Bibby says Hawks did him dirty, but he's happy to go to Heat

Mike Bibby may not always say something but he is often an attentive listener and reader.

So Tuesday as he made preparations to leave Atlanta Wednesday and sign with the Miami Heat, he paid attention to what the so-called experts said about him joining the high-profile squad.

“I couldn’t pass it up,” the 32-year-old said of the opportunity to join Dwayne Wade, LeBron James and his brother-in-law, Heat guard Eddie House.

Bibby said Boston and Portland had shown interest.

Bibby normally plays with a chip on his shoulder. On the court, his confidence level borders arrogance as it does with most of the league’s clutch performers.

After listening to pundits decry any positive effect he will have on the Heat, Bibby will be even more determined.

“People told me I was too short and too slow when I came to the league,” he said. “13 years later, here I am. But you know me; I don’t care what nobody says.”

That’s not exactly true.

Bibby was not enthralled by the words Atlanta had to say the day he was traded to the Washington Wizards. Four days later, Bibby’s agent, David Falk, worked out a buyout

“We were in Phoenix,” he said, “and I saw everybody in the organization that day. I think I deserved the respect to at least tell me they are working on something. They had me come to the team meeting and then one hour before the game, I get a call saying they’ve worked out a trade.

“They said it’s 99 percent done, so don’t come to the game.”

Bibby said he anticipates things will be different in Miami than they were in Atlanta.

“I didn’t have the ball in my hands in Atlanta,” he said, “and that’s not saying I’m gonna have it in Miami. But I think things will be different.”

Kings always have one up their sleeves

The 2010 version of the Sacramento Kings is setting up to be quite interesting.

And it is just 15 games into the 82-game regular season. Already, the Kings have had major defensive, offensive and on-court chemistry issues.

Word is they’ve got a bunch of young talents, who are not showing an inclination to listen to the coaching staff or showing a collective dedication to hard work.

Until there is an acquisition of those two required traits, it will be difficult for the Kings (4-11) to maximize their strengths.

They’ve got 10 losses in their past 11 games entering tonight’s home game against the Indiana Pacers as an example of what not to do.

Other teams are experiencing problems of a similar nature to those of Sacramento. Consider the Miami Heat, a team many believed capable of contending for an NBA title this season after the free-agent signings of LeBron James and Chris Bosh and the re-signing of Dwayne Wade.

The Heat’s problems aren’t exactly like Sacramento’s, yet attempting to mesh its considerable talent into a consistent force is very much akin to what is going on here.

Tyreke Evans, last season’s Rookie of the Year, is struggling. Of all the problems one would have imagined, Evans having difficulty scoring was not one.

Yet, that’s been a major problem early into his second pro season.

First-round draft choice, DeMarcus Cousins, was tossed from practice Monday afternoon, reportedly for running his mouth to the coaching staff. Like Evans, Cousins has had problems scoring and is shooting just 38 percent from the field.

It’s likely these players are experiencing these difficulties for the first times in their lives.

The Kings are coming off a weekend home loss to the Chicago Bulls that displayed their season in a microcosm. Sacramento was superb during the first half while establishing a 57-44 lead.

The Kings held a 71-57 advantage with 3:23 left in the third before their game disintegrated into basketball mush.

Then their fourth-quarter performance was so putrid it had to be seen to be believed.

Sacramento made just three of 21 field-goal attempts, committed eight turnovers and was outscored, 27 to nine.

That nine-point mention is not a typographic error. The Kings scored nine points during 12 minutes despite having 29 possessions.

Coach Paul Westphal still is attempting to find the right combination of players to invest in basics. Moving the ball to the open man, covering for teammates defensively and following the team’s principles would be an excellent beginning.

No one is expecting the Kings to consistently perform at a playoff level. Yet, the Kings clearly can play better than they have.

Antoine Wright was waived Monday and Hasaan Whiteside was sent to the NBDL to play with Reno.

Kings president Geoff Petrie said the team doesn’t plan to add any more players in the short term.

“We’ve got to find a way of playing better together,” Petrie said Monday. “We’ve got to generate a more consistent offense.”

There is another one of those basics the Kings must adopt.

James was accurate in race assessment

CNN's Soledad O'Brien recently asked Miami's LeBron James if he believed race played a role in how his decision to join the Heat has been received.

Said James, "I think so at times. It's always, you know, a race factor."


That response has attracted a lot of attention. Attention, in its own right, that reveals James may have been correct.

I think, what James attempted to convey is as an African-American, he sees race playing a role in the perceptions of a great many scenarios. That includes how the performance of the country's first African-American President, Barack Obama, is perceived.

It includes how the mere mention of race in almost any scenario can be viewed as stepping out of bounds. It includes how my opinions are viewed.

Unquestionably, it's dangerous to attempt to assess how an group feels about a topic.

However, I like danger, at times. I'd guess a large portion of African-American agree with James' assessment of the negative reaction to his decision. Personally, there were many things about James' delivery of his decision that I didn't like.

However, deciding to play in Miami never was a problem for me.

Remember the question was did race play a role. There was no percentage attached to how large or small a role that may have been.

It could have been zero percent, one percent or 65 percent. No one knows. Actually, the question was a set-up because there is no true method of measuring the role race may have played.

The speculation here is many African-Americans believe race relations and understanding will affect the emotions in the minds of some white Americans in virtually every scenario.

Let's be real. Even with an African-American President, race relations has not exactly been a U.S. strong point. Many strides have been made over the years, but there is much ground to be covered.

One posture I can never assume to totally know is how it feels to be a white American. That concept also goes in reverse. White Americans also generally are incapable of seeing and living life as an African-American.

That's why conversational exchanges between all races are so important to our nation's growth.

So I'm glad James spoke his mind when asked the question. I wish he'd been capable of expressing his feelings more precisely. I wish he'd have been given more of an opportunity to express those feelings.

Consider though, James will turn just 26 December 3oth. Is he fully equipped to answer such a deep question? I doubt it. I'm 55 and I doubt I'm fully capable of accurately assessing such a broad question.

It's not as if the question was put to Dr. Cornel West. It wasn't asked of Dr. Harry Edwards or USC professor Dr. Todd Boyd, who is considered to be an expert on popular culture.

However, when you accept the name, 'The Chosen One,' and proclaim your desire to become a billionaire, responsibilities can become quite encompassing.

Easier to stop Chris Paul than get an interview with World Wide Wes

For a hot minute Wednesday, I had thoughts of snatching an interview with NBA juice-meister William Wesley.

