicious: Designated hitter Nick Swisher, as part of a 2-for-4, hit a two-run homer off White Sox righty Hector Noesi in the fifth inning to give the Indians a 6-4 lead. All eight of Swisher's homers have come as a left-handed batter.

Swisher is showing signs of heating up. He has hit safely in a season-high seven straight games, batting .310 (9-for-29) with three homers and nine RBI.

For the season, Swisher is at .207 with 36 RBI.

Not this time: Murphy and Swisher led the Tribe's quality performance against Noesi, who allowed six runs on seven hits and walked four in 4 2/3 innings.

The Indians did what teams are supposed to do against Noesi (3-7, 5.26 ERA) -- but  what they failed to do in their previous encounter. On May 28 in Chicago, Noesi allowed one run on five hits in 7 1/3 innings of a no-decision as the White Sox prevailed, 3-2.

Hard core: Tribe right-hander Corey Kluber did not bring his 'A' game to the mound, or even his 'B' game. But he managed to pitch six innings and keep his team in it. He allowed four runs on eight hits, walked two and struck out five.

Kluber did not possess his characteristic command. The stuff remained nasty enough; he just had trouble putting pitches where he wanted. 

Kluber's offense picked him up, enabling him to enter the break at 9-6. He owns a 3.01 ERA with 142 strikeouts in 131 2/3 innings. #VoteKluber didn't get him to the All-Star Game, but his work was All-Star-caliber -- all the more significant given the erratic state of the Tribe's rotation around him. Kluber logged at least six innings in all but four starts in the "first half.''

Bullish: The White Sox went nine up, nine down against Tribe relievers John Axford (seventh), Bryan Shaw (eighth) and Cody Allen (ninth). Six of the outs were strikeouts.

Allen is thoroughly enjoying himself in the closer's role, having saved 10 straight opportunities since May 30. Counting all appearances since the save streak began, he has given up two earned runs in 19 1/3 innings.

Allen is 3-2 and 11-for-12 in saves with 2.21 ERA. He is not relying on smoke and mirrors: In 40 2/3 innings, he has allowed 28 hits and struck out 53.

Small ball: The Indians had successful bunts in three straight innings.

1. Asdrubal Cabrera led off the fifth with a single. He stole second (replay reversed  the out call) and scored on Lonnie Chisenhall's two-out single to center to tie the score, 4-4.

2. In the sixth, Chris Dickerson sacrificed Yan Gomes to second after Gomes led off with a walk.

3. In the seventh, Chisenhall sacrificed Carlos Santana to third. Santana had doubled to drive in Michael Brantley from first to account for the final margin.

Instant impact: Dickerson went 1-for-2 with a bases-loaded walk. He has hit safely in all five games since being acquired from Pittsburgh, going 8-for-17 with the RBI and four runs.  

Fit for a king: Earlier in the day, LeBron James announced that he had agreed to return to the Cavaliers. Entering the bottom of the second inning, the Indians' video board showed a picture of James with the words "Welcome Home.'' The crowd cheered loudly.   

White Sox defense: The Indians hit into tough luck in each of the first two innings. With Cabrera on first and one out in the first, Brantley grounded sharply toward the hole at second. Leury Garcia made a slick pick moving to his left, spun and triggered a 4-6-3 double play. With one out in the second, Chisenhall shot the gap in left-center, where left fielder Alejandro De Aza dived to make the catch.

Brantley's first three at-bats resulted in outs despite the ball having been well-struck. His worst contact came in his fourth and final at-bat; it turned into a grounder up the middle for a single.  

Friday was one of the biggest days in Cleveland sports history. Get up to speed on what LeBron James' return meant and where the Cavaliers go from here.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - LeBron James is returning to Northeast Ohio to play for the Cavaliers, a decision he announced Friday with a memorable essay written for Sports Illustrated.

"I looked at other teams, but I wasn't going to leave Miami for anywhere except Cleveland," he wrote. "The more time passed, the more it felt right. This is what makes me happy."

