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UPDATE, 7/3 8:28 p.m. PT: Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kucphak is flying in to Cleveland to meet with LeBron James' agent, Rich Paul, on Friday, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.
LeBron James is preparing to make his free agency decision, and his agent, Rich Paul, has taken meetings with at least four teams this week as they begin their process. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets have met with Paul, reports ESPN's Marc Stein and Brian Windhorst. The Los Angeles Lakers contacted Paul shortly after free agency began and will now have an opportunity to discuss their potential future together.
Free Agency
James' camp has kept his free agency period mostly leak free, but reports were bound to break through the information dam. Early indications were the "Big Three" were preparing for the Miami Heat to restock their roster with talent, but there could be discord among the trio. Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade both opted out of significant guaranteed money, creating the notion the three were on the same page. Instead, there seems to "clearly" have been a "breakdown in communication," according to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowki.
James is expected to meet with the "finalists" he chooses sometime next week, according to Wojnarowski. The two-time NBA champion may be holding meetings with his favored destinations, but this doesn't rule out a return to Miami. James, Wade and Bosh were reportedly allowing Pat Riley and the Heat to put together a blueprint on how the team will rebuild around them after getting blasted by the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the NBA Finals.
Los Angeles has been focused on courting Carmelo Anthony while James sorts through his options, and held their meeting with the superstar free agent Thursday. Anthony is not expected to make an immediate decision after he concludes his tour before the holiday weekend, but the Lakers made it clear to Anthony they'd be offering him a four-year, $97 million contract, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.