LeBron James: Cavalier, Knick, or Net in Summer 2010?

There is no doubt that LeBron James, at age 24, is the best player and the biggest star in basketball today. Coming out of high school, James was groomed and hyped to be a big star and he has delivered. LeBron is still in search for his first NBA Championship and has one year left on his contract before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. There are only three teams in the LeBron James sweepstakes (Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets) in Summer 2010. Any other team getting James is highly unlikely.

Why LeBron James might stay a Cavalier: James was the first overall pick in the NBA draft by Cleveland in 2003 and has played six seasons with them. LeBron's hometown is Akron and he was born and raised in Ohio. James has a special place in his heart for the city and for the fans. LeBron has tasted success with the Cavaliers, making the playoffs four consecutive seasons starting from 2005. As a Cavalier, James has been to the NBA Finals once before, but the team was swept in four games by the San Antonio Spurs. This season, LeBron led Cleveland to an NBA-best, 66-16 record, and the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers swept the Detroit Pistons and the Atlanta Hawks in the first two rounds of the playoffs before losing to the Orlando Magic in six games. If James is to stay with the Cavaliers, he might have the best chance to win the NBA title. This upcoming season might be very important for what LeBron will do in the future. If the Cavaliers can make the NBA Finals again or win their first NBA Championship in franchise history, there will be a better chance that James will stay in Cleveland.

Why LeBron James might become a Knick: The New York Knicks might be the front-runners to get LeBron if he does decide to leave Cleveland. James grew up a Yankees fan and has shown up with a Yankees hat to many Cleveland Indians games, most notably in the 2007 ALDS series. LeBron has also said that Madison Square Garden is his favorite arena and why not play in your favorite arena while thousands of fans are chanting your name? James has also had success in MSG, joining Michael Jordan as the only player to have multiple 50-point games there. The Knicks could give him the most money but it is a non-issue because LeBron has endorsements with many top companies like Nike for over $100 million. The one thing that could entice James to come to the Knicks is their ability to bring in an NBA All-Star sidekick for the King. There have been rumors that Toronto Raptors star Chris Bosh could come to New York when his contract expires in 2010.

Why LeBron James might become a Net: The New Jersey Nets might have an outside chance of getting LeBron James. Part-owner of the Nets, Jay-Z, is best buddies with James and might have strong influence of where he goes in the future. The Nets are also moving to a new sports arena in Brooklyn called Barclays Center. Renovation is set to begin in October of this year. The Nets might be renamed The New York Nets or The Brooklyn Nets. James has said that Brooklyn is his favorite borough in NYC. If James was to join the Nets, he would join one of the youngest teams in the NBA. The average age of Nets players are only 25 years old.

My prediction: LeBron James stays with Cleveland and signs an extension at the end of the 2010 season.