News of James' return spurred celebration during Friday's lunch hours downtown. Car horns blared and strangers high-fived outside Quicken Loans Arena, where James created so many memories during his first seven seasons as a pro.

Here is a look what you need to know about James' return, where the team is headed and who else might be moving in free agency now that the biggest name in the NBA has found a new home, at home in Northeast Ohio:

From NBA Summer League in Las Vegas

• James 'just lifted a whole state by himself,' says Cavs coach David Blatt 
• Andrew Wiggins (and Jabari Parker) made NBA Summer League history Friday
• NBA veteran Rick Fox on The Return

The aftermath

• Stuff like this doesn't happen to Cleveland, writes former PD editor Debra Adams Simmons (CNN.com)
• Cavs close to selling out season ticket allotment within hours
• The fashion reaction, and where to buy your gear . . .
• . . . and, the T-shirts you may be buying this weekend
• The return, by the numbers
• Return puts 'joy' in the heart of Jesse Jackson
• OSU helped LeBron keep connection to home while in Miami
• How SI's Lee Jenkins got the biggest LeBron scoop of all
• We're all Witnesses again: Partying outside The Q (video)
• Phillip Morris: LeBron returns and Cleveland swoons
• Fans gather at the James home in Bath Twp. (slideshow, video)
• Memorable LeBron moments from pages of The PD (slideshow)
• Fans had plenty to comment about after the big announcement
• Dan Gilbert: We all get another chance together now
• Check out 9 photo galleries, from every stage of LeBron's career
• Jim Brown delighted to see LeBron back in Cleveland
• Bud Shaw: Cavs benefit from his desire to come home
• Roller coasters to cupcakes, businesses celebrate the return
• Akron Zips coach Keith Dambrot had a feeling it might happen
• What are your hopes for LeBron's return?
• Miami news outlets took the departure hard (photo gallery)
• Cavs fans rejoicing, in pictures (photo gallery)
• Zack Meisel's hour-long show featuring ProBasketballDraft.com's Joe Kotoch, and the PD's Manoloff, Pluto and Shaw
• Pluto's thoughts on LeBron's letter
• Welcome back, bandwagon Cavs fans
• See the front page of The Plain Dealer
• Check out LeBron's stats from every game he's played as a Cav
• Cleveland athletes welcome LeBron back
• Bill Livingston: The return of the prodigal King
• 7 things that made LeBron's return possible
• Shaw: Fans quick to let bygones by bygones

The future

• Terry Pluto on Kevin Love, and other potential moves
• SheridanHoops.com's Chris Sheridan sees multiple titles (podcast)
• Ex-coaches: LeBron will instill importance of defense in young Cavs
• Heat an East obstacle for Cavs after re-signing Bosh
• Cavs deal Gee to clear more cap space
• What LeBron's return does for the Cavs on the court
• Looks like he will be wearing No. 6 as a Cav
• A look at what might lie ahead for other NBA free agents
• At the moment, Vegas loves the Cavs' chances
• Pluto: Cleveland is again the center of the basketball universe

If the Indians traded Asdrubal Cabrera and moved Lonnie Chisenhall to shortstop, could they still contend for the postseason?

Hey, Hoynsie: Asdrubal Cabrera seems hot with the bat right now. Do you think the Indians could deal Cabrera, play Lonnie Chisenhall at shortstop and still contend for the division and wild card? – Jim Lisi, Ventura, Calif.

Hey, Jim: I don't see that happening. I think as long as they feel like they're in contention, they'll keep Cabrera at short. If they did deal him, and were still in the postseason picture, they'd play Mike Aviles at short or call up Justin Sellers or Francisco Lindor from the minors. Right now, Chisenhall has his hands full just playing third.

Hey, Hoynsie: I'm confused about the Tribe's recent addition of outfielder Chris Dickerson.  I'll admit that I don't know much about him, but why didn't the Tribe promote Matt Carson or Elliot Johnson from the Class AAA Columbus Clippers?  Both Carson and Johnson have been fairly solid in recent stints with the Indians. Did they want a left-handed bat (Dickerson) as opposed to a right-handed bat (Carson)?  -- Jamie Williams, Brooklyn.

