hoops world lebron situation and other free agents

The LeBron Situation: There is little doubt the hype surrounding the 2010 free agent class has gotten old. However there may be a not so climatic end to at least one of the storylines and it may be the biggest name of the bunch – Cleveland’s LeBron James.

The Cavaliers have been as aggressive as anyone in the Eastern Conference looking for a trade partner. The Cavs are trying to add a meaningful player to the power forward spot and word around the league is that LeBron may have tipped his hand to the Cavaliers, suggesting if the Cavs can pull off a deal that lands an Antawn Jamison or David West type in Cleveland, he’d agree to a contract extension this year and avoid free agency all together.

James has made it clear he’s not interested in talking about his possible free agency anymore and sources close to the situation have said if Cavs’ GM Danny Ferry can get a deal done, it might do more than seal up the Cavaliers’ bid for Eastern Conference supremacy, it might also close the door on the Cavs biggest fear and that’s losing LeBron James.

Technically, LeBron has one more year remaining on his contract worth $17.1 million, an extension would continue from that number and add years after next season. Should LeBron “opt-out” of that final year, his maximum salary number would be based on where the salary cap lands in July.

Reports at the mid-way point of the season are painting a better than expected financial picture for the NBA in terms of ticket sales and gate revenue. The projected massive drop in the salary cap that many were told to expect, may only be a minor drop, but even if the cap stayed the same for 2010-2011 – $57.7 million – LeBron’s first year of any new deal not with the Cavs would start at $16.2 million.

So when you hear about how aggressive the Cavs are being on the trade front, and wonder why a team sitting in first place in the East would tinker with the roster, it’s not because they are stocking up, it’s because they may finally get closure on a bigger front. Their future.

The Amar’e Situation: The Phoenix Suns met with Happy Walters, the agent for Amar’e Stoudemire last week. The talks were said to be cordial and more of a fact finding meeting. Stoudemire’s camp wanted to know where Phoenix’s head was at in terms of the future in Phoenix and the Suns wanted to know if Amar’e was going to opt out of his contract.

The two sides did not talk contract extension and they did not talk about trade scenarios, what they did talk about was how the Suns would proceed in building a winner and where Amar’e would fit into that plan.

Both sides agreed to talk again; however after the meeting several teams started calling the Suns and Amar’e Stoudemire, who said last week that he expected to hear more rumors, was again back on the trading block.

Sources close to the situation contend that Amar’e wants to remain in Phoenix, but he’s not going to sacrifice dollars to make it happen. Stoudemire’s camp knows there is league-wide interest and based on the teams with expressed interest this week – Cleveland, Chicago, Minnesota, Golden State, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Miami – Amar’e should have no shortage of suitors if the Suns won’t pony up the dollars.

Stoudemire continues to say publicly he wants to end the season in Phoenix, however if the Suns have decided already that they can retain Amar’e this summer, trading him before the deadline again becomes likely and based on early chatter, there are teams more than willing to talk deals.

The Bosh Situation: Unlike Stoudemire. Bosh doesn’t seem interested in going anywhere.

Sources close to the situation are saying that Chris Bosh is likely not going to be traded before the NBA trade deadline and if the season plays out as it looks like it will, Bosh may sign a long-term deal in Toronto.

Raptors’ general manager Bryan Colangelo is telling teams that call, that Bosh is not a player he’s open to discussions about and from all indications around the team Bosh is pleased with the direction of the team.

The Raptors won’t be title contenders this year, but Bosh’s expectations were simply that the team be competitive and were playoff bound with a bright future and the Raptors look every bit the part.

The Raptors are 23-22, which is good enough for 6th place in the East; it might also be good enough to keep Bosh in Toronto long term, which was Colangelo’s plan from the beginning