LeBron: No timetable for free agency decision

By BRIAN MAHONEY, AP Basketball Writer Nov 7, 12:11 am EST

NEW YORK (AP)—LeBron James(notes) thinks his present is too good to spend time worrying about his future.

James said Friday he has no timetable for deciding what he will do next summer. The NBA’s MVP said it will be his first time getting to be an unrestricted free agent, so he’s not going to rush any decision.

Nor will he even consider it for a while. Not with the Cavaliers on the short list of legitimate contenders to win a title this season.

“For me, honestly, I think this season is going to be really good and I feel like our team is set to where we can play really deep into the playoffs and possibly contend for the NBA championship,” James said. “So mainly that’s the main thing that I’m focused on now.”

The Cleveland All-Star can opt for free agency on July 1, but said before a 100-91 victory over the Knicks he isn’t sure what he will do in the days that follow.

“I don’t know because it’s the first time I’ll be in this position, being an unrestricted free agent. I haven’t been there yet, so I don’t know,” James said. “There’s no timetable. I’m not going to rush it, I’m definitely going to stay in shape and stay in the gym next summer like I’ve always done and we’ll see what happens.”

The Knicks are one of the teams that will have money to offer James a maximum salary contract. He enjoys playing in New York and does it well. He and Michael Jordan are the only visiting players with multiple 50-point games at the present Madison Square Garden, and James raised his career scoring average at the building to 30.4 points after scoring 33 Friday.

He made it clear after the game that he’s not coming to New York—or anywhere else—just for the money.

“I think at the end of the day, a max deal or anything like that doesn’t really matter to me,” James said. “It’s all about winning for me, so I’m going to put myself in a position when that day comes next summer.

“I want to win, and if I feel like the team is capable of winning, then I make my decision like that.”

Friday’s game was the only one this season in New York for the Cavs, and James won’t say which uniform he’ll be wearing next time he comes back.

“I don’t know who made the schedule for the Cleveland Cavaliers to only be here once, I’m kind of disappointed in that,” said James, a Yankees fan who slept through the World Series championship parade Friday morning after the Cavs played in Cleveland on Thursday night.

Updated Nov 7, 12:11 am EST
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72 Comments

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  1. Steven
    72. Posted by Steven Mon Nov 9 6:18pm EST

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    hey paching responding to you is like jay z responding to soulija boy.
  2. blake b (aka the teacher)
    71. Posted by blake b (aka the teacher) Mon Nov 9 1:57pm EST

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    bandwagon
  3. blake b (aka the teacher)
    70. Posted by blake b (aka the teacher) Mon Nov 9 1:55pm EST

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    Wow,

    Sounds like the Cavs badwagon just got a lot lighter. Fools jumping off left and right.
  4. Paching
    69. Posted by Paching Sun Nov 8 11:31am EST

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    drew carey? ha! he's in an "empire state of mind" and he'll be in a remake of the video with jz and alicia....watch an see
  5. Josue
    68. Posted by Josue Sat Nov 7 10:22pm EST

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    I know I'm thinking like a dreamer, but I would LOVE to see LeBron in the Bulls Uniform! Rose and James, along with Noah could really be fun to watch. And it would make Deng really dangerous! Not to mention that they share the ball very well and can actually make plays, which would make it even easier for James to dominate! PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  6. Steven
    67. Posted by Steven Sat Nov 7 9:30pm EST

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    he is staying in cleveland because cleveland rocks. they got bone thugs, drew carey , and of course the king of the nba.
  7. Brandon H
    66. Posted by Brandon H Sat Nov 7 8:54pm EST

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    this is funny the bucks maybe nah not going to happen i think he stays with cleveland.
  8. Kenny
    65. Posted by Kenny Sat Nov 7 8:17pm EST

