Jody Genessy: Rumor mill ready to start for LeBron James, free agency

If you had not noticed, there are definitely signs that the free agency period of the NBA is fast approaching.

Even Sacramento jumps on LeBron James' train – assuming, that is, the self-styled king retires from his Cleveland contract as many suspect him.

The most fun part of the free agency is all the rumors circulating up to the trading window of July 1st. Well, this part is fun for the fans – not so much for the players who have to deal with off-based reports, nor for the teams that bite their nails nervously in advance and certainly not for the reporters who are supposed to hunt and make sense of all swirling speculations.

We had to deal with this craze in Utah a year ago when Gordon Hayward was at the center of the free agency scene.

The tricky part for members of the media is that no matter who can launch a rumor that seems legitimate – an agent hoping to attract the attention and publicity of his client, somebody in the camp of the player who tries to amuse himself by diffusing cooked truths (could be a friend, a relative or the second cousin of someone who cleans the toilets in the office of the l? agent and swear that he heard juicy details). Sometimes, players can even change their minds so that the information that is legitimate at the time the scoop is published can change drastically the next day, and then the next day.

By the way, this is what happened last summer when Hayward made his recruiting trip to Miami, Boston, Utah and via San Diego. At each stop, the former Jazz star told people close to him that he thought this place could be his future home. It was said a long time ago that he was forced to travel to Boston with his former university coach, which ended up being the case, but his side claims that the decision was difficult and was not easy. was not taken before the end of the match.

The quirk that played out – it was announced that he was heading to Boston before he was denied, and then undeniably via his carefully crafted blog – was a disaster scenario for just about everything. the world involved. Well, except for Boston. The Celtics had it, so it did not bother them that things are going on like this.

The impending free agency of LeBron could be an even bigger circus, involving the likes of the Lakers (4/13), Cavaliers (13/4), Rockets (15/2), Sixers (10/1), Celtics (18/1), Spurs (20/1), Clippers (25/1), Knicks (30/1) and Heat (40/1). At least, it is the teams (and current odds) most likely to attract James to their franchise, according to CBSSports.com.

ESPN, however, claims that sources say that James is not going to go through "pomp and circumstance" or repeat the error The Decision, according to Stephen A. Smith. And he has supposedly his list reduced to two teams.

CBS Sports author James Herbert offered some sage advice for fans heading in this wacky period, which a colleague labeled as "LeBron James Week".

"It comes down to a really basic media education," Herbert said in an online interview. "We have to separate when people are speculating, giving out opinions, what it should be doing and what it's going to do, I think at the moment nobody knows for sure what are LeBron James' priorities and how he ranks these potential destinations with the approach of the free agency. "

James did not help changing – GASP! – the avatar on his Twitter page.

James is not the only big target of this offseason, of course. Paul George is another star who will attract a lot of attention (teams and everyone). We were reminded of that Monday when Sports Illustrated ended up sort of with what is supposed to be land leaked by the Lakers to George. The text of the video presentation to George, who grew up in Palmdale, California, before going to the state of Fresno, was included in an SI article:

When you were only a child

In your room

Dreaming of Palmdale

We dreamed too.

While you were dreaming, we built – built for your arrival

And while we were dreaming, you were also building

Become one of the best in the world.

The most powerful dreams of life are those that we realize ourselves.

Those who turn us into legends.

This Palmdale kid always knew him

Now the world too

Some believe that the children of Palmdale and Akron will end up in the same team soon. Could it be that Jeanie Buss, co-owner of the Lakers, referred to this tweet?

Who knows?

No really, who knows? Our journalists would like to call and confirm.

In the meantime, we will all sit, relax, listen to many words – most of them mean absolutely nothing but offer entertainment – and be grateful that our July 4th celebrations will not be affected by a decision made (and undone and done again) by the kid from Brownsburg.