Then reality smacked me like an old girlfriend's right hand.

Wes, as I was introduced to him by former Kings forward Lionel Simmons about 17-18 years ago, might as well be the NBA's deputy commissioner. That's if you believe he's responsible for half of the occurrences with which he's been linked.

I'll keep referring to him as Wes. This whole World Wide Wes thing is relatively new to me. Reportedly, my man Jalen Rose, now an ESPN analyst, claims to have given him that moniker. And it does fit since when you are on the NBA beat, there's no city in which the brother might not be found.

I've heard him referred to as Uncle Wes. Call him what you want, but Wes is known in Commissioner David Stern's office, Michael Jordan's inner circles and as being the right-hand man of such NBA stars as LeBron James, Chris Paul and most recently, Carmelo Anthony.

In fact, one of the goals for contacting Wes Wednesday was to find out what role, if any, he was playing in Anthony's current travails with the Denver Nuggets.

Anthony is represented by agent Leon Rose and the powerful Creative Artists Agency. Rose and Wes have been linked since they both grew up in South Jersey.

There were reports earlier this year Wes had filed to become certified as an agent. If he did, he says that has not yet happened.

"I'm not an agent," Wes said Wednesday.

Wes is a cat whom has more hookups than Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile put together.

He's also a dude who consistently keeps his cards close to the vest.

"Man, I don't want to do any interviews," he said Wednesday as he's told me before. "I see so much crazy stuff out there that ain't hardly correct."

Wes is a mystery to 99 percent of the world. Clearly, he wants it like that and it's likely why so many athletes are comfortable with him. They know their business won't be in the street.

It's also why many of those who don't know him question his motives and duties. Then again, I don't know him in any depth, but I've seen no reason or proof to think he's done any dirt.

This is a dude who once had to move out of the way on the Dallas Cowboys sidelines while players gave then coach Jimmy Johnson a Super Bowl dousing.

That's juice and we ain't talking Gatorade.

Quick story: I'm in the visitor's locker room at Arco Arena a couple of years ago talking to then New Orleans head coach Byron Scott, assistant Paul Pressey and I think Kenny Gattison also was there. Somehow the conversation turned to Wes, and in walks Paul.

I think we'd been talking about how Wes seemed to be everywhere and how everybody knew him.

Said Paul, "Y'all talking bout Uncle Wes?"

We just started laughing as the point was made. Paul, now entering his sixth NBA season, still was a serious young boy at the time.

However, Paul, 25, said he'd known Wes for years. Paul also is represented by Rose and CAA, which also reportedly represents big ballers like Oprah and Will Smith. Rose also represents Sacramento Kings' Tyreke Evans and Omri Casspi.

Wes said he had to do a quick dash off the phone, so I never got to ask him anything about 'Melo's situation.

I think it's safe to say I probably ended up with the same information I would have gotten had the questions been asked.

However, I'll trade any and all stories I can do on Wes, for the book deal. My man is a success story of the highest and most unique order.

Once again, I may have better odds at hitting a lottery than getting Wes for a tell-all.

However, right now I'll settle for a tell-some. Dos Equis might want to re-check their most interesting man in the world commercial.


Since I went to the 'Melo concept, imagine how nice life is when you are 26, have a standing offer of three years for $64 million from the Nuggets, and things are so sugary, you can just leave it there for some reason.

Now that's 'Melo.

I also talked Wednesday with former Kings draft choice Anthony Johnson, who played the past two seasons with the Orlando Magic.

Johnson, the 39th pick of the 1997 draft out of the College of Charleston has played with eight teams. Johnson, who will turn 36 Oct. 2, was not re-signed by the Magic but still wants to play.

"I'm working out, staying in shape and waiting to see what happens," Johnson said. "I want to try and go out on my own terms. I know that doesn't happen for everybody, but I still want to play before I shut it down. I'd like to go into coaching as an assistant if nothing comes up."

The NBA currently is going around the league and airing what it calls "NBA Real Training Camp" where practices are televised.

One of the teams featured is the New York Knicks so obviously success is not a prerequisite.

Vice President of Media Relations/Basketball Operations Troy Hanson said NBA Entertainment has plans to feature Evans, Casspi and first-round pick DeMarcus Cousins.

Straight bouncing

Sometimes life and sports has neither rhyme nor reason and that's all good.

Here in The World, we can hang.

First, though, why does it seem as if rulings in all sports are designed to make us believe we didn't see what we saw?

Maybe that's what legendary broadcaster Jack Buck really meant after limping Dodgers star Kirk Gibson hit a pinch-hit, game-winning home run off of Oakland in the 1988 World Series.

The late Buck said, "I don't believe what I just saw."

Me, either - I don't believe I watched Detroit's Calvin Johnson catch a football with two hands over his head.

Then put the ball into one hand as he fell to the ground on his butt.

Catch complete to qualify the legitimacy of the rule since quoted by numerous knucklehead talking heads explaining how the correct call was made.

Detroit was cheated, deprived of a victory it earned.

The NFL would be out of a lot of footballs if I was a wide receiver or runner.

I'd take every football back to the bench after I scored, and then into the locker room.

Secondly, why must there be different rules for a catch in the end zone and the field's other 100 yards.

A catch is a catch, isn't it? Shouldn't it be? Hail, yes.

I've seen Johnson criticized for getting up to celebrate.

He's a young receiver on a team that won two of 32 games during the previous two games.

He made what he thought and what should have been a great catch to win a game.

We're lucky homeboy wasn't spinning on his back like one of the Bronx Rockers in 'Beat Street.'

Hitting and quitting

I've long since maintained their are many scouts who wouldn't know talent if it punched them in their mouths.

Houston Texans running back Arian Foster is a case in point.

The man came out of Tennessee in 2009 and wasn't drafted.

He spent all but six games last season on Houston's practice squad.

He gained 231 yards and scored three touchdowns in Sunday's 2010 season-opening victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame.

I've said it before, I'll say it again and I'll say it until I die.

Pete Rose should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

How can the man with the most hits in the game's history not be in the Hall of Fame?

Don't give him an induction ceremony.

Prevent him from further employment in baseball.

However, once again, don't tell me I wasn't watching one of the best hitters in the game's history when I was busy disliking him because he was one of the best and toughest clutch hitters and I was neither a Cincinnati Reds nor a Philadelphia Phillies fan.

Write on the man's plaque that he was a low-down dirty dawg who bet on baseball and lied about betting on baseball.