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    I dont think he will go to orlando not enough shots with the point guard and sam van and him seem like a weird pair, if its not about the money then he wont go to new york but who can believe one of the richest athlete with contract deals with major companys and the idea of going bigger into europe has been said from some of his managers not to play but for marketing... intresting thought of the best places for that... LA and not the lakers maybe the clippers to really piss on kobes territory wouldnt that be intresting... nah the best fit for him would be with a young playmaking pg like chris paul or derrik rose, which would put him in chigago which could be the most intersting idea on his mind trying to make another great run with the bulls, they have a very good core and a solid star like lebron makes them a deadly team.... however you look at lebrons options the options of all the other top players is just as important because even with cleveland getting lebron back they loose shaq if its a failed experiment and ahve the ability to sign a big player, lets just say come trade deadline well really see what things are going to be looking like knowing alot of teams know there stars leaving and want to upgrade, look for bosh to be traded if the raptors experiment fails and also look carefully at the whole teams trading away big contracts that expire for good players... i look forward to seeing how the rosters look next year but till then this season looks just as good.
  9. Bernie B
    64. Posted by Bernie B Sat Nov 7 4:41pm EST

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    so sick of hearing about queen james all the time , the guy has won nothing and all you ever hear regardless of who they get to play with him is that he dont have enough help...... give me a break there are alot of guys who are better then the queen... kobe,wade,paul and anthony to name a few... look at the numbers his carrer ft average is 73 percent jordans is 83 kobes is 84 this is a huge stat. The queen averages 3.8 turnovers a game jordan is 2.5 kobe 2.4 please look at the whole picture and stop worshiping a ringless queen
  10. jaymee
    63. Posted by jaymee Sat Nov 7 4:31pm EST

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    61.....I LIVE in cleveland and can't wait to see him go. I prefer to watch TEAMS play, not single individuals hogging the limelight. he throws words around like 'humbling' but is fast becoming the most arrogant pro athlete ever. gawd, I so hope he leaves. I'd rather go another 50 years without a major sports championship than see him average 50 a game and win the nba this year. mark my words, he's gonna bash cleveland like you've never seen after he leaves too. and everyone who has been gushing over him up till now will be singing another tune. the only reason he claims he's all about winning is he feels it will bring him even more publicity and attention. how many times has he stated he wants to be a worldwide marketing brand? THAT'S his end goal. not winning. but he needs to win to achieve that. winning is secondary to him. good riddance, chump.
  11. <i>cnyle01</i>
    62. Posted by cnyle01 Sat Nov 7 3:31pm EST

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    As for the money, Cavs can pay the most, still sign another BIG player, and they are already good.
    I'ts gonna be funny when the new partners from china sign Lebron to a giant endorsement contract to be a spokesman for one of their many companies. Dan Gilbert is a smart owner, even more do you think those they would of bought half the cavs if it wasnt for sure they were getting lebron as well? Doubt it. With out Lebron the cavs would be a bad investment PERIOD.
  12. <i>cnyle01</i>
    61. Posted by cnyle01 Sat Nov 7 3:25pm EST

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    I love reading these posts, I'm a cleveland fan at heart, i know the browns suck, they can't keep good players EVER, dont know how to draft( or trade for that matter) or hire coaches. Oh well we are all used to that. Indians.....WHO CARES. As for the Cavs and Lebron. There are a ton of idiots out there and it seems like 80% of them like to post. First off....To all you NY fans...Who really cares if your team wins at baseball? The bigger joke is when you morons lose! Lets have Bill gates buy the indians and lets see how good we are when there is no cap. BASEBALL IS CORNY, Titles arent won, they are BOUGHT.
    As for Lebron, he wants to win, win now, and win a lot. That's not going to happen in NY or NJ, he's not going to be a laker or raptor either so stop holding your breath guys. I don't imagine him leaving the Cavs because they do anything he wants, and he lives/ grew up 25 minutes away. Hes just sucking in all the attention like anyone else would. He dosent need to live in NY cause he can go there anytime he wants, he does have money already, as for you people on here saying it will make him more famous....ARE YOU SERIOUS? Who dosent know Lebron already? As for MAX CONTRACTS and TWO max players, The Cavs have just as good a shot at landing 2 players as ANY other team.
    Are you guys too blind to see the Cavs have Shaq? His contract's up as well and that's another 20 million left AFTER we sign Lebron. So HUSH with that theory please. As for L.A., him and Kobe will NEVER happen or work either SORRY L.A. If he were to leave the best fit for him is easy, Orlando, nicer than N.Y. and they have a good team, Lebron and Howard would be SICK. Hope it never happens! So til next summer i'll sit back and laugh as 80% of you BASH Lebron for one reason or another, then pray he comes to your team. LOL
  13. <i>jlp518jcu</i>
    60. Posted by jlp518jcu Sat Nov 7 3:24pm EST

