James, ranked the NBA's top free agent, and other FA's are factors in teams' draft plans. One report details the financial impact James could have on a city.
LeBron James and other star free agents likely affect the draft plans of several teams.Cleveland, Ohio -- The NBA draft will be held on Thursday, and many of the league's teams will base their strategies on the imminent free agency of players such as LeBron James of the Cavaliers, Dwyane Wade of the Heat, Chris Bosh of the Raptors and Amare' Stoudemire of the Suns.
What to do to make a team more attractive to a star free agent?
Keep track of The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com's coverage of the Cavaliers and LeBron James here and here.
Chris Mannix lists the top 40 free agents for Sports Illustrated's SI.com. First, of course, is James. Mannix writes:
The two-time MVP is at the top of every team's wish list, with the unique ability to turn middling franchises (such as the Knicks and Clippers) into instant contenders. Few players have ever possessed the blend of size, skill and speed of James, who still could be a few years away from reaching his prime. Wooing James will be complicated -- a hefty contract and perhaps signing some of his free-agent buddies to fill out the roster are among the requisites -- but if a team has the money, it will make the sacrifices.
(The rankings list Cavaliers centers Shaquille O'Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas at Nos. 18 and 27, respectively)
Money man
The Chicago Bulls are among the teams that hope to sign James. Fred Mitchell writes for ChicagoBreakingSports.com about the financial impact James could have on the Windy City:
According to one reputable source, if James played for the Bulls, local TV ratings would increase roughly 33 percent, which would reach an incremental 30,000 - 40,000 households per game in Chicago. Additionally, the Bulls TV exposure would jump from the 29 regular-season nationally televised games last season to 40 nationally televised games with James. Considering regular-season NBA games generally reach 1 - 2.5 million households per game, another 11 nationally televised games can reach an additional 11 - 27.5 million households over the course of the season.
The additional national TV coverage will increase exposure and expand the local fan base in Chicago, which currently sits at about 3.2 million people, as well as the national fan base, not to mention the international fan base where the Bulls, even without James, are still the most recognizable NBA team brand.
What's happening
Sports Illustrated's SI.com uses a photo gallery to detail a "LeBron Watch Since End of Season." The photos are accompanied by text, such as:
Former Knicks big man and LeBron mentor Charles Oakley says his protege should steer clear of New York. In an interview with WQAM Radio in Miami, the always entertaining Oakley threw Patrick Ewing, Pat Riley and the Knicks under the bus before saying he "can't tell [LeBron] to go to New York. New York treated me bad.
Talker says
There will no doubt be a lot of "he says" over the next couple weeks. In that category is a tweet from former NBA guard and current ESPN analyst Jalen Rose.
Rose's tweet:
#NBA BREAKING NEWS (research/sources say) It is almost CERTAIN that LEBRON JAMES WILL NOT be returning to the CAVS! (Bulls/Heat/Clips).