LeBron James Free Agency Live Rumors and News Tracker

The NBA offseason has reached the free agency stage and that means we’re going to be hearing more and more about LeBron James and where he plans on continuing his basketball future.

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So far all we know is that he opted out of his contract with the Miami Heat before anyone else in South Beach did and apparently did so on his own ambition and without the consent of the Heat or the Big 3.

Either way, LeBron’s future is now up in the air and the rumor mill is spinning out of control with everything from past letters that were written by Dan Gilbert to where private jets are flying and even cupcake shops getting involved in the LeBron James free agent frenzy.

[Update: 7/9/14 3:08pm] According to Woj, the meeting with the Miami Heat is being treated as though it’s a normal meeting and not the end of the world.

[Update: 7/9/14 1:21pm] The Cavs reportedly have outlined trade various scenarios for James’s agent, Rich Paul, according to Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio.

"The Cavs expressed to Paul that, after their discussions with the Timberwolves, doing a deal “would not be easy,” according to one source. That source also expressed that the Cavs were reluctant to include No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins in any potential deal."

[Update: 7/9/14 11:44am] Among GMs in the NBA, the belief is that LeBron James will end up re-signing with the Miami Heat this summer.

[Update: 7/9/14 11:25am] Contrary to prior reports, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been given no assurances about LeBron James signing with them over the Miami Heat.

The cap space gives them flexibility regardless of what happens.

[Update: 7/9/14 10:51am] The big trade that hte Cleveland Cavaliers facilitated was apparently prompted by calls from LeBron James’ agent to the Cavs telling them to clear cap space for him.

[Update: 7/9/14 10:36am] According to Brian Windhorst, the Cavaliers-Nets-Celtics three way trade this morning is in direct reposnse to the Cavaliers trying to dump salary in order to chase LeBron James.

[Update: 7/9/14 9:24am] As Brian Windhorst from ESPN.com points out, the Miami Heat were not expecting to have to recruit LeBron James like they did back in 2010 when he opted out earlier this offseason.

[Update: 7/9/14 7:22am] The Miami Heat are rolling out all the stop s in their meeting with LeBron as everyone from Pat Riley to Dwyane Wade and even owner Mickey Arison will be on hand.

[Update: 7/9/14 12:16am] The rumor going around that Nike bought up billboards to welcome LeBron back to Cleveland is not true, according to Sam Amick and Marc Stein.

[Update: 7/8/14 11:28pm] According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, who spoke to a friend of Anthony, Anthony’s “dream” is to play with James in New York.

"According to a friend of Anthony’s, Melo has held out faint hope Knicks president Phil Jackson can pull a miracle and clear out the necessary salary-cap space to get it done, but he is running out of time. Anthony’s decision could come in the next couple of days…"

[Update: 7/8/14 7:30pm] According to Chris Sheridan, LeBron going back to Cleveland is at 90 percent, and the announcement of that decision will be coming very shortly.

"A plugged-in source tells me there is a 90 percent chance that LeBron James will return to the Cleveland Cavaliers"

[Update: 7/8/14 5:03pm] The meeting with the Miami Heat will be taking place on Wednesday, according to Sam Amico from Fox Sports Ohio.

  [Update: 7/8/14 1:35pm] Amico chimes in again to say that there has been more contact between the Cavs and LeBron than has been reported but Miami is still where LeBron is leaning.

  [Update: 7/8/14 1:31pm] Sam Amico from Fox Sports Ohio is reporting that the meeting with LeBron James and the Heat will indeed take place on Tuesday, as was previously speculated by Marc Stein and Chris Broussard.

  [Update: 7/8/14 1:20pm] Marc J. Spears passes along word that Dwyane Wade was in Las Vegas last night and had dinner with LeBron James before going out to a club with him.

  [Update: 7/8/14 10:11am] According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, there is a fear within the Knicks front office that Melo is holding off on committing where he wants to play because he’s trying to team up with LeBron James in either Los Angeles or Miami.

"The Knicks expected Carmelo Anthony’s decision by Monday, but heard only crickets. A growing belief within the organization is Anthony is waiting to make sure there is no possible way of hooking up with LeBron James in Miami or Los Angeles."

[Update: 7/8/14 12:39am] ESPN.com’s Marc Stein and Chris Broussard report that the meeting between the heat and LeBron could take place in Las Vegas today.

  [Update: 7/8/15 12:15am] According to Jeff Zillgit and Sam Amick of The USA Today, Riley is confident the Heat can keep James, Bosh and Wade.

"This much is clear: Riley is confident James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade will return, according to people who have had phone conversations with Riley in the last week. The people spoke to USA TODAY Sports under the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the conversations. Of course, Riley’s confidence doesn’t guarantee anything. But right now, he isn’t scrambling."

[Update: 7/7/14 9:37pm] According to Joe Kotoch, the signings of Danny Granger and Josh McRoberts will not sway LeBron’s decision one way or the other.

  [Update: 7/7/14 6:10pm] Kyrie Irving has jumped on the LeBron bandwagon and is reportedly recruiting him to come back to Cleveland

  [Update: 7/7/14 12:43pm] According to ESPN and Chris Broussard, the Dallas Mavericks have moved on from their pursuit if not only LeBron James but also of Carmelo Anthony as well.

"Dallas, believing it will likely lose out on both LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, will attempt to sign Chandler Parsons away from the Houston Rockets. The Mavericks also have Luol Deng and Trevor Ariza in their sights, sources said."

[Update: 7/7/14 12:33pm]

[Update: 7/7/14 10:41am]  According to Sam Amico from Fox Sports Ohio, should the Cavaliers find a way to get LeBron James back it may also mean that Ray Allen might follow him.

"It is also quite possible that if James returns to the Cavs, longtime NBA sharpshooter Ray Allen would join him. Allen was a member of the Heat the previous two seasons, and has said he would like to play for the team James chooses in free agency. Allen is a free agent as well."

[Update: 7/7/14 10:16am] For what it’s worth, the letter that Dan Gilbert wrote in 2010 that chastised LeBron for leaving Cleveland has been removed from the team’s website.

[Update: 7/7/14 10:00am] As it turns out, Adrian Wojnarowski from Yahoo! Sports reports that the whole conversation about LeBron going back to Cleveland begins with his agent, who has been telling Cleveland to buckle up and get ready to get the superstar back.

"At the urging of LeBron James’ agent, the Cleveland Cavaliers are pursuing a maximum contract salary slot to bring back the free-agent superstar, league sources told Yahoo Sports."

[Update: 7/7/14 9:28am] From ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein:

"After more than two years of planning, the Cleveland Cavaliers believe they have LeBron James legitimately listening to their pitch to leave the Miami Heat and return to his home state in free agency, according to sources close to the process."

[Update: 7/7/14 9:26am] According to Adrian Wojnarowski from Yahoo! Sports, the Miami Heat are trying to get free agents for LeBron James this summer but they’re getting no assistance whatsoever from him in the recruiting process.

"“LeBron is the ultimate recruiter, but he hasn’t been any part of this process,” a league source tied to the Heat’s recruiting efforts told Yahoo Sports. “The first question they all ask is the same: ‘Do I get to hear from LeBron? What’s he going to do?'”"

[Update: 7/7/14 7:49am] There could be a slight hangup in the LeBron-Cavs rumors as that pesky letter Dan Gilbert wrote back in 2010 blasting James apparently is still on his mind.

"The Cavs still have several hurdles to overcome. Rival teams are skeptical that James and Gilbert will be able to patch up their differences in the wake of James’ televised “announcement” and Gilbert’s subsequent open letter that attacked James’ character and got him fined by then-commissioner David Stern."