Just don't tell us Rose wasn't one of baseball's best hitters when those of us old enough to see him play have seen differently.

Let those who didn't believe the USA basketball team would bring home the gold in the FIBA World Championship stand up.

The 2010 team was the most talented in the tournament and Kevin Durant is one of the world's top three players.

Until LeBron James can consistently make jumpers, I'll take Durant every day.

And I love James' talent, so that's saying something.

Wright's death signals more than just one life gone

Explaining life's twists and turns becomes more difficult as every day passes.

When Memphis police found former NBA player Lorenzen Wright's body Wednesday in a wooden area, it signified one more twist of life gone astray.

Wright, who played for five teams, including Atlanta twice, leaves a reputation of playing hard and tough wherever he suited up as well as being a loved and respected teammate.

On a larger scale, the 34-year-old Memphis native left behind six children whom he loved greatly and a family searching for answers they'll never receive.

At some point, the facts behind his death will surface.

However, how Wright, who was as far away from being a 'thug' or 'hoodlum', ended up in a violent-death situation likely never will be answered.

Wright was here in Sacramento briefly with the Kings. He came Feb. 16, 2008 along with former Kings guard Anthony Johnson, Tyronn Lue and Shelden Williams as well as a 2008 second-round pick in a trade for Mike Bibby.

Wright played just 13 minutes in five games with the Kings, so there is no Sacramento basketball legacy.

More importantly, as a man, Wright, even during the uncomfortable position of joining a team in mid-season, displayed only class and a smile as he sat in front of his locker.

I didn't know him before he arrived, but I'd been told by Memphis Commercial-Appeal beat writer Ron Tillery that he was as good a guy as would be encountered.

Tillery was absolutely accurate. I used to go out of my way to speak to Wright because he appeared somewhat lost. He'd joined a bad team at a bad time. He was a basketball player who wasn't playing, a position only totally understood by those who have been there.

Often times we look at players as mercenaries, as pieces of flesh, as chattel who perform professionally. We don't see them as fathers away from their families. Rarely do we think of them as sons carrying the weight and responsibility of caring for their parents, families and often times, friends.

Yet, that's who they are. Yes, many players make big-time money and some like Wright wear nice jewelry and drive pretty cars, traits by which they are judged.

Wright's life had gone south. He'd had homes foreclosed on in Memphis and in Atlanta and recently had gone through divorce from his wife.

One wonders if his financial troubles played a role in his death. Yet, ultimately, his death at 34, puts his wheelchair-bound father in the position of burying a child. A father, who had been confined to that wheelchair because he'd been shot.

That's a position, particularly during these crazy times, in which parents far too often find themselves. Wright already had been in that situation when his 11-month-old daughter, Sienna, died from Sudden Infant Crib Syndrome.

Some folks will not or can not understand others seeing Wright as more than a man gone, but also as an African-American man gone before he turned 35.

They'll see it as an unnecessary factual inclusion.

However, as an African-American, it's impossible to ignore this fact because in our society it occurs so frequently, and to families with children far younger than 34.

And it was impossible not to think of LeBron James since I learned of Wright's disappearance. Wright spent the 2008-09 season as James' teammate with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James recently signed a contract that will pay more than $90 million over the next six years. Surely, James had heard of Wright's financial difficulties. One only can wonder if James ever had reached out to Wright to help.

James cannot serve as rescue LeBron for every one he knows going through a similar situation. The same goes for Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert, who likely has more money than he can spend during his lifetime.

It also has been impossible to think about the agents who have represented Wright during his career. Part of their responsibility while representing Wright has been to help him establish and maintain financial stability.

His agents over the years may have tried to do just that, just as James may have reached out to help in Wright's time of need.

However, the NBPA (National Basketball Players Association) and the NBA soon will undergo negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement.

Let's hope there are discussions aimed at intensifying efforts to provide education for players like Wright to prevent them from falling into financial hell.

Let's hope Wright's situation is a sign to young athletes when they sign with an agent.

It's not only an agent's job to get a client a good contract, but to have a system established to help his clients take care of that money and himself.

Remember Cousins is 19 - there is a process

Kings fans are crazy.

That seems to be a statement out of the blue. It is not.

After covering this team daily for about 13 or 14 years for the Sacramento Bee newspaper through the worst and the best of times, I thought I knew how crazy Kings fans were.

However, I didn't.

Actually, I didn't even have a clue.

And since I've come to recognize a truer level of insanity that drives Kings fans, it's important to continue to bring doses of reality to those who follow this squad.

That's where Friday evening's Vegas Summer League performance by DeMarcus Cousins becomes applicable.

I know Kings fans come in all sizes and ages. Over the years, I've met Kings fans in many places.

Supermarkets, schools, churches (and I rarely, I mean, rarely attend) and liquor stores in other states. I've met you guys and ladies on planes and answering the door at my house.

I've met Kings fans on Maui and in Tokyo. So I thought I had a decent fix on Kings fans. Wednesday, I found out differently.

Recently, I've become aware of websites called SactownRoyalty.com and CowbellKingdom.com. They are virtual hangout for Kings fans to chat, inform and become informed for many things Kings.

I used to receive goo-gobs of e-mails at the Bee when covering the Kings and I tried to reply to as many as I could.

In addition to merely replying because folks had cared enough to take the time to get with me, I found reading the e-mails provided story ideas of which I'd never have imagined.

So, Wednesday, I ended up on Sactown Royalty after Wednesday's Kings summer-league game. Beyond my amazement, it seems as if more than 1,000 comments came into the site during the game.

One thousand comments during a freaking summer-league game as the fever of Kings fans about Cousins and Hasaan Whiteside and Tyreke Evans intensifies daily. Incredible!

I'm unsure how one can fully concentrate on watching a basketball game on TV and chat online, but clearly it can be done.

But back to the matter of The Big Potential; aka the Big Po'; aka the Big Sweetness - Cousins had set the Vegas Summer League on its butt during Sacramento's first three games.

Cousins' assortment of skills and talents are ridiculous. He's got tremendous court vision; varied passing deliveries; a feathery soft shooting touch and deft footwork. Combine that big booty and those broad shoulders with huge, strong hands and Cousins, who turns 20 August 13, often makes this NBA stuff appear so easy.

Yet, what Cousins doesn't have - experience - is a process that cannot be accelerated. Neither Bill Russell nor Wilt Chamberlain could accelerate it. That goes for Nate Thurmond, Willis Reed and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

So Friday evening's zero-for-10 first half against the Toronto Raptors was part of the process. It was a lesson in humility that came precisely at the necessary time for Cousins and his new legion of followers.

