Selling the franchise

It's been a while ...

Standing on the cold tile of my kitchen floor with a box of cereal in each hand, I let out a big yawn before I made a choice that affected the rest of my day. Peanut Butter Crunch or Cheerios?

That is my life.

On the morning of July 1, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and a handful of elite NBA free agents woke up free to sign with any team. Multi-million dollar contracts, endorsements and championship rings are weighing on the choices these guys are soon to make.

This is their life.

It's obvious James' decision is the beginning of the domino trail. Where he decides to spend the prime of his career will help create some clearance with guys like Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudamire and Carlos Boozer.

There's no doubt LBJ has some serious pondering to do. There is a legitimate argument for at least four possible destinations: Cleveland, Chicago, New York and Miami.

Cleveland

LeBron has become one of the biggest stars on the planet over his seven seasons with the Cavaliers. He's earned his share of individual awards, but the Cavs have fallen short of championships.

Cleveland's current roster is full of big contracts, a lack of young talent and mediocre play — not exactly selling points for LeBron — but it's where home is. LBJ has always seemed like a genuine guy and I believe he truly cares about the city and the effect of his potential departure.

One punch Cleveland can throw is the ability to offer LeBron an extra year worth close to $30 million. Due to the NBA's current collective bargaining agreement, a player can receive a six-year deal from his former team compared to a five-year contract from competing bidders. I can't help but think James will decide with his heart and stay in Ohio.

Chicago

Out of the potential departures for King James, Chicago seems to be most logical choice. Already owners of a talented and youthful roster, the Bulls have the room to sign two maximum contract free-agents. If James ends up in the Windy City, you can bet one of those A-list free-agents are following.

I have a hard time believing LeBron wants to follow in another player's footsteps. Chicago fans still close their eyes and see Michael Jordan hoisting trophies and it would take a lot of titles for James to reach a higher pinnacle than Jordan in Chicago. James needs to continue to build his own legacy in his own city.

I'm not diminishing the Bulls chances of landing the King. It's obvious Chicago has the upper-hand when compared to other teams, excluding Cleveland. I'm not saying LeBron would not OWN the city of Chicago if he signs with them.

But, you can't argue that he becomes bigger than MJ without winning the amount of titles his Airness accumulated.

New York

If James inks a deal with the Knicks on July 8, there's chance he becomes the most hated man in the NBA. Signing with New York has become such a cliche in sports that most athletes who end up in the Big Apple with huge contracts are not normally accepted as a popular figure around the country.

Can you imagine the boos that would fall on James' head if he entered Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland with a Knicks jersey wrapped around his physique?

Gross.

Miami

The sound of LeBron and D-Wade together in South Beach is very appealing. If these two superstars decide to control their own destiny, who wouldn't want to sign with the Heat?

I would bet a team with James, Wade and 10 men rounded up at the local YMCA would put the rest of the league on high alert. We're talking about two of the top three players in NBA joining forces to help put rings on each others fingers. I can assure if James and Wade team up, free-agents will check themselves at the door and actually contemplate taking a pay cut to be a part of something extremely special.

Oh, and did I mention Florida doesn't own a personal income tax? Mention that to a multi-millionaire and watch them drool with dollar signs.