Hey, Jamie: I think the Indians liked Dickerson a little more than Carson or Johnson. The Indians like the way he handles right-handed pitching.

The Indians had to make a move following Michael Bourn's left hamstring injury. Tyler Holt was a temporary fix. Dickerson could be a longer-term fit, especially the way he's swinging the bat.

More than anything, the addition of Dickerson is probably a reflection on the struggles of Ryan Raburn. If Raburn was hitting like he did last year, the Indians could have moved Michael Brantley to from left to center to replace Bourn and played Raburn in left. Or they could have switched David Murphy to left and played Raburn in right.

Hey, Hoynsie: Can you ask Nick Swisher why he does the "OHIO' OSU cheer at Indians games? The cheer has nothing to do with the state of Ohio or the Cleveland Indians. What did New Yorkers and A's fans think of the cheer? Did Swisher even graduate from OSU? Why doesn't he do an Indians cheer, if he feels he must be a cheerleader? -– Brutus Buckeye, Columbus.

Hey, Brutus: Are you really the guy who dresses up like a Buckeye? I'd like to see some identification, please.

Hey, Hoynsie: Why do baseball players think it funny to throw food etc. at teammates who are doing a TV interview? It seems wrong on many levels. Do the players clean up the mess or make clubhouse personnel do it? – Mary Kate, Cleveland

Hey, Mary: All I can say is a sunflower seed weighs a lot less than a bowling ball. 

Hey, Hoynsie: Do the Indians have insurance and get some sort of compensation when one of their high-priced players such as Bourn and Swisher go on the DL? I've heard of this with high-salaried pitchers and I thought I read something that the Yankees had that protection when Alex Rodriguez had his hip surgery a few years ago. – Bob Johnson, East Hartford, Conn.

Hey, Bob: Teams that sign players to multiyear contracts usually have insurance policies on those players to give then relief in case of injury. It is much harder to get on pitchers than position players.

Hey, Hoynsie: What was the worst Tribe free agent acquisition in our lifetime - Wayne Garland, Ken "The Hawk" Harrelson or Nick Swisher? The Tribe had just gotten out from under one terrible contract with Travis Hafner and the front office goes and shoots itself in the foot again last year with the Nick Swisher signing. On a team with limited money to spend the Cleveland BIG THREE of Asdrubal Cabrera, Michael Bourn, and Swisher are killing any chance the Tribe has of improving. Instead of spelling O-H-I-O in his commercial, Nick should be spelling B-U-S-T.  – Jerry Birk, Chardon.

Hey, Jerry: You seem to have problem letting go of the past. I would suggest a hobby that lets you explore the beauties of nature. How about bird watching?

It will do you and your blood pressure good.

As for free agents with big contracts, fans and the media get excited when a team commits to a player for an extended period of time. It shows the organization is trying to win. Some of them work, some of them don't. It happens on every team.

Hey, Hoynsie: Do you think Jason Giambi will play again this year? – Angelo Costanzo, Cleveland.

Hey, Angelo: The Indians have certainly missed Giambi's late-inning power this year. It would be nice to see Big G take a final bow before he once and for all walks into the coaches' room or manager's office. As for matching the impact he had on the field last year, I don't see that happening.

Hey, Hoynsie: Why has Cleveland become the "black hole" of professional sports and what, in your opinion would it take to change Cleveland's terrible image? Your column on Nelson Cruz, Jose Abreu, Yasiel Puig and Nick Swisher's respective talents being wrongly assessed is the reason I'm asking you this question. So many athletes don't want to come to Cleveland, stay in the city when they do arrive, leave at the first good opportunity -- what gives? – Wayne Hopewell, Pueblo, Colo.

Hey, Wayne: The Indians weren't the only team to pass on Cruz, Abreu and Puig. Each player represented a gamble, Cruz because of his PED problems and injury history and Abreu and Puig because so little was known about the skills of the Cuban defectors. Cruz's deal in Baltimore was only for one year, but time will tell us just what kind of return the White Sox, Dodgers and Indians get on their long-term investments.