Cousins probably had a little bit of the big-head syndrome after his early domination of the VSL and needed a little bit of a reality check.

To me, it's akin to understanding, in part, why LeBron James keeps the big head. With more than half the world jocking his mercurial talents, it would be more surprising if he didn't believe all the hype that has come his way.

Cousins struggled against Toronto and he'll struggle again and again. That's what sports and life are about.

We all have bad days. Some of us have bad weeks, months and years, but it's our abilities to shake off those struggles that test our resolve.

Cousins took a major - and necessary - step in the second half against Toronto when he went five for eight.

Moreover, he got his first professional triple-double - points, rebounds and fouls.

One more point. Trainer David Thorpe recently was critical of Cousins' willingness to respond verbally to opponents conversations.

I don't know where Thorpe grew up hooping, but talking and handling talking is part of the game. I wonder if Thorpe was critical of Boston great Larry Bird responding to verbiage that came his way.

Some people talk trash while playing the game. Some don't. People use various ways to deal with it, but part of the process is learning which method is most effective. Cousins must learn which is best for him.

Kings fans, enjoy the process. Preliminary indications are it will be special.

James polarizes himself

No one need ever, ever, ever again compare LeBron James to Michael Jordan.

With James' decision to leave Cleveland to join Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, basically that was his request.

James may have made the move to put himself in the best position to win, but in the deepest regions of your imagination can you envision Jordan making a move like this?

Hail no!

Forget that King stuff as well. Kings don't follow, they lead.

Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert's comments about James quitting in Games 2, 4, 5 and 6 of the 2010 Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston truly don't sum up the abandonment of the 25-year-old.

James quit on Cleveland - on Akron- and on Ohio.

It's not like the Cavaliers were a terrible team and an organization that didn't make moves to try and provide a supporting cast for James.

No doubt Gilbert's open checkbook the past few years was at least part of the genesis of his post-James departure rant.

What we don't know now are the conversations James and Gilbert have had.

We do know if there have been covers for James' actions and behavior over the years, Gilbert has been the man with the huge umbrella.

So for him to go off like a spurned lover is a bit ridiculous.

Gilbert verbally busted out the windows on James' Bentley and his Range Rover. The owner tried to spit in James' face.

And there is more. I say there is no way we've heard the last from Gilbert, either directly out of his mouth or dropped Watergate style.

It also has to be a must that Commissioner David Stern comes down historically hard upon Gilbert.

No owner ever has been more disrespectful and venomous as was Gilbert with comments regarding a player.

Now, Gilbert has heard stances and requests from James of which neither the public nor the media are privy.

However, it's difficult to imagine it won't be long before the curtain is pulled back.

It still seems imaginable Gilbert burned a No. 23 jersey or two himself last night. Gilbert might retire the jersey when the Heat comes to Cleveland for the first time.

Gilbert made a larger fool of himself than any fan could achieve by 'personally guaranteeing the Cavaliers will win an NBA championship before the self-titled former 'King' wins one.'

What, is Gilbert have James assassinated on the NBA Finals court during a game? Is Gilbert going to go Tonya Harding on the 'former King?'

I sure wish I hadn't misplaced former Cleveland coach Mike Brown's number because it would have been great to hear his reaction shortly following the announcement.

Moreover, for James to say, winning a championship in Cleveland wouldn't be sweeter than winning one in Miami, may have been the biggest snub possible.

The kid's ego was so evident when he spoke about how 'He' had brought so much to the franchise and 'He' had taken the organization places it had never before been.

Last I checked, James had a myriad of teammates supporting the efforts. Yet, only once do I recall him referring to teammates while mentioning achievements.

No matter what moves the Heat makes before the 2010-11 season begins, they will have to deal with Boston, Orlando, Atlanta and Chicago just to get out of the Eastern Conference.

And James certified, he'll either be hated or loved. Middle ground has been eradicated.

James is a hot mess, isn't he?

LeBron James clearly is what I think he is.

No, he's not. Yes, he is.

Tonight, during a one-hour television special orchestrated by James and his people, he'll make his decision known. Personally, I think he'll decide to go to Miami.

In one sense, I put living in Miami on one hand and Cleveland on the other and say the one holding Cleveland gets chopped off. That's a no-brainer.

James is perhaps the NBA's most talented player and definitely its largest egotist wrapped in a 6-foot-9, 265-pound, 25-year-old package.

The fact that James and his people decided to choose broadcaster Jim Gray to moderate this 60 minutes of LeBron suggests they see life totally different than do I. Actually, that's no different than the Maloofs choosing Gray to work the sidelines for the Kings.

Gray is a pompous knucklehead who thinks he's worth more than he is. Then again, that's just my opinion and I'm sure he could care less. I could feel that way because twice he tried to step over me as if I wasn't there to speak to the person with whom I was conversing.

As you might see, rudeness is a no-no and I had let the dude know it could be hazardous to his health if he again pulled that garbage.

However, Gray was linked to noted con-man Don King for the longest time. Need more be said?

But back to James. I've always thought James could show how much heart he has by staying in Cleveland and winning a championship. He would be hanging when things are tough and showing his total dedication to his hometown.

Part of me says if his ego is as large as it seems, he'd say I'm winning one for Cleveland and y'all can't stop me.

Ultimately, though, there's no way James can leave Cleveland without folks in that area hating his guts.

Perhaps the funniest and sickest comment regarding former Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell was that he had a heart attack and didn't die.

Man, that's cold until you see the comment followed it up by 'I'll hate LeBron 10 times as much.'

Whoa! That about sums it up.

Should James leave Cleveland, that's it. It doesn't make a difference when, where or how he announces it. He's not insulting Cleveland with this manner he chosen to deliver the news. He's insulting his fans by leaving, if anything.

Most Cleveland fans will hate the air he breathes.

Ultimately, he won't care and nor, should he. He's got to do what he feels is best for him. James clearly wanted to stay in Cleveland, but should he go to Miami, then he believes that's where his best chance to win exists.

Being hated and loathed is part of the territory, particularly when your ego invites it with moves like this hour-long announcement.

However, it's not like James only will be hated in Cleveland. It's just the intensity of that hatred will be more intense.

In New York, New Jersey and Chicago, he'll be booed as never before.

Share the hate.

That James is handing over proceeds from the telecast to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America is solid.

However, with his loot, he merely could just write a check. I think that check would clear.

