This is indeed a great nice if your a rockets fan. He wont go to the knicks so the knicks will suck and the rockets will have a high draft pick and he also wont be coming to west.
No way he signs a short deal. They're about to renegotiate the CBA and the players are going to end up giving up more concessions. He's going to get max years at max pay now, because his next deal in the new CBA won't be as favorable. As for this rumor of re-upping with Cleveland: The Cavs can't talk to James until 7/1, so if they did it anyway, I think it is highly unlikely they'd let the news leak. This is BS. Can you imagine what would happen if James resigned with Cleveland only to have Stern void the deal for tampering? Cavs fans would probably burn the arena to the ground.
I'm 99% sure the new CBA won't affect current players. As in, they're not going to drop Lebron's salary back to scale in his next contract if he signs a 3-yr deal now. They didn't do so last time, when the max contract was put in, and there's no way the players association would allow that this time. Besides, the owners don't care if a few superstars(like Shaq last time) make more than max. As long as the younger players don't get the same treatment later. Stern's not going to do jack unless he finds a paper contract with James and the Cavs. I'm pretty sure no one's stupid enough to do that now, after the Joe Smith incident. That said, I agree that the Cavs would not have wanted this leaked if they really do have a deal.
It would make some sense for him to sign a 3 year deal. If he signed with the Cavs then it would give them 3 years to have a championship run, offer a large 3 year contract, and he can get his way with the Cavs for those 3 years. Plus, hes playing it smart. If he signs a 3 year deal then he will be a free agent again before hes 30 and ask for a max deal at that point. At 30 he still would be the best player in the game. Guys playing it smart