It doesn't matter what city a professional team plays in. It has to have a plan, smart people executing the plan, talented athletes, the ability to find more talented athletes and a bank account that never runs dry. From what I've seen, little if anything happens by accident. Luck plays a part, but a well-run, well-financed organization that continually fields talented teams is the most important thing.

Ricky Simcic works hard for the Madison football team but in his free time, "Slick Rick" enjoys much more mellow activities.

MADISON, Ohio -- Madison senior linebacker Ricky Simcic has gone by many aliases on and off the football field. 

"When I first started off, they called me 'Meatball' because I was the shortest and stockiest kid on the team," Simcic said. "As I progressed, I got nicknames like 'Slim' and 'Slick.'"

He said his more recent nicknames are fitting because of how he is able to slide through the line and make tackles. This ability is what inspired his defensive coordinator to start calling him "Slick Rick." The name has stuck.

Some people also call him 'Simmy.'

Whatever you want to call him, No. 41 is a guy who consistently keeps opposing teams on their toes on both sides of the ball. When he's off the field, however, he likes to keep things fairly mellow, for the most part. 

Every day in July, check out a profile featuring one of the many standout football players in Northeast Ohio as part of the 31 in 31 series.

Simcic loves playing guitar and fishing, though he said he hasn't tried doing the two at the same time....at least not yet. 

"That would be a challenge," he joked when the idea was proposed. 

He plays a variety of classic and modern rock including AC/DC, Guns 'n' Roses and, his favorite, Red Hot Chili Peppers. 

He enjoys the tunes of RHCP most when he's looking to wind down and relax. 

Simcic gets plenty of excitement playing football, baseball, wrestling and through board games with his stepdad and stepbrother, such as RISK. 

He said that the type of strategy and planning he uses while playing a game like RISK helps him when studying his opponents in film before a football game. 

His stepfather, Jim Davis, has had a significant impact on Simcic's life, helping him with making decisions such as what to study in college: Engineering. 

Davis has some college football on his resume, having played offensive line at Johns Hopkins University. 

Simcic takes his role with Madison football very seriously, especially on defense where he plays MLB. 

He believes strongly in the Madison team motto that "hard work equals success," which he said the program has preached for as long as he can remember. 

Last year, the team's hard work payed off as the Blue Streaks put together the best season team in Madison history with a record of 10-3 and a berth in the regional championship game against Glenville. 

Simcic puts in plenty of hard work in the classroom as well, posting a 4.3 GPA last year. 

He idolizes hard-workers, such as Dick Butkus. 

"He was the hardest-hitting, meanest guy on the field," Simcic said about Butkus. "I strive to be like him. To always hit with intensity and do things right." 

More about Simcic:

Height: 5-foot-11

Weight: 205 pounds

Position: FB/LB

Grade: Senior

2013 stats: 103 tackles, 44 solo tackles, 81 assists, 6 sacks, 2 interceptions, 4 caused fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries. 

College commitment/offers: N/A

Awards/Honors: 2013 Division II All-Ohio, Second Team All-Defense; First Team All Lake County; Madison Defensive Most Valuable Player 2013; National Honors Society; National Society of High School Scholars. 

Contact high school sports reporter Robert Rozboril by email (rrozboril@cleveland.com), Twitter (@rrozboril) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/rrozboril). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

In the sixth edition of the Where are they Now Browns quarterback, we take a look at former Browns quarterback, Jeff Garcia.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Despite a tough year in his final season as the San Francisco 49ers quarterback in 2003, Jeff Garcia looked to get his career back on track as the quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.

On the list of Browns quarterbacks since the team's return in 1999, Garcia had the most success in his career. Of the six career Pro Bowl appearances between all of the quarterbacks,Garcia went to four of them. Before the tough 2003 season, Garcia had been to the Pro Bowl the prior three seasons.

However, the accolades were earned the hard way as he went undrafted in 1994 and how to show what he could do in the Canadian Football League. After being named a CFL All-Star four times, Garcia finally got his chance for the 49ers. He guided San Francisco to the playoffs in 2001 and 2002, but injuries cut his 2003 season short.

