"We Back Now": LeBron Leads The Dance Party

CLEVELAND -- With the game well in hand, LeBron James spent a timeout late in the fourth quarter Tuesday bouncing as "Soulja Boy" blasted over Quicken Loans Arena's sound system.
It's been awhile since there's been a reason for the Cavs to dance.
They blew out the Indiana Pacers 118-105, ending a six-game losing streak. But this was more than a victory, it was a get-well game.
The Cavs famously did virtually nothing to upgrade their roster in the offseason. After missing James for five games, Anderson Varejao for 21 and Larry Hughes for 12, getting them all back together made it feel like the team had just pulled a blockbuster trade.
Just to make the point, the Cavs ceremoniously brought them all in together.
For the first time in his NBA career -- and the first time in his life, save for the 2004 Olympics -- James did not start. He said he asked coach Mike Brown to bring him off the bench.
That's what Brown did, along with Hughes and Varejao midway through the first quarter. The 20,000 fans on hand came to their feet. It was the first time they'd seen James play in two weeks, Hughes in a month, and Varejao since the NBA Finals.
"I thought it would raise the intensity of the fans, having me, Larry and Andy come in at the same time and it worked," James said. "I thought by coming in with Andy it might stop some of the boos Andy might get. Andy is one of my favorite players, I was just protecting my teammate."
That's a charming story and it did work. Varejao, who drew the ire of Cavs fans when he told ESPN.com that he no longer wanted to be in Cleveland over two weeks ago, didn't hear jeers.
But it's not 100 percent true. Brown didn't discuss his substitution pattern with James; he was the one who made the move. Not that Brown wanted to get in the way of James' poetic statements.
Nonetheless, it certainly worked on the court. As soon as the trio hit the floor the Cavs tore off a 22-5 run. When they entered as a group again in the third quarter, the Cavs immediately went on a 15-0 run to build their lead to 25 points.
James had 17 points in just 23 minutes. If his sprained left index finger was bothering him under a protective glove, he didn't let it show, especially on a two-handed alley-oop dunk in the second half.
Varejao had a typical night, buzzing everywhere to grab nine rebounds and score six points in 24 minutes.
Hughes, who is back to playing shooting guard after being forced to fill in at point guard from last March until now, hit 13-of-17 shots to score 36 points. It was the most points he's scored in a game in more than two years and he did it in just 26 minutes, the first NBA player to score 36 points in 26 minutes since Tracy McGrady did it as a member of the Orlando Magic in 2004.
"I thought they had two LeBron Jameses out there," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said.
All of it overshadowed Pacers guard Jamaal Tinsley's first game since he was involved in a shooting outside an Indianapolis hotel early Sunday morning. Tinsley had 10 points and very little to say after the game.
"We've got another game tomorrow," Tinsley said.
This night was really about the Cavs getting close to whole. Starting point guard Daniel Gibson missed the game after getting a wisdom tooth pulled and Donyell Marshall is out at least another month with a wrist injury, but the Cavs still had the most talent they've had on the floor all season. The results and the good feeling gave them reason to think it could be a turning point.
"You go through a stretch when you're losing games and people were looking at us like we're not a good team," James said. "We knew once we got our guys back that it would be a totally different story. We back now."

Brian Windhorst, a regular ESPN.com contributor, covers the NBA and the Cavs for the Akron Beacon Journal

