NBA Rumors: LeBron James Calls Derrick Rose, Grouped with John Calipari?
As suspected, the LeBron James speculation juggernaut continues to roll through despite the next round of the NBA playoffs officially underway. The latest slew of rumors seem to all draw us back to Chicago as this continues to be one of the five likely landing spots for James as he enters a free agency period on July 1.
The Daily Herald – a suburban Chicago news source – is reporting that James phoned Chicago point guard Derrick Rose shortly after the Cavaliers were eliminated in Game Six against the Boston Celtics this past Thursday. While the conversation was allegedly very short, the fact that the Chicago Bulls have approximately $20 million in salary cap space and one of the better, young point guards in the league make the entire report intriguing to many. Also a scoring threat, James and Rose could provide the Bulls with their best tandem of talent since the days of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
Adding some fuel to the fire are unconfirmed reports of certain members of LeBron James’ represtation team being seen in Chicago-related apparel over the weekend.
Given the Bulls’ recent firing of head coach Vinnie Del Negro, there continue to be rumors swirling about University of Kentucky coach John Calipari being linked to Chicago in the future. Being seen with James’ agent Leon Rose on more than one occasion over the last few weeks – and even sitting near the Cavaliers’ bench during Game Five against the Celtics – there are now reports that James and Calipari are being “shopped” as a team to those cities with coaching vacancies. New Jersey and the Los Angeles Clippers are also in this rarefied group. And of course, the rumors also involve one power broker William “Worldwide Wes” Wesley.
But are the reports true?
“LeBron likes Cal, he would play for Cal,” said ESPN’s Chris Broussard shortly after these reports broke. “But the notion that he is demanding [John] Calipari be his next coach – whether it is in Cleveland, Chicago or New Jersey - is just not accurate according to my sources.”
If one was to assume that James’ biggest attraction for a future suitor is in fact winning, James will have to not only select a coach that he likes, but one that he is sure will be able to lead him to a championship. As a head coach in the NBA, Calipari has seasons of 26 and 43 wins with the New Jersey Nets, respectively, prior to his firing in 1998 after a 3-17 start.
“These guys are all friendly and do talk together,” Broussard continued. ”But this conspiracy theroy is a little out of whack.”
Internet gambling site Bodog.com had recent updates regarding James and the player-based “prop” bet that lists odds on his 2010-11 home. Cleveland still leads the way, barely, with 8/11 odds. Chicago has closed in rapidly over the last week from 20/1 to 2/1.
Regardless, the fans in the Windy City appear ready to welcome James to town. In the first 24 hours after the Celtics eliminated the Cavaliers from the NBA playoffs on Thursday, the Bulls sold more than 500 new full-season tickets and a team official estimated call volume at about 50-times the normal level, according to the Chicago Tribune.
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