Sixth on our list of former Browns QBs since 1999,here's a look back at the Garcia era and what has happened to Pederson since his time in Cleveland ended nearly as soon as it started.

Jeff Garcia, 2004

3-7 as a Browns starter

Before the Browns

Once he was able to show his talent in the CFL for the Calgary Stampeders, Garcia got his shot in San Francisco and showed the ability to make plays with both his hands and feet.

During his time in San Francisco, he is one of only 10 quarterbacks in NFL history to have consecutive seasons of at least 30 passing touchdowns at least once in his career. 

Jeff Garcia talks about his growth as a quarterback

In a 2002 playoff game against the New York Giants, Garcia helped the 49ers overcome a 38-14 deficit to get a 39-38 victory. In that game, he threw for 331 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 60 yards and scoring another touchdown.

However,that season came to an abrupt ending when they lost to eventual Super Bowl champion, Tampa Bay, in a blowout. 

That loss was the end of Marriuci's team as the 49ers coach, and Garcia would only last one more, injury-plagued year.

How he came to the Browns

Despite a tough 2003 season, there was still plenty of optimism that Garcia would have success in Cleveland. One thing that made him successful in his career was his confidence, and he let it know when he signed that he was ready for the opportunity.

"I just came out of a situation where I was following legacies (Steve Young and Joe Montana) at the quarterback position, Hall of Famers," Garcia said. "You talk about having to step into some big shoes. I don't fear competition."

Browns highlights

Despite the confidence entering his time in Cleveland, there weren't a lot of highlights for Garcia as the Browns quarterback after the 2004 season opener.

In the previous season, the Browns lost to the Baltimore Ravens both times, losing by a combined score of 68-13. They were dominated in both of those games in every facet, as Ravens running back Jamal Lewis set a then NFL record for rushing yards in a game (295), while setting a record for the most rushing yards against a team in two games for a season (500).

However, on September 12, 2004, everything went the way for the Browns. The defense held Lewis to 57 rushing yards, and Garcia threw for 180 yards while scoring two touchdowns in the 20-3 win. 

His best overall game was a 34-17 victory against Cincinnati later in the season, when he threw for 310 yards and four touchdowns. One of those touchdowns was a 99-yard pass to Andre' Davis, a feat that has been accomplished only 10 other times. 

That would be the last win of his time with the Browns.

Browns lowlights

After a solid performance in the Week 1 win against the Baltimore Ravens, Garcia followed that up with the worst performance of his career against the Dallas Cowboys. In the 19-12 loss, Garcia was able to connect on only 8-of-27 passes for 71 yards, while also throwing three interceptions.

His time ended in a 10-7 loss to the New York Jets later in the season, as he suffered a separated shoulder in the game and would only throw one more pass in his Browns career

How he left the Browns

On March 12, 2005, Garcia was presented the opportunity to play for his old coach, Steve Marriuci as a member of the Detroit Lions. In the season opener, he threw for 210 yards and a touchdown in a 13-10 victory against the Browns. He was named the starting quarterback for the rest of the season after the game, but later lost the job to Joey Harrington.

He would go on to make another Pro Bowl with the Buccaneers in 2007, and was last on an NFL roster in 2011 when the Houston Texans after an injury to Matt Schaub.

What he's doing now

Jeff Garcia is helping younger quarterbacks learn the fundamentals of football and achieve their goals, as he runs Jeff Garcia football. While he is heavily involved with the coaching aspect, Garcia told the San Jose Mercury News on Friday that if a team made the phone call about a roster spot, he would at least answer.

A current Browns quarterback with a similar playing style

When Garcia was in his prime, he did a terrific job of making plays with both his arms and his legs. Sound familiar? Former Pro Bowl quarterback Rich Gannon had a quote on a Sports Illustrated cover with the recently drafted Johnny Manziel on it that said, "He reminds me of Jeff Garcia."

An NFL executive told NFL analyst Bucky Brooks that he sees a lot of similarities between Manziel and the three Jeff Garcia during his days in San Francisco. 

