The truth about LeBron's plans

While not wanting to remove the fun for NBA media over the next six weeks, the reality is not one person on the planet knows where LeBron James wants to play next season.

Not even LeBron himself.

So it stands to reason that if the most coveted free agent ever doesn't know where he wants to go, trying to guess where he wants to go - though highly entertaining - is a preposterous exercise.

His options are plentiful and a few quite good, especially the Bulls, who have much to offer and maybe even the most.

But the Cavs remain in play, despite bizarre reports about teammates and other oddities emanating from Cleveland.

It's still his home, and the Cavs can give him the most money.

Others can do the same with a sign-and-trade, but the Cavs may choose - if James leaves - to let him walk, shun deals for aging or merely decent players, and simply start over.

So the notion that this team or that club can't make it happen for this reason or another is all nonsense.

It has been said that Miami doesn't work because both Dwyane Wade and LeBron need the ball, an explanation among the dumbest on record.

If you've seen Wade in international play you know he's not only been the best player on those teams, but he also can distribute the ball unselfishly and evenly while among the best players on the planet.

That's with a roster full of them, and in Miami he'd only have to satisfy James, who would happily relieve much of the burden on Wade.

New Jersey and New York can both make it work, as can Dallas and the Clippers.

Tuesday night will bring a pingpong ball and John Wall, and that adds possibly another determining factor, particularly if it's New Jersey with the top pick.

You could make arguments for any of the teams listed above, but it all depends on what James really wants at age 25.

Is it winning right away? Getting to a warm climate? Staying home? The most money? The best endorsements? The brightest lights? The best private plane? Hanging out with stars? Hanging out with starlets? The chance to put up banners in the house that M.J. built?

Not even James is sure. If he knew already, we'd all probably know already.

What is certain is that for the next 43 days, there will be one declaration after another about his plans for the most important years of his career.

All will be speculation. Some eventually will be correct, probably by accident.

In the meantime, James will take a beating for the Cavs' loss to Boston, not to mention his strange and passive play at times in the series.

He will be called inconsistent, petulant, childish, spoiled, coddled, selfish and incapable of carrying a team the way his hero, Michael Jordan, carried teams.

Most of that is quite unfair, though he has shown glimpses of play that merit some of those criticisms.

Nevertheless, he's still the best player in the NBA and he's available, and any suggestion that the Bulls shouldn't do everything imaginable to get him is too ridiculous to even discuss.

The Bulls will do everything imaginable to get him, and at this moment they have just as good a chance as any other team.

It's a life-changing possibility for every player on the Bulls and every member of the organization. For John Paxson, who has had a very bad few years, it's a chance to erase much of his bad with one monster good.

One can't imagine why the Cavs would want Luol Deng or Kirk Hinrich in a sign-and-trade when Cleveland is better off starting from scratch, but if the Cavs want them, you better hope Paxson is finally willing to part with two of his pet players.

Either way, the next several weeks will bring much more of what you've already heard in the four very long days since Cleveland was eliminated.

Believe none of it. Laugh at most of it. Dream the best of it.

And cross your fingers that when LeBron James ultimately makes his decision, it's a franchise-changing moment for Bulls fans, too.

brozner@dailyherald.com

• Listen to Barry Rozner from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays on the Score's "Hit and Run" show at WSCR 670-AM.