LeBron James' Wednesday News and Views
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Photo: Yahoo![/caption]
LeBron James. LeBron James. LeBron James. LeBron James. LeBron James. LeBron James. LeBron James. Free Agent. LeBron James. LeBron. LeBron James. That is all you're going to hear on ESPN until LeBron James, who opted out of his deal with Miami on Tuesday, makes a decision on his next stop in the NBA.
James' agent, Rich Paul, notified the Heat his client will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, meaning he is free to move about the country if he chooses. It doesn't necessarily mean he won't return to Miami, but the King will at least consider other options this summer. He was scheduled to make $20 million next season and had two years and about $42.7 million remaining on his deal.
Several teams are in the hunt to pull him out of South Beach and they have made moves to free up room in case the interest is mutual. The Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers are among the teams expected to make a run at James' services, plus Miami. Heat exec Pat Riley said he fully expected LeBron to opt out and weigh his options so it didn't come as a surprise.
LeBron James. LeBron James. LeBron James. It's only the beginning.
News and Views...
Trey Lyles will not play in the Bahamas.
Kentucky's freshman forward joins Willie Cauley-Stein on the will-not-play list when the Wildcats make the trip to the Bahamas in early August. UK announced on Tuesday that Lyles is out indefinitely as he recovers from a medical procedure in his left leg.
"Like Willie, we're going to hold Trey out for the games in the Bahamas while he recovers from a medical procedure," Calipari said in a release. "Both Willie and Trey could probably play if they really wanted to, but I'm not taking a chance on either kid. I want them 100 percent for the start of our season and there's no reason to push these guys before they are absolutely ready. Plus, this gives us a chance to play some of our other guys and get them some more work."
While this is a great opportunity for Marcus Lee and Derek Willis to see extra minutes, it's a tough blow to Lyles, who really could've benefited from the trip. With Cauley-Stein already out, Lyles had a great opportunity to make his case for playing time and gain some experience with his teammates against quality competition, but now he must wait until the exhibition games to make his on-court debut with UK. He is expected to be good to go for practice in October.
The Bill Keightley Classic returns with Grand Canyon University in UK's season opener.
"Thunder Dan" brings his Antelopes to Lexington on November 14 to open up the season in Rupp Arena. We now know five of UK's home non-conference opponents -- GCU, Providence, Texas, Eastern Kentucky and North Carolina -- and should know the entire non-conference slate soon.
Saturday could be a HUGE day for UK football.
Two of Kentucky's top targets will announce their decision together on Saturday when Darius Fullwood and Jabari Greenwood, two prospects from the D.C. area, pledge their verbal commitments at the same time, likely to the same school. Fullwood, a three-star defensive end, and Greenwood, a three-star wide receiver, are both high on Kentucky so it's a good sign they're announcing together.
Fullwood is down to Kentucky, Virginia, Duke and Maryland and the Cats were Greenwood's leader once upon time, although he is also considering Maryland. UK freshman Kobie Walker helps Kentucky's chances as he is close to both guys, having played with Fullwood and against Greenwood in high school.
The smart money is on Kentucky landing both, which would make for a very, very big day for the future of Kentucky football.
Julius Randle may or may not have skipped a workout with the Boston Celtics for an interview with GQ.
Some will tell you this isn't true, but it is, and I like it. It tells me Randle has a promise from a top-five team or, at worst, the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 7. I say that with absolutely no knowledge of the situation but I'm rolling with it. #JustSayNoToBoston
Fashion is much more important during draft week.
The U.S. really needs to win or draw against Germany on Thursday.
Tuesday's World Cup action was exciting with BiteGate and a group-deciding penalty in the 93rd minute, but Thursday is the only day that really matters to us. U.S. takes the pitch against Germany at noon, needing a win or a draw to solidify its spot in the Round of 16. The Yanks can still advance with a loss if Ghana and Portugal draw (also at noon) or if any of these other scenarios happen:
Seems simple enough, right? Just root for the U.S. and Portugal if you don't understand.
Terrence Jones bought Stone Cold Willow a new bike.
Terrence Jones continues to take care of his good buddy Stone Cold Willow. First it was the new teeth in the summer before Jones' first NBA season, and now it's a new bike after Willow was bullied and saw his vandalized beyond repair. Jones wishes some people would be more understanding of those with intellectual disabilities like Willow, who takes care of his elderly disabled mother on his own and has been without transportation since his bike was destroyed. He said he understands Willow has been inappropriate on social media in the past, but Willow has cleaned up (the old Twitter is gone) and he is working with new mentors to stay on the right path.
Jones told me, "People are too quick to judge Willow without knowing him. Everyone should appreciate how loyal and dedicated he is to being a UK super fan. He's one of the biggest of all time."
There's no denying that. He's the self-proclaimed SEC Heavyweight Champ, the Kentucky Rattlesnake.
[caption id="attachment_160408" align="alignnone" width="571"]
Dinner at Malone's[/caption]
KSR is in Pikeville on Wednesday with Bomani Jones and Julius Randle joining in by phone.
Matt and I will be at the East Kentucky Expo Center -- indoors this year! -- for Wednesday's show with special guests Bomani Jones and Julius Randle joining us by phone. Stop by to enter your name in the drawing for UK basketball tickets or a shot at a trip to the Bahamas, and to hear KSR live from Pike County. See you there!