Then again, he's said his decision would be about winning. And if James chooses to join Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, it's a decision that seems to follow that thinking.

It would be a decision that would shut up so many so-called experts who said there was no way James would or even could play with Wade because his 'ego' wouldn't allow him to make that concession.

That part of James' decision I love.

I've played basketball much of my life. And at its essence for me, it was played in the park, or the YMCA, or in New York (at night centers in local schools open at night).

That was where you might find the toughest competition because that's where you'd find half of the dudes who were good enough to play for their schools, but didn't attend class enough to qualify.

Never once, not one time, have I ever seen a group of five decide they weren't going to try load up the bomb squad.

The concept when playing in the win-and-stay situations that exist in the park is getting on the court and dominating until you don't want to play anymore.

Granted, it's a long way from Cambria Park or PS 15 or Hempstead's Kennedy Park or Roosevelt Park to Madison Square Garden and the NBA.

However, I can't blame James deciding to load up with Wade and Bosh and trying to dominate the NBA.

How many hoopers who have had 'next' decided against choosing the next best four players for his squad?

You might take one of your boys (and I've been one of those) who wasn't one of the best available because he was your boy.

On the other hand, there was nothing more satisfying than playing against the bomb squad and kicking their butts.

Beating them with back-door plays and moving the ball and defending as if their lives depend upon a victory.

I'm hearing former Kings guard Jon Barry say James and Wade can't play together. It's not the first time Barry has said something stupid. It's just the most recent time he's done it.

Barry also has there was no way James' ego would allow him to play with Wade. Barry said it with absolute certainty without any inkling of proof. It's a red flag when I hear statements like that.

These are two of the world's most talented and skilled players. They've both got more than enough handle to play together. They looked very comfortable playing together on the 2008 gold-medal winning team.

Granted, that was a two-week deal as opposed to doing it for a season and more. However, it seems to be the longer they do it, the more the comfort level will grow.

Now, it's not a done deal that the James, Wade and Bosh crew would race to a championship.

First, we nor they have a clue with whom they'll play.

Second, they'll have a larger bullseye on their chests than the two-time world champion Los Angeles Lakers and that's saying something.

Third, there is something to playing together and establishing a rapport and a rhythm that cannot be produced without time.

Fourth, the scrutiny these guys will endure will be enormous. But that's part of the territory.

Say what you will, but those who criticize James' announcement tonight will be just like me, sitting and watching.

No A,I. or J-Will likely for Kings

The operative word was 'wait' Tuesday during brief discussions with an agent and Kings President Geoff Petrie describing the team's current posture regarding free-agency.

"We're still in a wait and hold situation," Petrie said. "It's still in effect. We're getting ready for (the Vegas) summer league. We'll definitely have (first-round pick) DeMarcus (Cousins) and (Hasaan) Whiteside signed before we start practicing on Friday."

Agent Aaron Mintz from the Priority Sports Management firm said the Kings have been keeping in touch.

"We've been talking to them but I think they are kind of in a wait and see scenario," Mintz said.

Actually, quite a few teams have assumed the patient approach during the first few days of free-agent conversation. After all, teams cannot sign players until Thursday.

Once signings begin and money commitments reveal themselves, it's easier for teams to recognize what competitors for players can extend. And once players and agents see which teams have money available and are willing to make deals, the action and conversations become real.

Petrie will be looking to fortify the Kings backcourt, but said he didn't anticipate pursuing either Allen Iverson or former Kings point guard Jason Williams.

"The straight-forward answer would be he's not somebody we've talked about," Petrie said of Iverson. "And I don't think Jason is leaving Florida. I think they might be guys who see what happens with teams after (LeBron) James, (Chris) Bosh and (Dwayne) Wade make their decisions."

Contrary to the thoughts of some, Petrie said the team is willing to spend money and would be open to involve itself in a three-way trade.

Petrie always has maintained cash dominates the direction of free-agency.

"I told somebody the other day that free agency was a giant battle of opportunity where the ammunition is cash," he said.

Once the major players of free-agency have committed their real money, the Kings will have as much 'ammunition' as virtually any team on the board.

"I'd be interested in a (three-way) as long as it meets our parameters," Petrie said. "If we're going to take on a lot of future money, it'll have to come down to us acquiring a high-quality player and satisfy a high-quality need."

Three players - Tyreese Rice, Ryan Thompson and Connor Atchley - on the team's summer-league squad are playing in the Orlando summer league before they join the Kings this weekend.

Petrie said earlier this summer assistant coaches Pete Carril and Shareef Abdur-Rahim will return next season. Abdur-Rahim may have been the league's highest-paid assistant last season since he was still under contract as a player.

By the way

Much ado was made by Wade's statement over the past weekend that his decision would be affected by his desire to do what was best for his two sons. Wade has gone through an emotional, contentious and public divorce from his ex-wife.

So, did anyone really think his decision on where to sign would not factor in his two children? And after questioning his wife's mental stability, am I the only one who believes he might want his kids to be as far away as possible from his ex-wife?

James' decision to announce his decision Thursday night on television on his own designed special definitely qualifies as special.

As is his decision to control the advertising for the special and direct all proceeds to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

Anyone who concentrates any ego attached to this production rather than the money going to the kids is misguided.

Yo, LeBron: It's time. Let's do this!

Yo, LeBron! It's time.

Let's do this.

Yes, deciding where and with whom you'll spend the next few years playing basketball is the biggest decision of your life.

And yes, you should make it when you want and how you want and to hell with anyone who can't understand.

There's no guarantee you'll ever have this freedom and opportunity again.

However, now, we're at the point where people are criticizing you for wearing sweats to meetings.

As if anything would be altered if you wore a suit or some pajamas.

What? Did folks think you were applying for a gig at Princeton? After all, you do your work in shorts.

You and your people (aka team) are being criticized for being 25 as if it was unknown that was the age-group before these multi-million recruiting pitches began.

You've got to know where you want to be by now.

The only reason for delaying the announcement is if you are leaving Cleveland and trying to get someone else to join you.

Holla at your fellow free-agents. Discuss your scenarios and make sure the requisite comfort levels exist.

Then you can exhale and stop all the no-nothing commentators from talking loud and saying nothing.

OK, this is a bit of a personal plea. I'm so sick of people putting words and thoughts in your mind and mouth. I understand you have brought some of this on yourself and the rest of us by holding your cards so close.

However, that's your option. And I know you can't sign your deal until Thursday.