Nick Swisher was 2-for-4 with a two-run homer as the Indians defeated the White Sox, 7-4, Friday at Progressive Field.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- On a day when LeBron James brought back his talents to the North Coast, the Indians kept the positive news flowing on the area's pro sports scene with a strong performance.

Nick Swisher hit the go-ahead two-run homer in the fifth inning as the Indians defeated the White Sox, 7-4, Friday night at Progressive Field. David Murphy also homered for the Tribe on the 100th anniversary of Babe Ruth's MLB debut.

Paid attendance in gorgeous weather: 24,652. The Indians improved to 46-46. They are .500 for the first time since June 20 (37-37). The White Sox slipped to 44-50.

The Indians finished with 10 hits. They are 29-12 with 10-plus hits and 33-5 with five-plus runs.

The Tribe went small and large to score three runs in the fifth for a 6-4 lead.

Asdrubal Cabrera led off against righty Hector Noesi with a bunt single. Michael Brantley lined to second and Carlos Santana struck out swinging.

On an 0-2 pitch to Lonnie Chisenhall, Cabrera sprinted for second. Catcher Adrian Nieto received a pitch that was called a ball and fired to second, where shortstop Alexei Ramirez swiped at Cabrera's foot with his glove. Umpire Dan Iassogna signaled out and the White Sox began jogging off the field, but Cabrera sternly indicated that Ramirez had missed him. The Indians challenged and won; replays showed that Ramirez tagged air between the bag and Cabrera's shoe.

MLB's graduation into the 21st century paid off when Chisenhall sent the next pitch into center for a single. Adam Eaton fielded cleanly and threw accurately to home. Nieto, in a tight spot as Cabrera and the ball arrived at the same time, failed to make the catch. Cabrera slid in safely to tie the score.

"Obviously, you like the (replay system), especially when it helps you,'' Indians manager Terry Francona said. "I do think it is in place for the right reasons.''

Designated hitter Swisher, in a 1-0 count, hammered a sinker that didn't sink into the Cleveland bullpen in center. The runs were the last of six scored by the Tribe with two outs.

Six of Swisher's eight homers have given the Tribe the lead. This blast put right-hander Corey Kluber in line for the victory.

Kluber (9-6, 3.01 ERA) gave up the four runs on eight hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out five. He threw 68 of 106 pitches for strikes.

"Klubes didn't have his best command,'' Francona said. "The White Sox made him work. But he still stayed out there for six and gave us a chance to win.''

John Axford pitched the seventh and Bryan Shaw the eighth. Closer Cody Allen pitched the ninth for his 11th save. The three relievers retired all nine batters, including six by strikeout.

Cleveland's bullpen has been superb lately.

The White Sox, capitalizing on Kluber's command issues, scored twice in the second for a 2-0 lead. With one out, Conor Gillaspie hit a ground-rule double inside the first-base bag. At that point, Gillaspie was 12-for-24 against the Indians for the season. Alejandro De Aza blooped a single to right, Gillaspie advancing to third.

Kluber fell behind light-hitting No. 8 batter Nieto, 3-1. Nieto lined an RBI double to left, De Aza stopping at third. Leury Garcia grounded to first to drive in Chicago's second run. After Kluber plunked Adam Eaton in the leg with his first pitch, Alexei Ramirez lined to center.

The Indians answered with two runs in their half. Swisher hit a two-out single to right on an 0-2 pitch. Murphy, ahead in the count, 3-1, sent a fastball over the wall in right-center for his sixth homer. Murphy had been 0-for-10.

"We did a good job of swinging at strikes,'' Francona said. "We gave ourselves opportunities and kept answering.''

The White Sox regained the lead in the fourth. Nieto led off with a 1-2 single to left-center. After Garcia grounded into a fielder's choice, Eaton doubled to left-center. As Garcia scored, Kluber appeared to tweak his ankle when he slipped backing up the throw to the plate. Kluber tested the ankle with one pitch from the stretch before telling Francona that he was OK to continue.