Cats.
Photo: Yahoo![/caption]
LeBron James. LeBron James. LeBron James. LeBron James. LeBron James. LeBron James. LeBron James. Free Agent. LeBron James. LeBron. LeBron James. That is all you're going to hear on ESPN until LeBron James, who opted out of his deal with Miami on Tuesday, makes a decision on his next stop in the NBA.
James' agent, Rich Paul, notified the Heat his client will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, meaning he is free to move about the country if he chooses. It doesn't necessarily mean he won't return to Miami, but the King will at least consider other options this summer. He was scheduled to make $20 million next season and had two years and about $42.7 million remaining on his deal.
Several teams are in the hunt to pull him out of South Beach and they have made moves to free up room in case the interest is mutual. The Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers are among the teams expected to make a run at James' services, plus Miami. Heat exec Pat Riley said he fully expected LeBron to opt out and weigh his options so it didn't come as a surprise.
LeBron James. LeBron James. LeBron James. It's only the beginning.
News and Views...
Trey Lyles will not play in the Bahamas.
Kentucky's freshman forward joins Willie Cauley-Stein on the will-not-play list when the Wildcats make the trip to the Bahamas in early August. UK announced on Tuesday that Lyles is out indefinitely as he recovers from a medical procedure in his left leg.
"Like Willie, we're going to hold Trey out for the games in the Bahamas while he recovers from a medical procedure," Calipari said in a release. "Both Willie and Trey could probably play if they really wanted to, but I'm not taking a chance on either kid. I want them 100 percent for the start of our season and there's no reason to push these guys before they are absolutely ready. Plus, this gives us a chance to play some of our other guys and get them some more work."
While this is a great opportunity for Marcus Lee and Derek Willis to see extra minutes, it's a tough blow to Lyles, who really could've benefited from the trip. With Cauley-Stein already out, Lyles had a great opportunity to make his case for playing time and gain some experience with his teammates against quality competition, but now he must wait until the exhibition games to make his on-court debut with UK. He is expected to be good to go for practice in October.
The Bill Keightley Classic returns with Grand Canyon University in UK's season opener.
"Thunder Dan" brings his Antelopes to Lexington on November 14 to open up the season in Rupp Arena. We now know five of UK's home non-conference opponents -- GCU, Providence, Texas, Eastern Kentucky and North Carolina -- and should know the entire non-conference slate soon.
Saturday could be a HUGE day for UK football.
Two of Kentucky's top targets will announce their decision together on Saturday when Darius Fullwood and Jabari Greenwood, two prospects from the D.C. area, pledge their verbal commitments at the same time, likely to the same school. Fullwood, a three-star defensive end, and Greenwood, a three-star wide receiver, are both high on Kentucky so it's a good sign they're announcing together.
Fullwood is down to Kentucky, Virginia, Duke and Maryland and the Cats were Greenwood's leader once upon time, although he is also considering Maryland. UK freshman Kobie Walker helps Kentucky's chances as he is close to both guys, having played with Fullwood and against Greenwood in high school.
The smart money is on Kentucky landing both, which would make for a very, very big day for the future of Kentucky football.
Julius Randle may or may not have skipped a workout with the Boston Celtics for an interview with GQ.
Some will tell you this isn't true, but it is, and I like it. It tells me Randle has a promise from a top-five team or, at worst, the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 7. I say that with absolutely no knowledge of the situation but I'm rolling with it. #JustSayNoToBoston
Fashion is much more important during draft week.
The U.S. really needs to win or draw against Germany on Thursday.
Tuesday's World Cup action was exciting with BiteGate and a group-deciding penalty in the 93rd minute, but Thursday is the only day that really matters to us. U.S. takes the pitch against Germany at noon, needing a win or a draw to solidify its spot in the Round of 16. The Yanks can still advance with a loss if Ghana and Portugal draw (also at noon) or if any of these other scenarios happen:
Seems simple enough, right? Just root for the U.S. and Portugal if you don't understand.
Terrence Jones bought Stone Cold Willow a new bike.
Terrence Jones continues to take care of his good buddy Stone Cold Willow. First it was the new teeth in the summer before Jones' first NBA season, and now it's a new bike after Willow was bullied and saw his vandalized beyond repair. Jones wishes some people would be more understanding of those with intellectual disabilities like Willow, who takes care of his elderly disabled mother on his own and has been without transportation since his bike was destroyed. He said he understands Willow has been inappropriate on social media in the past, but Willow has cleaned up (the old Twitter is gone) and he is working with new mentors to stay on the right path.
Jones told me, "People are too quick to judge Willow without knowing him. Everyone should appreciate how loyal and dedicated he is to being a UK super fan. He's one of the biggest of all time."
There's no denying that. He's the self-proclaimed SEC Heavyweight Champ, the Kentucky Rattlesnake.
[caption id="attachment_160408" align="alignnone" width="571"] Dinner at Malone's[/caption]
KSR is in Pikeville on Wednesday with Bomani Jones and Julius Randle joining in by phone.
Matt and I will be at the East Kentucky Expo Center -- indoors this year! -- for Wednesday's show with special guests Bomani Jones and Julius Randle joining us by phone. Stop by to enter your name in the drawing for UK basketball tickets or a shot at a trip to the Bahamas, and to hear KSR live from Pike County. See you there!
Cats.
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