NBA Rookies: The Rookie Award Contenders for 2008

If you're a fan of fantasy sports leagues or simply like rooting for individuals instead of teams, there can be fun and sometimes value to be found in individual proposition bets. They can give you a season-long rooting interest in someone's results and, if you know what you're looking for, you might get decent odds for your dollar.
A recent scan of some NBA props revealed some interesting odds for the 2007-08 Rookie of the Year award. The odds-on favorite, no surprise, is NBA-ready stud Kevin Durant who, after one spectacular year at Texas, might be the only hope for the rebuilding Sonics to make fans less sleepless in Seattle. He comes in at 3/2 and, with Ray Allen gone via trade to Boston and Rashard Lewis taking big free-agent dollars in Orlando, the high-scoring guard/forward should get ample opportunity to put up 20-plus points per game and take down the rookie top honor.
But there have been questions about his strength - he could not bench press 185 pounds in NBA pre-draft workouts - and there rarely is value in the chalk when it comes to prop bets. The other favorite, Ohio State product Greg Oden, is probably an even worse pick at 5/2. Young big men typically take a little longer to acclimate - and the 7-footer clearly needs to add bulk - so while he should make an impact with shot blocking and rebounding right away, he probably won't generate good enough numbers to win the award.
The best candidates for the award are usually small forwards (such as last year's winner, Brandon Roy of Portland) and point guards (Chris Paul of the Hornets) who can score right away, or seasoned big men (think Charlotte's Emeka Okafor) who have the physical strength to compete in the league. The award also tends to favor players who have at least some college experience, as past winners have included Tim Duncan and Grant Hill, who each spent four years as starters at respected collegiate programs. Of course, a couple of high schoolers who went straight to the pros have won the award, such as Lebron James and Amare Stoudemire, but the physical and mental maturity of a 22-year-old as opposed to an 18-year-old is usually a safer bet.
So if you are looking for some candidates with good odds and a legitimate chance to win, keep an eye on the following dark horses. All NBA Rookie of the Year odds come from Bodog:

1. Al Thornton, Clippers (12/1) - Might have been the steal of the first round at No. 14, as some draft experts regarded him as one of the most NBA-ready players in the draft. At 6-foot-8 and 220 pounds, he has an NBA prototype body and was a four-year player at Florida State, improving each year and finishing with an ACC-best 19.7 points per game last year. Could have a hard time getting big numbers alongside the likes of Elton Brand and Corey Maggette, but the Clippers have been injury prone in years past and Brand will miss a good chunk of the season as it is. Worth a look at these odds.

2. Acie Law, Hawks (15/1) - Anyone drafted by the Hawks should have a chance to play right away and, unlike No. 3 pick Al Horford, who will have competition at his position from incumbents Shelden Williams and Marvin Williams, Law should take over right away for the disappointing Speedy Claxton. Law started for four years at Texas A&M, and showed improved range in his senior season while repeatedly coming through in the clutch for the Aggies in Big 12 and NCAA Tournament play. Might have been the first point guard taken in the draft had Ohio State phenom Mike Conley Jr. not shined so brightly in the NCAA Tournament.

3. Brandan Wright, Warriors (15/1) - This super-smooth 6-foot-9 forward from North Carolina should fit in perfectly in the up-tempo system at Golden State, which made a shrewd off-season move by dumping the over priced and under-producing Jason Richardson and trading for Wright on draft day. The Warriors need skilled big men who can run the floor and, while some observers believe Wright will need a year or two to develop, don't be surprised if he puts up big numbers right away.

4.Joakim Noah, Bulls (25/1) - Might be the best long shot of the bunch. Dropping to the Bulls with the No. 9 pick, he certainly would have been a top-three selection had he left Florida after the first of its consecutive National Championship campaigns. A hard-nosed player with underrated offensive skills and a great ability to run the floor and defend, he should be a perfect complement to the guard-oriented Bulls, who get the bulk of their scoring from the likes of Ben Gordon and Luol Deng and are in need of a respectable low-post presence.
After you finish this NBA article check out our NBA Gambling lines page. If you plan on betting NBA you'll also want to read our NBA predictions page. Doc's betting NBA second half's resource is a must read for NBA wagering For 35+ years the team at Doc's Sports Service has provided and insight on basketball handicapping.

5. Glen Davis, Celtics (35/1) - The ultimate long shot, but he has a chance nonetheless. After the Celtics traded basically their whole team aside from Paul Pierce to land Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, someone has to fill out the roster and do some dirty work inside to clean up the superstar trio's missed shots. A steal with the No. 35 pick, "Big Baby" likely will play with a chip on his shoulder because he dropped so far in the draft, when he was a sure lottery pick had he jumped to the NBA after leading LSU to the Final Four two years ago. Lost amid concerns about his weight and his injury-plagued final season at LSU was the fact that he developed a nice low-post game to go along with his sheer brute force, and he averaged 17.7 points and 10 rebounds per game. A slimmed-down Davis has impressed in the NBA summer league, putting up 12 points and 10 rebounds a game.

by Josh Nagel

Gasol: Moving to Bulls?