Bottom line, though, no matter where you go or if you stay, the most important portion of this summer will be spent in the gym. No player this season will have more on their shoulders than you and no one has more ability and talent with which to maintain.

So, let's do this. Make your call. Go on vacation and then get into the gym and prepare to fulfill your potential.

It's sounds funny to say this about a two-time Most Valuable Player.

However, there is so much more you can do... so much more you can be.

Stoudamire to Knicks - Amare should start here

I've always found Amare Stoudamire to be a good, respectful dude. He's always been accomodating.

Now that he's agreed to a 5-year/$100-million deal with the New York Knicks, here's a minor request from a native New Yorker and former Knicks' fan.

I'm still holding it against the franchise for trading Charles Oakley, one of my all-time favorite folks and players, not to mention the team's heart at the time, to Toronto. And yes, I know the Knicks went to the Finals right after that.

I don't care. I admit to retaining the ability to be a little bit of a silly fan.

But Amare, if you want to show you have some heart and say you'll reach out to LeBron James, start your reaching out with helping out Ray Williams. The former Knicks captain needs help dealing with life.

With $100 million of new money, we're talking about relative pocket change, 'bro.

If James' heart is as large as his ambition, he'll stay in Cleveland

Every alleged hoops expert has an opinion regarding the NBA's Mount Rushmore of free-agency, but what do they really know?

They don't know any more than you, I or my main man, Dwight.

You don't know Dwight, but any one and every one you know fits smugly into the equation.

We should all feel comfortable with not knowing which teams or team will sign LeBron James, Chris Bosh and their boys.

It's all good because that's the way free-agency is supposed to evolve.

However, I can tell you how things would play out in Marty Mac's World.

If I were James, there would be two choices - in this order, Cleveland and Miami.

Chicago's situation would make me think, but if I wanted to continue freezing my tuckus off, I can do that at home.

If James remains in Cleveland, virtually the Akron native's psuedo-hometown, he stays with the squad that won 127 games over the past seasons, but couldn't finish the playoff deal.

The Cavs hardly are the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Sacramento Kings.

Cleveland is right there with James, the dancing star.

He should know how close the Cavs are and as the guy who has accepted the moniker of 'The King", if he has the heart of a champion, he'll gather his teammates this summer and help lead them to the title he allegedly craves.

Indeed, this is an old-school mentality that says you start what you finish.

It says this is the squad I grew up loving and I'm not leaving until the job is done. I have built a mansion around the way.

Cleveland is my home. The rest of you can bring it - I'm the baddest boy around and we're going to win.

Virtually every NBA champion had to go through the process of brain-rattling losses on the destination to the title. Why should Cleveland be any different?

The case for going to Miami is as much social as anything.

There is freaking South Beach and when it's -10 degrees in Cleveland in January, it likely will be 75 degrees in South Florida.

Personally, that's a biggie for a guy, who grew up in New York City's snowy winters and now in California, hasn't shoveled snow for 30 years.

Then there is the case of playing with my boy Dwayne Wade, who brings the same fire, desire and talent to the court as do I.

Can we convince one more young star (Bosh, Amare Stoudamire or Carlos Boozer) to join us and then trust President Pat Riley to put role players around us that will enable us to compete for a title?

Each of these free-agents are on the record say all they want to do is win. That's something we shall see before the July 8 signing date.

A guess here estimates 99.999% of us regular folk never will have the opportunity to say, "I can make another $10 million over the length of my contract if I sign with Team X, but I'm going to sign with Team Y because the best chance to win is there."

In LeBron's case, if he's worried about this so-called icon status and winning four and five titles, then there is no way I can get into his cranium.

I know he didn't do college, but he has to know two and three come after one. And he doesn't have one yet. In that instance, he must realize how difficult it is to get it done.

Winning a title will be more difficult than deciding where he wants to cast his lot.

NBA Free Agents - To whom would you give big loot

The Sacramento Kings have been planning and maneuvering for a couple of years to be active in the 2010 summer free-agency game.

Now, the beginning of the game is four days away and the options appear to be more hype than substance.

To which of these high-profile free agents - LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudamire, Dirk Nowitzky, Joe Johnson, Carlos Boozer and even David Lee - would you give up every dollar of the created salary cap to join the Kings?

Wade and Nowitzky are the two ultimately expected to re-sign with their respective teams, Miami and Dallas.

The others, led by James, are expected to look for the biggest bucks along with what comprises the best situation for them.

Teams may begin negotiating with players on July 1, but cannot sign a player until July 8.

Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie has said his team will explore all options. However, the team will try to use its money as intelligently as possible. That could mean keeping the money in the pocket.

That intelligence might just mean the Kings will hold onto its cap room through the summer and see if using it in a trade during the season might be more productive. When the Kings made moves to bring Vlade Divac into the mix, it was following the end of the last lockout in 1999.

There is expected to be another lockout following the 2010-11 season.

Here's the quick free-agent handicap with considerations of age, talent, leadership, health and heart:

Empty the Bank: James and Wade. Currently, the Kings have approximately $15 million in the coffers. That likely won't be enough to sign either on the basis of money alone.

However, if Cousins developed as the Kings hoped, the inclusion of either one of these stars plus good health would make Sacramento a contender for the next six or seven years.

No D, no Max: Amare Stoudamire is an amazing offensive performer, but his defensive commitment does not warrant getting all the money in the bank.

Moreover, Stoudamire will give up $17.7 million next season to become a free-agent. He's also going to leave point guard Steve Nash, who only gives him five to seven dunks/layups per game.

That just makes me wonder about his thinking.

No Post, no Max: Chris Bosh is a monster talent capable of providing production from many different areas. However, offensively, Bosh seems to do most of his damage with a jumper. Nor does he seem to want to be the man. His words point towards him looking to be the man playing next to The Man. That's not all bad, but at these prices, it's not good enough.

Too Old, no Max: Dirk Nowitzky just turned 32. His talents merit the big bucks, but his age says no. It makes sense for the Mavs to re-do his deal, but not the Kings.

Too Shaky, no Max: Joe Johnson had the opportunities to prove his worth as The Man during these past playoffs, but failed miserably. He's an excellent player, but not worth all the loot that's fit to print at this stage.

Close, but no Max: Carlos Boozer will be 29 in November and has shown the ability to be an able sidekick. Put him on a team with a capable center and strong lead guard and Boozer will be worth big bucks. Not the max, but he'll be able to get by on what he gets paid.

