AKRON, Ohio (AP) – With LeBron James' decision nearing by the second, the Cleveland Cavaliers took one final, and perhaps desperate, run at the biggest free agent of them all.
New Cavs coach Byron Scott showed up unannounced at James' summer camp and spent an hour watching the two-time MVP and several Cleveland players work out on Wednesday as the NBA — and seemingly the entire sports world — prepares for James to announce which team he'll sign with during a national TV appearance on ESPN.
Norby Williamson, ESPN's vice president of production, said that announcement will come during the first 10 minutes of Thursday night's hourlong broadcast. Sportscaster Jim Gray will handle the introduction, announcement and questions. Williamson said Gray was hand-picked by James' team, who approached the network last week about the special.
And a person familiar with the plans tells The Associated Press the interview will take place at the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich, Conn.
Where James will ultimately end up, however, is still very much an unknown.
That prompted Scott's visit to the camp to watch as James took the floor to run a few full-court games with Cavaliers Jamario Moon, Danny Green, Christian Eyenga and assistant coach Chris Jent. Scott was hired last week by the Cavs and was part of their presentation team that wooed James last week at his business office in downtown Cleveland.
Scott left about an hour later, saying he did not speak with James. The former New Orleans coach said he has his fingers crossed and "I'm always hopeful" in regards to James' situation.
Scott's appearance could either signal the Cavs are afraid they're about to lose James, or they wanted to remind him who he'll be playing for — a three-time NBA champ who happened to be Magic Johnson's backcourt mate.
James could be about to unite with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, who have decided to play together for the Heat, forming a Miami Thrice episode that would rock the league. Or, he could be staying home to try and deliver a championship to Cleveland, a city on edge as it awaits his word.
Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