With the Kobe Bryant trade talks apparently on hold for now, Bulls general manager John Paxson should turn his attention to Pau Gasol and gauge the chances of making a deal for the Memphis Grizzlies big man.
Gasol isn't nearly as talented as Bryant and I can't see any scenario in which fans at the United Center would begin chanting his name, but he'd give the Bulls their first legitimate low-post scorer since Eddy Curry was dealt a little more than two years ago -- and would come at a much cheaper price than what the Los Angeles Lakers are asking for Bryant.
Gasol, 27, is close in age to other members of the Bulls' young core, and his addition likely would make them serious contenders to reach the NBA Finals for the next five years or so. He's exactly what the Bulls need, a big man with a well-rounded offensive game. He can score on a variety of moves in the low post and step out to knock down an 18-foot jumper with regularity.
He averaged 20.8 points and 9.8 rebounds in 36.2 minutes last season. He shot 53.8 percent from the field and 74.8 percent from the free-throw line. Gasol also would give the Bulls a player capable of drawing fouls and getting easy points from the free-throw line. He had 400 free-throw attempts last season in only 59 games. The only player on the Bulls' roster to have that many free-throw attempts was Ben Gordon (440) -- and he played in all 82 games.
Gasol isn't a great defender, but he's big enough to make his presence felt and is a decent rebounder. His pluses far exceed his negatives.
Of course, the first thing Paxson has to do is discover if the Grizzlies have any interest in trading Gasol. Paxson talked with the Grizzlies about Gasol before last season's trading deadline, but it became apparent that they had no interest in making a deal then.
Although it's unlikely the Grizzlies would be willing to pull the trigger on a major deal at this point of the season, it never hurts to inquire. Besides, Memphis has a new general manager (Chris Wallace) and coach (Marc Iavaroni), and they might be more receptive to trading Gasol.
As solid a player as the 7-foot Spaniard has been during his six years with the franchise, he's not the type of player who can create interest in a marginal market. If the Grizzlies continue to play before modest crowds at the FedEx Forum, trading Gasol might be the team's best option from a business standpoint -- especially considering he makes nearly $14 million this season and has an additional three years for better than $49 million left on his contract.
If the Grizzlies get off to a slow start, the chances of the Bulls dealing for Gasol get considerably better.
So what would it take to make a deal? If I'm Paxson, Luol Deng still is an untouchable and so is Gordon in this scenario. I'd put together a package built around Tyrus Thomas, a younger, much cheaper player who could spark some fan interest in Memphis. An offer of Thomas, Andres Nocioni, another player and a pick might get a deal done under the right circumstances.

BY JOHN JACKSON Sun-Times Columnist

MRI confirms LeBron has sprain

Finger injury could keep James out of tonight's game
LeBron James isn't any better, but more important to the Cavaliers, he isn't any worse.
Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic Toronto performed an MRI on Thursday on James' left index finger. The results confirmed their diagnosis that he suffered a sprain Wednesday in Detroit.
Other than the sprain, which by definition means there was some ligament damage, the Cavs said there is no significant structural problems with the finger.
The team is listing him as ''day to day'' and calling him a game-time decision for tonight's road game against the Toronto Raptors. The Cavs are expected to show extreme caution with their superstar.
This is an injury that could linger with James for the next couple of months.
James suffered the injury in the second quarter, when he wasfouled by Detroit Pistons center Nazr Mohammed while driving to the basket. James sat out the game's second half.
He might not be the only star who will miss the game. Raptors forward Chris Bosh, who scored 41 points on the Cavs last weekend, strained his groin and left a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. His status for tonight also is undetermined.
The Raptors also are missing point guard T.J. Ford with an arm injury and center Andrea Bargnani, who has a bruised knee.
If James does not play, Sasha Pavlovic probably will start in his place at small forward, with Devin Brown starting at shooting guard instead of Pavlovic.
The Cavs are 9-3 over the past four seasons with James out of the lineup, but this would be an extreme challenge. With Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall and Cedric Simmons all out, the Cavs already are thin in the frontcourt and backcourt. Not to mention James is the NBA's leading scorer at 31 points a game.
Some Cavs, however, resent the implication they cannot win without James.
''At the end of the day, we have other guys that can play,'' Damon Jones said. ''Regardless if anybody gives us credit for what we do. We've shown in the past when he's missed a game we can be formidable.''
Brian Windhorst can be reached at bwindhor@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.
LeBron James isn't any better, but more important to the Cavaliers, he isn't any worse.
Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic Toronto performed an MRI on Thursday on James' left index finger. The results confirmed their diagnosis that he suffered a sprain Wednesday in Detroit.
Other than the sprain, which by definition means there was some ligament damage, the Cavs said there is no significant structural problems with the finger.
The team is listing him as ''day to day'' and calling him a game-time decision for tonight's road game against the Toronto Raptors. The Cavs are expected to show extreme caution with their superstar.
This is an injury that could linger with James for the next couple of months.
James suffered the injury in the second quarter, when he wasfouled by Detroit Pistons center Nazr Mohammed while driving to the basket. James sat out the game's second half.
He might not be the only star who will miss the game. Raptors forward Chris Bosh, who scored 41 points on the Cavs last weekend, strained his groin and left a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. His status for tonight also is undetermined.
The Raptors also are missing point guard T.J. Ford with an arm injury and center Andrea Bargnani, who has a bruised knee.
If James does not play, Sasha Pavlovic probably will start in his place at small forward, with Devin Brown starting at shooting guard instead of Pavlovic.
The Cavs are 9-3 over the past four seasons with James out of the lineup, but this would be an extreme challenge. With Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall and Cedric Simmons all out, the Cavs already are thin in the frontcourt and backcourt. Not to mention James is the NBA's leading scorer at 31 points a game.
Some Cavs, however, resent the implication they cannot win without James.
''At the end of the day, we have other guys that can play,'' Damon Jones said. ''Regardless if anybody gives us credit for what we do. We've shown in the past when he's missed a game we can be formidable.''