No Way, no Max: David Lee is a solid performer and likely would fit nicely on a number of different squads. Lee is a strong rebounder, runs the floor and can play the game well enough to earn close to double-digit millions annually in the right situation.

The Kings have enough money to be active through a sign and trade deal, but after waiting for a couple of years to get into this position, they will have to feel absolutely positive about making a move this summer.

2010 NBA draft day shows league gone wacko

On the draft day when news leaked the Portland Trail Blazers already had fired General Manager Kevin Pritchard, but he'd continue to conduct their day's dealings, it became totally real the NBA has Gone Wild, Mad and insane.

Wouldn't it have been comical if Pritchard decided to submit a wise-guy name for one of Portland's draft choices? What if he'd traded Brandon Roy to a team he might already have a hookup to join as their new General Manager? And could you blame Pritchard after the stunts owner Paul Allen has pulled with him?

Chicago and Miami traded players and draft choices to create cap room for perceived opportunities to make runs at a free-agency class expected to be highlighted by LeBron James, Amare Stoudamire, Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, Carlos Boozer, Joe Johnson and possibly Dirk Nowitzky, to name a few.

It's funny to hear observers call the Bulls the winner of the draft and they made no picks.

Part of me wants to see James jack the entire league and stay with Cleveland to see what moves teams who have bet on the come then make.

James appears to be running things all over the league right now. David Stern is the Commissioner but James, should he decide to do so, could indirectly have teams jumping through imaginary hoops.

James seemingly could tell the Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, Miami Heat and New Jersey Nets each that he'll join their team if they follow his plan.

Undoubtedly, James has the NBA in the palm of his talented hands. What he'll do in this power position remains the question.

Who would have believed one of the NBA's alleged bad boys - Rasheed Wallace - is expected to leave $13 million on the table and retire, just because he can?

Kentucky became the first school to have five players - John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Patrick Patterson, Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton - drafted in the first round. Only Patterson attended Kentucky more than one season.

Orton, who did not start a game for John Calipari's Wildcats last season, was drafted by Orlando after averaging 3.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 13.4 minutes.

Teams have made moves to create salary cap moves to impress these so-called superstars, yet Wade is the lone player to have played an integral role on an NBA title winner. Stoudamire's defensive efforts for the Phoenix Suns during these recent playoffs told me there would be no way I'd give him maximum dollars.

Bosh's Toronto Raptors last season had a 40-42 record and its 105.9 points allowed per game tied New York for the third most points permitted behind Golden State's 112.4 and Minnesota's 107.8.

The New York Knicks are enlisting entertainment stars/celebrities to basically beg and plead James to come to the Big Apple. If the Knicks get James, do these stars get free season tickets? They certainly should.

The Sacramento Kings draft fifth and get the draft's most talented big man in DeMarcus Cousins, who was bypassed by three teams in part because of alleged red flags.

The Kings used the 33rd choice to draft Hasaan Whiteside, a terrific athlete, whose own reported issues caused him to drop like a rock in the draft. Whiteside already has spent time working Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon and plans to do so again before the 2010-11 season begins.

James says he's about winning and that will be his No. 1 consideration when time comes to select a team. We'll find that out if James takes less money than he could get to align with what seems the best situation.

Now this guy is one of the league's top two or three best players and he's purportedly setting himself to be in the best position to win multiple titles. James has yet to win one title and he's allegedly thinking about winning multiple championships.

Ideally, putting oneself in position to win a championship along with maximizing monetary options is what the concept of free agency is all about. However, there are no guarantees. Injuries can take the best laid plans wash them down a drain with immediacy.

Clearly, the league and sports in general have become something we've never seen before. Where sports will go in the future it is impossible to predict.

No longer will a Jerry West toil for the Los Angeles Lakers for more than a decade only for the thrill of winning one title.

No longer will David Robinson hoop with the San Antonio Spurs only to luck into a No. 1 pick of Tim Duncan and win an NBA championship.

For me, there's something quite sad about that. Then again, I've never even tweeted - yet - so what do I know.

To think, when I first snuck into the NBA draft, it was held via conference call in the league offices in a room around a big table with a couple of telephones. If I'm right, the New York Post's Peter Vecsey and I were the lone reporters in the room.

Now a team that doesn't make a draft choice is dubbed the winner.

Trying to make a quarter out of 15 cents

It made all kinds of sense that free agents to-be Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, Joe Johnson and Chris Bosh will parlay regarding their intentions to see if they can and want to hook up for a Super Crew.

Free-agency is the time when players have control of their destiny so why not utilize it to the fullest. I wonder if the players' agents will be in this meeting.

What if the meeting turns into a greed-fest and two guys crossing-out other guys to get what they want. I wonder if this has happened before, but it's sure to happen again.

As an athlete, often you become a piece of meat. Some become amazingly high-paid meat, but nonetheless meat. That means at one point, you can be sliced, cooked and eaten.

As a people, we tend to always focus on those making crazy cash forgetting far more players can struggle to make teams and forge a career with stability and security.

Orlando's Matt Barnes clearly is a guy who has a place in the league, yet he's played with Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns and the Magic.

Barnes, a dogged defender and big-time team guy, only has been with Golden State for more than one season and those were the 2007 and 2008 campaigns. As you see, he has a place, it just hasn't been the same place.

Barnes, 30, and his lady now have twin boys. The end likely could be closer than the beginning. Barnes says he wants to come back to the Magic and has an option on his contract for next season.

He was paid $1.6 million this past season and becoming a free-agent likely will be his ticket to making considerably more cake in the future. He played in 81 games in 2009-10 and as a starter he and his agent, Aaron Goodwin only figure to come to General Manager looking for a salary upgrade.

Here's a guess Barnes won't be invited to the big-money free-agent summer, but it is players like him who help the big boys win in the post season.

Boston's Kendrick Perkins always is one of the biggest guys on the floor. He's also one of the league's biggest complainers. Virtually every foul he commits has to be the first in his mind. This dude virtually whines about every call.

That being said, Perkins was thrown out of Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals after receiving two technical fouls. He inadvertently elbowed Orlando's Martin Gortat while trying to grasp teammate Paul Pierce's wrist and help him off the floor.

Perkins' hand slipped and his elbow hit Gortat. The referees missed on that one and so did the league a full day later when it rescinded the second techincal.

Perkins, who entered the game two technicals short of being suspended for the next playoff game, received his second one for spinning around and stomping off after getting called for a personal foul.

