The Cleveland Cavaliers got some bad news followed by some potentially terrific news on Sunday. In a last-ditch effort to recruit Trevor Ariza away from the Houston Rockets, LeBron James told Ariza he would remain with the Cavaliers past 2010, according to a person close to Ariza.

Even that wasn't enough to get Ariza, who verbally committed to join the Rockets last Thursday, to change his mind and go to Cleveland.

James

But the Cavaliers will gladly settle for the consolation prize; if indeed James' statement to Ariza was more than an empty sales pitch.

"Trevor asked LeBron if he would be in Cleveland after next season," the source said. "And LeBron said, 'I'll be there. Of course, I'll be there.'"

James could not be reached for comment on Monday.

James' conversation with Ariza was part of the Cavaliers' attempt to make the free agent swingman the next Hedo Turkoglu, who backed out of his promise last week to join Portland and instead accepted a deal with Toronto.

Cavs general manager Danny Ferry and head coach Mike Brown flew to Los Angeles and met with Ariza on Sunday, according to several sources with knowledge of the situation.



Ariza

Ariza, who had accepted a five-year, $33.5 million offer from the Rockets last Thursday, also received telephone calls from James and Shaquille O'Neal. When James told Ariza he'd be a Cavalier past next season, Ariza was less than convinced.

"He thought it was just a recruiting tool," the source said. "LeBron definitely said it, but until he signs the contract it doesn't mean much."

The Cavaliers did not ask James or O'Neal to call Ariza, but as he did with Ron Artest, James took it upon himself to reach out. James' future in Cleveland has been an issue with potential signees.

Artest, whom the Cavaliers had interest in before he agreed to terms with the Lakers, was concerned about signing a multiyear deal with Cleveland because of James' ability to leave in 2010. And even O'Neal, who was traded to the Cavs less than two weeks ago, tried to find out about James' long-term plans with the club during trade talks.

Even so, according to sources, a flattered Ariza strongly considered reneging on his agreement with the Rockets and heading for Cleveland, which made him the same offer as Houston last week. In the end, however, he decided to keep his word to the Rockets.

"He's a very loyal person," the source said. "[Rockets coach] Rick Adelman had lunch with him for three straight days last week and that meant a lot to him."

Ariza presumably will sign with the Rockets on Wednesday, the first day free agents are allowed to sign contracts. But until then, other teams can recruit him, and he can change his mind.

Though Ferry and Brown left Los Angeles Sunday night thinking their mission had failed, the Cavaliers spoke with Ariza's representatives one last time Monday afternoon, only to be told that he still planned to be a Rocket.

Sources say several factors led to Ariza's decision. First, his toddler son lives in Los Angeles with his mother and Ariza liked that Houston was a much shorter flight than Cleveland. Second, Adelman promised him the Rockets would feature him offensively while the Cavaliers refused to guarantee him a starting job. Instead, the Cavs told him he'd be given a legitimate chance to compete for the spot against last year's starter, Delonte West.

"He wanted to be sure he'd start," the source said. "That was a big hang-up."

While an about-face is still possible, the Cavaliers, who met with Channing Frye in Cleveland on Monday, aren't holding their breath.

"As far as we're concerned, he's going to Houston," a team executive said. "We've moved on."

The Cavaliers, of course, are hoping James doesn't do the same thing a year from now.

If he's staying....sign the extension. Until he does that I take what he says with a grain of salt. Also, why would he confide in Ariza what his plans are? And to finish: Who cares what he says today about 2010 let us care what he says about 2010 in July 2010. Until then he's just a drama queen who plays for a **** city.

2010 is more than just Lebron. Freeing cap space opens up so many options to a franchise that has been handcuffed for about a dozen years. Would love to land Lebron, but if we dont, dont think for a second that getting under the cap was a waste.

[Edited by - uptown on 07-07-2009 09:24 AM]

The interesting thing is that Lebron and Ariza have been at each other throats since HS. Lebron wanting to sign the guy to his team speaks volume of what Ariza has accomplish so far in his career. Lebron should be up front like Wade though to his organization and the city of Cleveland. At least the Cav fans deserve more than a no comment about his future at this point.

Posted by Nalod:


Cap space allows for so much more than just Lebron or Wade.

Chemistry more than anything is what wins with the right mix. Getting those players who get enhanced by a system and being a piece is very valuable and sustainable.

We are rebuilding and its fun!

"Promises were made and I'm here to collect!"
I am not sure if Walsh can just get away with cap flexibility at this point as a selling point. Remember he is working for an owner who care less about cap flexibility and a fan base that craves superstars not the ability to make roster moves. This approach is more acceptable for a smaller market team like Indiana but may not fly with the masses without the superstar at the end of the tunnel. Who knows.

2010 is about the Big Five: Lebron, Wade, Dirk, Amare, and Bosh. If we get NONE of them and don't at least use our cap space to make some great trades, then I'll be really disappointed.

Posted by Bonn1997:

2010 is about the Big Five: Lebron, Wade, Dirk, Amare, and Bosh. If we get NONE of them and don't at least use our cap space to make some great trades, then I'll be really disappointed.

The only one that I think is a real possibility is Amare and Nash. Wade already has said he does not want to come to New York. Dirk, well see Jason Kidd. Bosh is going to go wherever Lebron goes.

Not for nothing but the Nets also have room right now to sign two max players.

It's only 3 years now? I thought it was up to 5 years but Wade and Bron both did the 3-year extension to keep their options open last go around.

Posted by Pharzeone:

Posted by Nalod:


Cap space allows for so much more than just Lebron or Wade.

Chemistry more than anything is what wins with the right mix. Getting those players who get enhanced by a system and being a piece is very valuable and sustainable.

We are rebuilding and its fun!

"Promises were made and I'm here to collect!"
I am not sure if Walsh can just get away with cap flexibility at this point as a selling point. Remember he is working for an owner who care less about cap flexibility and a fan base that craves superstars not the ability to make roster moves. This approach is more acceptable for a smaller market team like Indiana but may not fly with the masses without the superstar at the end of the tunnel. Who knows.

In a perfect world we grow our own superstars. we have not been in a position to draft one or move up in the draft to get one. Steph Curry and Ruby are not bonafide sure things and giving up big for them is not a solid move.

The big cap space Starphuch eveyone craves does have risks. Wade has proven not to be durable, Amare got miliage on that knee and a questionable attidude, and Bosh is not splashy enough for most. To me Bosh is great in the right scenario. I'll leave that up to the Walsh and MDA to figur that out. Lebron is the only sure thing out there.

But you will have players who want out and we can pay them. WE have young talent that is marketable with decent contracts for the first time in years.

Walsh has only been on the job a year and they have determined that cap space is important.

Even in the short run dumping eddy or JJ2 for a Tmac does not hurt us. Or having Larry Hughes! These guys are not our future.

What some posters can't imagine is a future uncertain! We don't know what opportunities will pop up, what team might have to dump salary, what player has a sick child and wants a NY docter (ala Derek Fischer), or wants to be marketed properly like Ruby. We have good assets to get ruby but not break the bank. We might have enough to sign and trade Lee with another asset to get bosh and Delfino and trade Chandler and Nate for Ruby and not put a big dent in our plan. One star in the door with room to sign one more.

So after a year the plan is to keep moving in a direction that gives us a chance to stomp on an opportunity.