By Brian Windhorst Beacon Journal sportswriterPublished on Friday, Nov 30, 2007

Kobe Agrees to Bulls Trade Only if He Gets to be Renamed “Michael Jordan”

LOS ANGELES, CA and CHICAGO, IL–After weeks of speculation, Kobe Bryant has agreed to be traded to the Chicago Bulls, but with an unusual stipulation.
“The Bulls are ecstatic to announce that we’ve traded for Kobe Bryant today,” announced general manager John Paxson. “Rather, I should say, the Chicago Bulls have traded for Michael Jordan.”
That’s right; the Bulls agreed to the trade with the Lakers, sending the Lakers forward Tyrus Thomas; shooting guard Ben Gordon; forward Andres Nocioni; two draft picks; and one special caveat–that Kobe Bryant is now known as Michael Jordan.
“This is not simply a semantic thing,” said Paxson. “The player formerly known as Kobe Bryant is now actually Michael Jordan. And I gotta be candid, the Bulls are thrilled to have Michael Jordan back in action.”
By a special arrangement as part of the trade, Michael Jordan will get to keep both the stats he accumulated as Kobe Bryant, as well as his previous statistics as Michael Jordan. “I’m thrilled to be back with the Bulls, going for my tenth title,” said Michael Jordan. “I see Luol Deng as being a very similar presence to what we had with Scottie Pippen, and I see Ben Wallace as being a sort of 21st century Dennis Rodman, without the wedding dresses. So overall I really like our chances.”
Lakers head coach Phil Jackson was sad to part ways with Michael Jordan again. “I mean, we won nine titles together – three different three-peats,” Jackson said. “So it’s tough. I wish Michael the best of luck in his return to the Bulls. I think the Eastern Conference is looking better and better with the addition of Michael Jordan.”
Chicago mayor Richard Daley was thrilled about the trade. “Look, I was here when Michael was with the Bulls the first two times, so I know just what a tremendous impact he’s going to have on the Bulls,” he said. “And I couldn’t be happier. Michael is a pillar of this community, and we wish him well as he goes for his 13th scoring title, his tenth NBA finals trophy, and his sixth MVP award. He is truly a treasure of Chicago, and the city welcomes him back.”

http://www.serioussportsnewsnetwork.com/2007/11/kobe-agrees-to-bulls-trade-only-if-he-gets-to-be-renamed-michael-jordan.html

Early MVP Candidates + Garnett Looks Like A Fast Starter In MVP Chase

We're roughly one-seventh the way through the NBA season. Here's an early look at Most Valuable Player candidates who have emerged. Of note, my top two picks here square off Tuesday in Boston.

1. Kevin Garnett, Celtics forward -- Right now, the best player on the best team in the league. He's extremely dominant on both ends of the court. Basically a double-double machine (20.9 ppg, 12.7 rpg). What I love about him is he's so unselfish on the offensive and defensive end. He'll clearly look to pass first, and does all the dirty work on the defensive end. It's one thing to be a dominant player on a weak team, but to be a dominant player on a great team, which the Celtics are, that's saying something.

