LeBron James leaning towards staying in Cleveland

http://hoopshype.com/rumors.htm


After being mostly neutral and downright noncommittal for some time, those closest to James have been altering their view recently. The vibe being sent out from James' camp -- whether it is private conversations or discussions about new business or plans for the near future -- is that James is currently strongly leaning toward re-signing with the Cavs. That may sound vague and, as always, it continues to be fragile. Yet there is no denying the gradual shift within James' circle and, it is assumed, by James himself. Cleveland Plain Dealer

James has declined to talk publicly about free agency since November. But as one source said, "I have never been so sure that he's going to stay in Cleveland than I am right now." It seems these sorts of feelings are spreading as the boiling pot that this summer once was thought to be in the NBA is starting to lose some steam. Within the past two weeks, two of the potential major free agents who could have hit the open market with numerous bidders have taken themselves off the board. Cleveland Plain Dealer

But the idea that it is championship or bust for the Cavs and James may be flawed considering the way he is currently feeling about his place and comfort level in his hometown, sources said. With the collective bargaining agreement set to expire after next season, it is believed James will look for long-term protection in addition to short-term flexibility when he does finally make a decision on where he wants to sign. He will get whatever terms he wants that are allowed under the rules. Cleveland Plain Dealer

The Knicks finish the season Wednesday in Toronto and open their shopping spree July 1. The next time they play the Garden, owner James Dolan dreams of LeBron James in Knicks orange and blue. "We saw an opportunity to try to hit a home run," coach Mike D'Antoni said of this bonanza offseason. "That's what we're trying to do. At least we know there's a fastball coming and we at least want to take a swing at it. Whatever happens, we're going to be better next year. If it's a breaking ball, we're screwed." New York Post

dont care

Here are the economic realities.

James has been in the NBA 7 years after this season. His contract was set to end at this time on purpose. Look at the chart in the next link. Seven years is when the max salary goes from 25% to 30% of team salary cap level (or amount) for maximum player salary.

http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#Q11

There is something that stands out to me when I look at the charts in the link. The minimum salary chart goes out to 2011-12, where the maximum salary chart only goes out to this season.

The minimum salary was a lower number and everybody could agree to a chart full of "small" numbers. So the minimum salary is just a chart with numbers that everyone could agree on, and it runs out at the end of the current CBA agreement. (Which started in 2005 and ends, as you can see, in the summer of 2012.)

The maximum salary was a much bigger number and as such, had to be tied to revenue. So it was tied into the team salary cap using a percentage to define it, along with years of service.

From one to six years of service nets a player 25% of the team sal cap. 7-9 years gets 30% and for ten years service and over, 35%.

Because the sal cap number is calculated each year, future years don't show up on the chart. Each year, the chart will add a column for that year. This is decided each year in July. We don't know the exact figure that James can make, but we can use last year's numbers for a start. (Note: the sal cap number is supposed to go down, so the real numbers should be slightly less than this year's)

If James changes teams, the most he can make in the first year of his next contract (using last years numbers) is $16,224,600. That is for the first year only. After the first year, there can be raises, which have a limit as well.

In his current contract, his opt-out salary for 2010-11 is $17,149,243. If he stays with the Cav's, that is the starting place for his next contract. The difference is less than 1 million.

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/cleveland.htm

If LeBron leaves the Cavs, it will cost him around 1 million in the first year and one million plus a little more, for each remaining year of the contract. If it is a five year contract, it will cost him between 6 and 7 million, total, to leave the Cavs.

If an opportunity opens up where he thinks he would be more likely to fulfill his goal of a championship (providing he doesn't this year) he may leave the Cavs without losing too much money. If he does win this year, he'll more than likely stay with the Cavs and take the money. Either way, he probably makes more money on endorsements than he makes playing basketball. Having a championship under his belt will surely increase his non-NBA salary. That is the ultimate goal.

Now you can see why Kobe decided to stay with the Lakers. If he left, the maximum he could make in the first year with a new team (Kobe being a 10-year man) would be just under 19 million. Because he stayed, he could start out where his last contract left off, which was 24,806,250. Kobe will make over 30 million in his last year. There is no way to get even close to that if he had to start back at 19 million.

gyso

PS: I really don't care as well.

I just like to do math problems in my spare time.

gyso