If either technical should have stood, it was that one. Players can't get away with stomping and whining all the time, and when a crew with Joe Crawford comes to town, it's time to chill. Everybody knows that. OK, maybe it's everybody, but Perkins. Recognize, young fella'.

Lies, lies and more lies

We're entering a period of NBA life during which there possibly will be more lies, lies and more lies told than ever before.

There are so many lies out here right now, even before I can get started on this topic, I just heard another one.

Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson Wednesday afternoon on being tied 2-2 in the Western Conference Finals with the Phoenix Suns after losing back-to-back games in the Valley, "There's absolutely no doubt that we love this. This is what champions are made of. We had this situation with Oklahoma. We had it with Denver last year in the (Conference) finals. It should be like this."

Yeah, Phil. Really?

Why do people feed us this garbage like we're disposals? I mean, you can't just put anything even in a disposal.

He's got a center in Andrew Bynum, who currently because of a knee injury has the mobility of former mountainous Utah center Mark Eaton.

The Suns have used a 2-3 matchup zone of sorts to lure the Lakers into make shooting from the perimeter in the past two games and they've been incapable of handling the responsibility.

The Lakers went to Phoenix with a 2-0 lead and left tied 2-2 and Jackson wants us, somebody, anybody to believe he'd rather be in this position than ahead 3-1 with a chance to move to Finals Thursday night.

Imagine this concept Phil, you wouldn't rather have won both of those game and have clinched a Finals berth?

Yeah, Phil. Let's just say I've got some land in Montana I need to sell. Oh, that's right, you've already got a spread up there.

Jackson's impending contract situation actually was one of the motivations behind this subject. ESPN.com's Mark Stein, whom I hold in high regard, reported the New Jersey Nets indirectly have inquired about Jackson's potential interest in coaching their squad next season.

Jackson's contract is up after this season and word is Lakers owner Jerry Buss wants the zenmaestro to return, albeit with a drastically reduced salary. He made $12 million and it's been reported Buss wants that dropped by roughly half.

Now I have doubts about that. Could Buss be crazy/senile enough to think Jackson, whose lady friend Jeanne happens to be Jerry's daughter and a Lakers exectutive, would take such a deal. For goodness sakes the man could be coming off back-to-back championships.

Jackson says he nor none of his people have discussed potential coaching gigs with New Jersey or Chicago or Cleveland.

So some one or somebody or some people are lying.

Each side can't be telling the truth.

We're told LeBron James had nothing to do with the firing of coach Mike Brown. Yeah, right.

That we've not heard James told the Cavs he'd come back if they retained Brown means the young star had something to do with Brown's release.

Coaches come and go because teams eventually stop wanting to hear their message and the grass always is greener.

Shoot, I loved my late father, but there were days I'd have traded his butt for two slices of Valentino pizza at the bus terminal on 165th street in Queens. No doubt, there are nights my son would make the cheesesteak for dad trade, too.

After having covered the Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings, being lied to comes with putting on socks in the morning. Executives and coaches lie to beat writers regularly. It's part of their job and as long as we accept that, it's a free world.

There are times the truth can destroy impending or possible transactions. That's understood.

However, can we keep a little sanity about these untruths. At least work on the falsehood. It's not like you come home and tell the wife just anything. Can we as fans and writers get similar respect, please?

Projections are key to drafting

The madness preceding the National Football League and National Basketball Association drafts is a unmitigated sickness with which we'll just likely will have to deal.

The conversations about the talents of potential draftees is cool. However, anyone who even hints of knowing, on May 24, which players will be selected when and by whom on June 24 is fooling themselves.

OK, I might bet a couple of pennies that Washington will use the draft's No. 1 choice overall on Kentucky's John Wall. After that, forget it. There are too many unknowns (i.e., trades, workout impressions, behavior, off-the-wall selections) the day before the draft, much less a month prior, to have a true clue.

Yet, here's what makes draft success such a difficult assignment. It's not what you are looking at now, but what you foresee in the future.

It's tricky enough to judge how good players are now, especially after seeing some of them for just one collegiate season, much less how good they'll be four years from now.

Talk about unknowns! If you have any kids, this needs no explanation. If you don't, look back at your life five years ago and remember what you projected for your life today.

If I ever were given the opportunity to make one of those draft calls, I'd be looking for an obvious advantage. Some players will be Paul Bunyan strong. Some will be Usain Bolt speedy. Some will be Tyreke Evans big and strong. Another will be Chris Paul-Rajon Rondo quick. There has to be some attribute that makes a player stand out. Some can have Stephen Curry-ridiculous, lights-out shooting ability. And Curry also has other crazy skills.

Speaking of unknowns, how many of us believed following Cleveland's blowout victory in Boston in Game Three of the Eastern Conference semifinal series, LeBron James would appear to have one foot out of Ohio? And Mike Brown would have both feet removed from the Cavaliers leadership by owner Dan Gilbert.

Brown won 127 games during the past two regular seasons and was fired Sunday night. Granted, the Cavs did not get to the NBA Finals, much less win the title.

Brown was a victim of expectations he helped create with the regular-season success. Couple that with James' impending free-agency and running into a Boston Celtics squad playing at an incredible and heretofore unforeseen level, Brown was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

And remember, Brown was the 2008-09 NBA Coach of the Year.

Clearly, Brown's offensive approach left much to be desired and why he kicked J.J. Hickson's athletic butt to the curb, I do not know. But that seems like a lot of success only for a guy to get canned. That's the frigid way of the pro sports world.

Moreover, how does Cleveland land a coach - especially one with other options - without knowing if James will return. That might be an influential factor, most would say.

While on the coaching carousel, it was the 2006-2007 season in which the Boston Celtics and coach Doc Rivers fashioned a 24-58 record.

Way back then, there were many Boston fans and journalists who believed Rivers was incapable of leading the Celtics back to glory. They wanted Rivers fired and if General Manager Danny Ainge could get a ticket on the bus out of time, so be it.

The Celtics spent the 2007-08 season winning the NBA title and I wouldn't bet against them winning the 2009-2010 championship. Not after the defense they've played during these playoffs. They could be arrested for what they've done to Cleveland and now are doing to Orlando.

This squad, under the guidance of the coach many wanted fired, have been the epitome of the word, 'team.'

My pick of two conference final sweeps went down the drain Sunday night when Amare Stoudamire showed his wares and the Lakers suddenly couldn't handle Phoenix's zone in Game Three of the West finals. L.A leads, 2-1, going into Tuesday night's Game Four.

I still like the Lakers to win the series and advance to an NBA Finals collision with the Celtics.