Come In, The King Will See You Now

Never in all my years of sports viewing have I seen an offseason so anticipated, and a talent so vigorously courted as is the case in Cleveland. The NBA is a business and just like any business they sell their product to their employees and fully expect their employees to do the same and sell themselves to the best of their ability. Usually the soon to be employee goes through the interview process, but in this case it's the employer who's been busy preparing power point presentations. Many of the organizations in the running to land the coveted Lebron James have been preparing for this very day for the last few years. Take the New York Knicks for example who for years have unloaded cap space in the event Lebron became available. Today may have very well been one of the most important days in that franchise's recent history, as they brought the Owner, the team president, the head coach and even former NBA player Allan Houston in the attempt to persuade the King to choose their city. This brings me to another point that cements the importance of this key player as he scheduled no visits, and instead stayed in Cleveland while the organizations booked flights and hotel stays to make their pitch possible. Usually free agents schedule visits with certain teams and meet with the prominent figures of the organizations at the team facility. Lebron, knowing he was completely in the driver's seat, went about his day as planned and left it up to his potential suitors to plead their case. As was reported on our very air by ESPN's Shelley Smith, the New York Knicks didn't even know where the meeting would be held till it was reported on television. Lebron James may mean more to his current city than the wins and losses he'd produce as his exit could cause a dramatic downturn in that city's economy. Pretty incredible how one man's decision could affect so many, and if I was Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, I'd put together one heck of a power point presentation. The Cavaliers, who are favored to land the free agent, are up against strong competition as Miami, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles are all appealing locations because of the things that come along with living in those cities. Cleveland doesn't have the same appeal and can only sell their basketball team. At the end of the day Lebron James will be playing on a basketball team indoors, so what's outdoors may not matter.