Homecoming

It happened. LeBron James made the decision to return to Cleveland and rejoin the Cavaliers. Four years ago he took his talents to South Beach and the reaction from people in northeast Ohio was as you might expect, anger. It seemed that in every video you saw from the night LeBron said those famous words was of Cavalier fans burning their number 23 jerseys. The way James approached this years free agency was much different from what it was in 2010. He didn't sit on a stage in front of the cameras, he didn't give a whole speech to the world about why he did what he did, he handled it like a professional. He was quiet. It was somewhat of a maturation process for LeBron in the sense that he realized coming home to Cleveland is the last chapter he is going to write and he wants to do everything he can to bring the city who once loved him, then hated him, and now loves him again, the championship they deserve. When the news broke yesterday that the King was returning to the team that drafted him in 2003, the people of Cleveland took a 180 degree emotional turn from what they were at when he left. It seemed that they've been ready to welcome him back with open arms when they found out the possibility of a return. In the letter he wrote to Sports Illustarted, and as told by Lee Jenkins, James says he's ready to accept the challenge in Cleveland and says in his own words, "I'm coming home". He knows what he has in Cleveland with All Star point guard Kyrie Irving, rookie Andrew Wiggins, who with the tutoring of James can be in that next group of great players, and a supporting cast that is deeper and more talented than what he had previously. He also knows that winning won't come right away and it won't come easy; "I'm not promising a championship. I know how hard that is to deliver. We're not ready right now. No way....It will be a long process, much longer than it was in 2010". For him to admit that and understand that this won't be an overnight success says a lot about what he is willing to do. He wants to bring the city that drafted him its first professional sports title in 50 years. He is also returning to play for an owner in Dan Gilbert, who called James a coward and also mentioned that he quit on the team in multiple instances. LeBron and Gilbert met face-to-face and worked out their differences says James; "We talked about it. Everybody makes mistake. I've made mistakes as well. Who am I told hold a grudge?" That also says a lot about LeBron and his willingness to put all of the negativity behind him from the fallout of his decision and return home.

If you think that the money was the reason he returned, or lack of money from Miami was the reason, you're looking at it all wrong. It might be easy to sit back and say that this was an easy choice for James, but leaving Miami probably wasn't the easiest thing for him to do. He clearly isn't worried about winning right now, having won two rings in Miami and having made it to the Finals four straight times means he knows what it takes to get there and ultimately win. He sees that with Cleveland and sees the opportunity to add more titles to his resume. A resume in which it will always be compared next to Michael Jordan's. That isn't what he is worried about though, sure he wants to be the greatest of all time, what athlete doesn't? LeBron has been building his own legacy since he was 17 years old. It's us the fans and the media who try and build his legacy and when it doesn't go the way we want, we try and erase it and start over. It turns out we can't do that and all we can do, and all we should do, is sit back and appreciate what he is doing. If there is one thing I've taken away from his career that's how to be a fan. He has a long way to go in his career and we all need to stop building him up and tearing him down every time he makes a mistake or doesn't win the big game. We need to just enjoy what he's doing and the athlete that he is because it only comes around once in a lifetime.

• You can read his letter to SI.com here 

The Circus That Is, NBA Free Agency

Every summer after the NBA season ends and a champion is crowned, a free agent frenzy begins. Some summers are a little more lack luster than others, but this summer has been filled with more drama than any summer in the last four years. There is no shortage of star power in this free agent class headlined by All Stars LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh. When the free agent period opens, people start to throw together any possible options of where the big names will land. This summer in particular, the stories seem to change every day and if you watch ESPN programming for more than five minutes you might end up hearing 3-5 different stories. It's hard to really believe anything that you might hear because it changes so many times during the course of the day. Here's a quick breakdown of the possible destinations James, Anthony, and Bosh. 

LeBron James:

• Miami- If LeBron were to resign with Heat, he would have a much better opportunity to win more titles. Which, if that's what he is worried about like he says, then I shouldn't have to go any further. He would have to take less money which seems to be a deal breaker for any athlete these days. According to Forbes Magazine, James was the 3rd highest paid athlete for 2013. The Heat forward made an estimated $72.3 million dollars with $53 million coming from endorsements and $19.3 million from salary. Staying in Miami would likely bring back Chris Bosh but would require James to take a pay cut, which doesn't seem to be a popular option with this years free agent class. 
• Cleveland- This would be the fairy tale story that everyone wants to see happen. Four years ago made the decision to leave Cleveland and take his talents to South Beach, don't think Cavalier fans have forgotten that either LeBron. If he chooses to come back to his home state he'll have to adapt to a younger, less experienced team. It would also be a bigger challenge to consistently get to the Finals and win multiple championships. On the plus side however, he would be playing along side point guard and rising star Kyrie Irving and number one draft pick Andrew Wiggins. There would be no guarantees by playing in Cleveland, but boy would it make for a great story. 

Carmelo Anthony:

• New York- Melo didn't really have much help last year with the Knicks and failed to make the playoffs but he also didn't have Phil Jackson running the show in the front office. One of the best basketball minds in NBA history was announced as the President of Basketball Operations in March and brought in one of his former players and five-time NBA champion, Derek Fisher, to be the next head coach. Fisher was a member of five Lakers title teams in the 2000's, all five as a player for Jackson. The Knicks are trying to make the best moves possible to bring back the seven time All Star including offering him a maximum contract deal of 5-years, $129 million dollars. Another move the Knicks have reportedly been trying to make is bringing in Lakers center Pau Gasol. Gasol, also a free agent, has been rumored to be a target for the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, and is also considering returning to the Lakers if they could lure Anthony away from New York. 
• Los Angeles- With Kobe Bryant coming off a leg injury in which he missed all but six games last season, the 35 year old Bryant is poised for a comeback season and having Anthony along side him would potentially allow some of the pressure to be taken off the Lakers All Star. If Gasol decides to stay in Hollywood and is joined by Anthony, the West could have their own "Big 3" and Los Angeles would be a two team town. 
• Chicago- Point guard Derek Rose is finally healthy again, we hope, and is looking to get back to the level he was at before his second knee injury in as many seasons. If he wants to overcome the hurdle of losing in the conference, having a player like Anthony to rely on is not a bad way to solve that problem. Having the reigning 2014 NBA Defensive Player of the Year in Joakim Noah protecting the rim and getting 12.8 rebounds a game last season, it would be hard not to put the Bulls right at the top of Eastern conference. 

Chris Bosh :

• Miami- Four years ago Bosh made the same decision fellow free agent LeBron James did and joined the Miami Heat. Bosh's role was with the Heat was diminished from the level it was at when he was a member of the Toronto Raptors. The former top 10 pick in 2003 was a consistent 20 point, 10 rebound a game player before coming to Miami. At 6'10", Bosh was a versatile player for the Heat and made his fair share of big plays over the last four season. Returning to Miami would mean taking a pay cut and potentially missing out on a maximum contract deal but it would also mean his chances of winning another title would be much higher. 
• Houston- The Texas native has been rumored to be a target for the Rockets who would be able to offer him a maximum contract worth $88 million dollars over four years. If he does decide to go with Houston, he would be joining the duo of Dwight Howard and James Harden. He would also be back at the position which he is most comfortable, power forward. Bosh might be the missing piece the Rockets need to get to the Finals and capture their first NBA championship since 1995. 

It remains to be seen what these three members of the 2003 draft class with do and the rumors will continue to swirl until they give the final word on their decision. All we can do for now is sit back and enjoy the circus that is, NBA free agency.