2. LeBron James, Cavs forward -- Getting to the Finals last spring, and playing with great players this summer on Team USA, has clearly helped him. He knows he must often get a triple-double, scoring in the 30s, for his team to win. He's been doing it. He had his fourth-triple double of the season Sunday, and is leading the NBA in scoring at 31.4 ppg, along with getting over eight in both assists and rebounds per game. There's a lot of pressure on him, and he's delivering.

3. Tim Duncan, Spurs forward -- People tend to overlook Duncan till the end of the year. His team has consistently a great record (now 12-2) and he's the dominant player, along with 18.2 ppg.

4. Yao Ming, Rockets center -- Ming has been extremely dominant at his position (22.4 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 2.1 bpg). He's benefited from Rick Adelman's style -- he's much better facing the basket.

5. Steve Nash, Suns guard -- Some people ask what's wrong with the Suns, but they have a great record (11-2), and in my view he's the whole reason that they have it. Still hasn't missed a free throw this year (36-for-36) and is shooting 55 percent from the field.

6. Kobe Bryant, Lakers guard -- Any time he is on the floor you have a chance to win, and the Lakers are still above .500 (7-6) despite losing three straight. Although he missed that late free throw against the Nets on Sunday, he's one of the most clutch players in the game. I don't think he's going anywhere.

7. Dwight Howard, Magic center -- His shoulders alone now seemingly fill the entire lane. He has come into his own as a big-time dominant center, averaging 23.4 ppg, 14.5 rpg and 2.5 bpg for the 12-3 Magic. With Stan Van Gundy doing a great job, I don't see Howard's team dropping off.

8. Chris Paul, Hornets guard -- What elevates his game is that he takes over at the end. That's one big reason New Orleans is off to a great start at 10-5.

9. Carlos Boozer, Jazz forward -- He's emerged as one of the dominant players every night. He's become such a force on both ends of the court -- and he's always been a great rebounder and scorer. He's at 24.2 ppg and 11.5 rpg for a Utah team off to a 10-4 start.

10. Paul Pierce, Celtics forward -- Although Garnett may be the best player on Celtics, The Truth has come through at the end of games and dominates in pressure situations. He leads the team in scoring (22.2) and assists (5.2).
The next group of guys outside top 10 that follow are likely there because their team is struggling. You can expect their status to change.

We would be remiss not mentioning these others off to notable starts. Start with Carmelo Anthony, Dirk Nowitzki, Baron Davis, Zach Randolph, Tracy McGrady, Michael Redd, Allen Iverson and Jason Kidd. And don't forget about Dwyane Wade and that other big guy in Florida that can still dominate. And there's Chris Kaman and Deron Williams among the players having notable seasons so far.
Former NBA All-Star and ex-Nuggets GM Kiki Vandeweghe is a regular ESPN.com contributor

Varejao on Cleveland: 'I don't want to play there anymore'