Kluber stranded Eaton by overpowering Ramirez with three swinging strikes and getting Jose Abreu to ground to third. Chisenhall made a good play while moving forward near the line to erase Abreu.

The Indians had another response, this time with one run. They missed an opportunity for more.

Santana led off with a five-pitch walk and rumbled to second on Chisenhall's single to right. Swisher blasted a 3-1 pitch foul to right, then swung and missed at a changeup. Murphy forced Chisenhall at second with a grounder. Yan Gomes walked to load the bases and Chris Dickerson walked on four pitches to tie the score.

Jason Kipnis grounded to Noesi on the first pitch to stop a potential big inning.

Three pitches into the fifth, the White Sox led, 4-3. Adam Dunn pounced on a 2-0 fastball over the plate and put it in the Tribe bullpen. Dunn has hit 20 of his 454 career homers against the Tribe.  

LeBron James has signed a two-year deal with the Cavaliers, with an eye toward signing a long-term deal down the road.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — LeBron James can become a free agent again after next season.

But that's no reason for Cleveland Cavaliers fans to fret.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst, citing a source familiar with James' contract talks with the Cavs, reported on Saturday that James has finalized a two-year, $42.1M deal with Cleveland.

According to the report, the deal includes an option to become a free agent after the 2014-15 season.

James announced he was returning to the Cavs on Friday.

"I always believed that I'd return to Cleveland and finish my career there," James said in his announcement.

In his report, Windhorst says sources have told him James is fully committed to the Cavs for the long term.

The NBA will soon be negotiating new television contracts for the 2016-17 season, and it's expected by some that the league could double its rights fees, leading to significant bump in the salary cap in 2016.

There's also uncertainty about the current collective bargaining agreement, which the NBA or NBA Players Association can opt out of in 2017.

With a two-year deal, James gives himself more options should the cap increase significantly, or if a new CBA is struck.

Dwyane Wade releases statement after teammate LeBron James leaves Miami Heat for Cleveland Cavaliers.

LAS VEGAS - Dwyane Wade wished LeBron James stayed in Miami.

And now he's wishing him well regardless.

Wade released a statement Saturday calling James - who announced Friday he is leaving the Heat and returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers - "my brother," and said he supports the four-time NBA MVP's decision.

"As a friend and a teammate, I am sad to see my brother LeBron leave to begin a new journey," Wade's statement said. "In 2010, we decided to come together all for one goal - to win championships and we succeeded. We were friends when we first joined the league and created an unbreakable bond the past four years. Our collaboration will always be very special to me both personally and professionally."

Meanwhile, Saturday, it was reported James' contract is for two years and $42.1 million.

"We shared something unique and he will always be part of my family. LeBron made the right decision for himself and his family because home is where your heart is. I know this was not an easy decision to make and I support him in returning to his roots. As an organization, a community, and as individuals, we achieved the goals we set when we first signed on together. We are champions."

Together, James, Wade and Chris Bosh went to the NBA Finals in each of their four Miami seasons together, winning the championship twice. Hours after James made his announcement, Bosh agreed to a five-year, $118 million deal to stay with the Heat. Wade is closing in on a new deal with Miami as well.

The Heat have not announced Bosh's deal because it has not been signed. But Bosh confirmed his plans Saturday through social media, posting a photo of himself wearing one of his Heat championship rings and a hat that spells out "Miami" in large gold letters.

"I'm glad I'm staying," Bosh wrote. "Looking forward to starting a new chapter in Miami's book!"

The Heat did not announce any moves on Saturday. They have deals pending with free-agent forwards Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger, plus are engaged in talks with several members of their team from this past season.

What are your thoughts on LeBron James reportedly signing a two-year deal with the Cavaliers?

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Multiple outlets are reporting that LeBron James has signed a two-year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The deal, which will reportedly pay James $42.1M, allows James to opt out after this season and become a free agent again next summer. 

All reports say that James is committed to Cleveland long-term, but are you concerned with him only signing for two years? Would you have liked to see him sign a longer deal with Cavs?

Do you view this strictly as a financial move, and expect James to sign long-term deal in the future?

Share your thoughts in the comments.