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    he wants both - highest contract in NBA and highest player status w/most rings...
  14. Bob W
    59. Posted by Bob W Sat Nov 7 3:14pm EST

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    James wants $$$ not a ring.
  15. george c
    58. Posted by george c Sat Nov 7 3:01pm EST

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    If Bron is not going to sign because of the money, then go to a winning team like the Lakers and get a big pay cut! But hey, 80% you're guaranteed winning a ring! Makes sense??
  16. george c
    57. Posted by george c Sat Nov 7 2:58pm EST

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    "He made it clear after the game that he’s not coming to New York—or anywhere else—just for the money."

    -- YEAH RIGHT!
  17. <i>jlp518jcu</i>
    56. Posted by jlp518jcu Sat Nov 7 2:13pm EST

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    first off new york probably has the most rude and greedy people, after visiting i never want to go back the people make the city a piece of garbage. do NY people ever think lebron is just playing into your media hype? And whats with NY always begging for Cleveland players, the only reason they ever go there is b/c they pay 50% more than other teams payrolls but the NBA does have a cap fortunetly unlike CC's case (congrats, you won the world series with a trillion dollar payroll-real suprise there, big accomplishment). One thing is for sure July 1st cleveland fans will find out if lebron is really a ego fed rude & greedy or if he is true on his word and a humble guy. if he wants to be compared to jordan than he has to stay in cleveland and win chamionships and it's obvious cleveland is working to make that happen.
  18. <i>tamilscarface</i>
    55. Posted by tamilscarface Sat Nov 7 1:43pm EST

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    LEBRONS COMING TO TORONTO! I KNO FOR A FACT. na i lied but it would be a good decision though if he wants to be huge in europe nd eventually the world. but seriously the guy wants to win. i don't see any solid foundation in new york apart from david lee. if anything, i see him joining the lakers for cheap and winning championships then eventually taking control of the staples center wen kobe steps down. or i could see him in miami (who will have cap space for TWO max contracts) and join the flash and terrorize the nba for years to come. What i would really like to see though would be james wade bosh stoudamire all resigning to their respective teams. na that would be gay. Even better: james and wade join chris bosh and the raptors = DYNASTY/makes me cum. :P
  19. Elena E
    54. Posted by Elena E Sat Nov 7 1:21pm EST

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    Well James said it's about winning and he wants to win... does that ring a bell for you people? Lakers possibly...
  20. leryz
    53. Posted by leryz Sat Nov 7 12:59pm EST

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    Lebron if your out there join in the strong team. Don't be shy this is the nba trend now. Ah maybe Orlando Magic so that Magic wil be like ''THE JUSTICE LEAGUE'' full of super hearoes.
  21. Andre
    52. Posted by Andre Sat Nov 7 12:44pm EST

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    Hey all u ny haters keep hatin..feel free..how bout them yankees..nyboifaliffe
  22. MxC
    51. Posted by MxC Sat Nov 7 12:25pm EST

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    @ Texas_Hurricane
  23. Texas_Hurricane
    50. Posted by Texas_Hurricane Sat Nov 7 12:00pm EST

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    Queen James Ain't Sh*t!

    The Browns Have More Of A Chance Making The Playoffs Then The Cavaliers Do.

    Go Ahead Cleveland Fans Jump On The Rockets Bandwagon You'll Feel Much Better About Yourselves.
  24. <i>erieski</i>
    49. Posted by erieski Sat Nov 7 11:35am EST

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    im sick and tired of c sports we will never win a ring get use to it the clowns r the worst what a joke the tribe a joke the cavs will never do it every year the same @#$% so lebro go who cares anymore i dont
  25. <i>erieski</i>
    48. Posted by erieski Sat Nov 7 11:30am EST

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    who cares anymore im 42 years old and ill never see any team win in c town the spotst teams are a joke the biggest ths clowns what a joke im sick of cleveland sports we will never see a parade i come to believe this so u all get over yourself
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