Last season, Anderson Varejao played a key role as the Cleveland Cavaliers won the Eastern Conference title -- he was arguably the Cavs' best young player behind LeBron James.This season, Varejao is playing in a gym more than a thousand miles from Cleveland in Vitoria, Brazil, while the Cavs struggle to replace Varejao's defensive intensity in the middle. What's he doing? Working on his jump hook. Trying to stay in shape. And most importantly, waiting. And waiting for Cleveland general manager Danny Ferry to "show me that he values my contribution to the team," Varejao told ESPN.com by phone in a rare interview." I just want to be treated fairly and I don't think Danny's done that." Varejao expected to be helping the Cavs defend their East crown by now. "I wanted to come back," he said. "I love the fans and I really love my teammates. But there are others there that have made it very difficult. It's gotten to the point that I don't want to play there anymore. I'm just hoping for a sign-and-trade at this point." Ferry isn't ready to give up on bring Varejao back. "We fully understand that negotiations can be emotional," Ferry told ESPN.com. "As for Anderson's potential to remain a Cavalier and put this behind us, we value his presence in this organization, on and off the court, and that has not changed." Varejao, who turned 25 in September, was a vital part of the Cavs' run to the NBA Finals. As the Cavs' sixth man, his basic stats were modest: 6.8 points and 6.7 rebounds in 23 minutes per game. But he led the league in drawing charges, and his energy and interior defense were invaluable to the team. His adjusted plus-minus numbers last season said he was the 22nd-best player in the league. The question for the Cavs is, how much do you pay for those less tangible contributions? That question has been at the heart of one of the most unusual free-agent contract squabbles in NBA history. (One of the handful of similar cases happened when Ferry himself refused to sign with the team that drafted him, the Los Angeles Clippers, decided instead to play in Europe and eventually forced the Clippers to trade him to, yes, Cleveland.) As of now, Varejao has been unable to get another team to sign him to an offer sheet. Because Varejao is a restricted free agent, the Cavs can match any offer he gets, and Ferry has threatened to do just that. This summer that scared off at least one team reluctant to tie its own hands by making an offer that would ultimately result in Varejao merely returning to Cleveland.
The Memphis Grizzlies flirted with making Varejao a big offer in July, but when the Cavs threatened to match and leave Memphis empty-handed, the Grizzlies went after unrestricted free agent Darko Milicic instead. Several other teams told ESPN.com they would have offered Varejao their full midlevel exception (starting at $5.356 million per season), but Varejao has not been willing to sign for that amount because he believes (a) the Cavs would match, and (b) he's worth more. The Cavs' popular forward wants considerably more than the team is offering. He turned down the Cavs' one-year, $1.2 million tender offer. (To retain a restricted free agent, a team must make a tender offer.) He also refused Cleveland's opening offer of five years, $20 million, and then its latest offer of five years, $32 million, with a starting salary slightly below the midlevel exception. But Varejao said media reports that he's asking for a contract averaging $10-11 million a season "just aren't true. There are a lot of things being written that are wrong. I know they aren't talking to me or my agent." He said he and his agent, Dan Fegan, have been more than willing to work out a fair deal with the Cavs. Varejao said he offered to sign a one-year deal at a discount, or to sign a longer-term deal. Varejao further said he would be willing to take the dispute to an arbitrator, for a resolution similar to those found in Major League Baseball. That would minimize the role of Fegan, who is known as a very tough bargainer. "Much has been made about the negotiators in this process, but for the record I have been prepared since training camp to submit our differences to a third-party mediator so that both parties can be assured of more objectivity," Fegan says.The Cavs have rejected all of those counterproposals. Ferry says the Cavs' offer is fair. "We believe the Cavs' offers are very much in line with what is widely perceived throughout the industry as fair market value. We have also included bonuses that would serve as upside protection for Anderson," Ferry said. "We are working to make decisions that are best for short- and long-term interests of the organization, yet clearly stepping up and offering him long-term security at a very fair market value." Varejao said that if the two sides can't agree on a long-term deal, they should agree on a one-year deal that allows both sides to explore their options next year.

