Three former coaches are confident that LeBron James will do what's best for him and his family in free agency.
Dru Joyce II recently spent some time with LeBron James. "We played softball at Firestone Park [in Akron]," said Joyce, who coached James from the fourth grade all the way through high school.
Dru Joyce II, who coached LeBron James at St. Vincent-St. Mary, would tell James that once he makes a decision on where to play next season to avoid looking back to second-guess his decision. Entering his 10th season as head coach at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, Joyce said he did not discuss free agency with James.
"He has enough people giving him advice," said Joyce. "He doesn't need an old coach from his past giving him advice for his future."
If James did ask, what would Joyce suggest?
"Of course, I'd love for him to stay [with the Cavaliers]," said Joyce. "But this is about his legacy. He has to decide what is best. But I would tell him that after a while, all the numbers and all the information is going to get jumbled up. You have to go with your heart. Trust what feels right."
Anything else?
"Once you make a major decision like this, that's it," said Joyce. "Don't look back. Don't second-guess yourself."
Like most fans, Joyce knows that several major free agents -- along with teams such as Miami, New York, Chicago, the Nets and Cavs -- are waiting for James to decide on his next move. Once that happens, other trades and signings will follow.
"I can say that LeBron is very deliberate when he faces a big decision," said Joyce. "He weighs everything. He keeps things to himself. He's careful, and he has made a lot of good decisions so far."
Lee Cotton was an assistant to Joyce on James' summer teams from fourth grade through high school.
Like Joyce, one of first things he'd tell James is "follow your heart." Cotton added: "LeBron is a private guy. He'll talk to the family -- to Gloria [mother], Savannah [mother of his children] and guys who have been close to him for a long time like Maverick [Carter, his business parter]."
Cotton mentioned that James and Carter "go back to LeBron's freshman year, when Maverick was a senior and we won the state title. He knows that close friends and family are very important. I'd tell him to not forget that, but also to take his time. Generally, LeBron is very patient when facing a huge decision."
Keith Dambrot coached James in his first two seasons at SVSM, when Joyce was an assistant. Now the head coach at the University of Akron, Dambrot last spoke to James during the MVP award ceremony at the school's arena in May. Free agency was not a topic.
Former SVSM and current Akron coach Keith Dambrot says if it were him, he'd probably elect to stay with the Cavaliers. "There is a certain comfort level at home that you can't get anywhere else,'' he said. "LeBron didn't ask me," said Dambrot. "But if it were me, I'd stay home -- assuming everything is pretty much equal."
Dambrot said James should ignore all the talk about money, because he will be incredibly wealthy no matter where he plays. The endorsements will follow him.
Business Week listed James as the No. 2 "Most powerful athlete" in terms of earnings, behind Tiger Woods. Sports Illustrated had James at No. 3 on its "Fortune 50" list, behind Woods and Phil Mickelson. The lowest ranking in a scanning of about half-dozen lists was Forbes Magazine, which had James at No. 6.
The NBA said the only jersey that sells more than James' Cavaliers No. 23 is the Lakers' Kobe Bryant's No. 24.
NBA rules allow the Cavs to offer James more money than any other team when it comes to a new contract.
"I have coached elsewhere," said Dambrot. "There is a certain comfort level at home that you can't get anywhere else. In a sense, when you are home, you know that these people know you and love you."