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 "My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball. I
didn't realize that four years ago. I do now," said James in an
exclusive co-authored essay with Sports Illustrated.
"But this is not about the roster or the organization. I feel my
calling here goes above basketball. I have a responsibility to lead,
in more ways than one, and I take that very seriously. My presence
can make a difference in Miami, but I think it can mean more where
I'm from.
"I want kids in Northeast Ohio, like the hundreds of Akron
third-graders I sponsor through my foundation, to realize that
there's no better place to grow up. Maybe some of them will come
home after college and start a family or open a business. That would
make me smile. Our community, which has struggled so much, needs all
the talent it can get," the essay reads.
James said he sat down man-to-man with Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert
to discuss the letter Gilbert wrote scolding James and calling him a
coward following the infamous "Decision" to join the Heat.
Kevin Love might be the next superstar to parade into Cleveland,
with number one overall pick Andrew Wiggins "in play" in a potential
deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Multiple reports indicated the Cavaliers were pushing to acquire
Love without parting with Wiggins, the Kansas product who said last
week he believes his future will be in Cleveland.
The Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics are also interested in
Love.
The hang-up in the deal with Cleveland could be shooting guard Kevin
Martin, whom the Timberwolves want to include in any Love trade to
clear his contract from the books.
The Cavaliers also traded forward Alonzo Gee to the New Orleans
Pelicans in exchange for a 2016 second-round draft pick.
The moves clears cap space for the Cavs to sign James and also could
help the Pelicans in their pursuit of acquiring center Omar Asik
from the Rockets.
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Free agent forward Chris Bosh appears to be staying in Miami instead
of following James out the door and going his own way to the Houston
Rockets.
According to reports, Bosh agreed to a maximum five-year, $118
million contract on Friday to return to the Heat. Yahoo Sports also
reported that the Heat are attempting to re-sign guard Dwyane Wade,
keeping two of the Big Three in Miami next season.
Another report indicated that Wade was considering his hometown
Chicago Bulls.
The Los Angeles Lakers traded for point guard Jeremy Lin and a
first-round pick in a deal with the Rockets and also reached
contract agreements with shooting guard Nick Young and forward
Jordan Hill, according to reports.
The Lin deal will free up cap space for the Rockets and unload his
salary of $14.89 million. However, Lin's contract will only count
$8.3 million on the Lakers' cap based on the deal's structure,
according to Yahoo Sports.
Young, a free agent, agreed to a four-year, $21.5 million contract
with the Lakers, according to multiple reports.
Hill reached agreement with the Lakers on a two-year, $18 million
contract, Yahoo Sports reported.
(Editing by Gene Cherry)
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reserved.]
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