From the Cavs' point of view, a one-year deal is counterproductive because it would make Varejao an unrestricted free agent next year, and the team's right to match any offer would disappear. In that case, Varejao could just walk away. But Fegan says that if Cleveland is willing to pay Varejao "fair market value," the Cavs would then be in the best position to sign him next year. "It defies logic for the Cavs to accuse Anderson of demanding too much money on a long-term deal while at the same time refusing to allow Anderson to sign a one-year deal for less money, especially when they retain his Bird rights next year." Fegan said. "It begs the question: If their offer is truly fair, what are they afraid of?" The result has been a standoff that shows no sign of ending. On each side, the frustration level has been rising the past few weeks, as Varejao is left in limbo in Brazil, and as the Cavs have struggled coming out of the gate in training camp and the regular season. In October, Ferry made a surprise visit to see Varejao at his parents' home in Brazil in an attempt to convince him to sign. The move backfired. Ferry showed up without telling Fegan, and working around an agent is a no-no in the NBA. While GMs are allowed to talk with players without an agent present, it is customary that all contract talk goes through an agent. "I was shocked," Varejao said. "He showed up and wanted me to sign a contract. I told him he's got to talk to my agent. He didn't even up his offer. I guess he thought if he just showed up, I would just sign whatever he gave me." Ferry walked away with no deal and with an angry free agent on his hands. He defends his decision to appeal directly to Varejao. "From the start of free agency, we told Anderson and his agent that the ability to communicate with him directly was going to be very important to the process," Ferry said. "The trip was done because our communication with Anderson was no longer available to us." Since that incident, there hasn't been much trust or movement on either side. While many around the NBA believe that Fegan is driving negotiations, Varejao says he is responsible for his own bargaining position. "This is me, nobody else," Varejao said. "He takes the offers to me and I decide. He's told me he'll get a deal done for less. I've told him no. It's me. [The Cavs] told me how important I was to the team. I just want to be treated fairly." Other GMs in the league, while acknowledging that Fegan is a tough negotiator, said that Ferry is equally tenacious. One serious risk, on Ferry's side, is that the team's most important player, James, might see this impasse as another sign of the Cavs' inability to improve the team.
Varejao says that the Cavs' players support him, and that his conversations with James have been positive. "He just says, 'We love you and we're waiting,'" Varejao said. "He keeps telling me he wants me back but to get the best deal I can and to take care of my family. He's a great teammate. He always supports us on and off the court." That sentiment was confirmed by a source close to James, who said, "LeBron wants Andy back. He wants him to get a fair deal. I think his frustration isn't with Andy, it's with the fact that for the past two years, he's been waiting for more help and he hasn't gotten it. This is just a step in the wrong direction." Over the past few weeks, several NBA general managers have told ESPN.com that Fegan has been searching out potential sign-and-trade deals, in which Varejao would agree to terms with another team and then be traded to that team. In recent days, there have been indications that the Cavs are open to the possibility of a sign-and-trade. Two GMs told ESPN.com they believe Varejao would agree to a five-year, $45-million deal in a sign-and-trade, if such an offer were made. "If that's the price, or close to it, I think Danny [Ferry] will get some offers that make sense for the Cavs," one GM said. "I'm not sure he'll get equal value, but right now he has nothing and I don't see it changing." If Varejao leaves, it will be a bitter ending for both parties. But at this point, that might be the most workable option. "I'm willing to go and play in Europe if that's what it takes," Varejao said. "I know it's a risk and I'll be a restricted free agent next year, but at least I'd be happy. I don't think I'll be happy in Cleveland knowing that I was [almost] the lowest-paid player there for three years and am still paid much less than players on the team that I outperform. Life's too short to be unhappy."
Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.

LJ23 TRADED TO CELTICS

When I hear the number 23 the first person that comes into my mind is Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls but you ask younger fans of the game they answer Lebron James, no doubt he really is the most successfull player to make the high jump to the pro's from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. He really surpassed the expectations and became superstar in his Sophomore year. In the 2005–06 season, James was elected to his second straight All-Star Game appearance and led the Eastern All-Stars to a 122–120 victory, with 29 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. He became the youngest All-Star MVP at 21 years, 51 days. He was named NBA Player of the Week for an unprecedented three consecutive weeks and concluded the season with five honors. He scored 35 or more points in nine consecutive games and joined Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant as the only players since 1970 to accomplish the feat. For the season, James averaged 31.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game and became the youngest player in NBA history to average at least 30 points. He also became the fourth player in NBA history to average more than 30 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in a single season. The Cavaliers made the playoffs for the first time since 1998, and improved from a record of 17–65 in 2002–03 to 50–32 in 2005–06.
Following the regular season, James was named as one of the top candidates for the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. Although he finished second to Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns in MVP voting, he was awarded co-MVP honors with Nash by The Sporting News; an award given by the publication that is based on the voting of thirty NBA general managers.James made his playoff debut against the Washington Wizards. He recorded a triple-double with 32 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds, as the Cavaliers defeated the Wizards 97–86. He joined Johnny McCarthy and Magic Johnson as the only players in NBA history to register a triple-double in their playoff debut. For the series, James averaged 35.7 points, as the Cavaliers defeated the Wizards in six games. In the second round of the playoffs, James and the Cavaliers lost in seven games to the defending Eastern Conference champion and divisional rival Detroit Pistons. James averaged 30.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 5.8 assists in the playoffs. At the end of the season, James negotiated a three year contract extension, with a player option for a fourth year. The contract is worth US$60 million and begins at the start of the 2007–08 season. Although it is for fewer years and less money than the maximum he could sign, it allows him the option of seeking a new contract worth more money as an unrestricted free agent following the 2010 season.(wikipedia.org)
Now there is a Rumor that he will be Traded to the Boston Celtics.

for more information just post a comment.