LeBron's loyalty factor may decide where he goes

The LeBron James autobiography, "Shooting Stars", cowritten by "Friday Night Lights" author Buzz Bissinger, opens with James recalling childhood bike rides through his hometown of Akron, Ohio.

Even as a kid, James could feel the sadness of a once-prospering city that had fallen on hard times. Billed as the "Rubber Capital of the World" during the early part of the 20th century, most of Akron's tire factories disappeared decades ago.

James developed strong feelings for his hometown, describing what Akron meant to him with this line: "People taking care of things, people taking care of each other, people who found you and protected you and treated you like their own son even when you weren't."

The NBA's most coveted free agent endured a rough ride growing up. Born to a 16-year-old single mother, then cast onto the streets after his grandmother died of a heart attack three years later, James wrote that he moved 12 times between the ages of 5 and 8.

Moving to the next apartment or school became routine for James. "When the time came, I just grabbed my little backpack, which held all the possessions," he wrote, "and said to myself what I always said to myself: 'It's time to roll.' "

In comparison, the impending free-agent decision seems less dramatic, but it will carry more permanence.

Will James choose to embrace the city of Akron and keep playing for the Cavaliers or decide it's time to roll and move somewhere such as Chicago, Miami or New York?

Maybe there is something in James' history or nature that would give a better indicator of what's in store than the endless stream of anonymous predictions that have been polluting the Internet.

James has been extremely loyal to people who helped him along the way. James and his friends upset many in Akron's black community by choosing to attend private St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. During James' freshman year, he often sought guidance from the senior captain of the basketball team, Maverick Carter.

James was 5 when he first met Carter, attending the older friend's birthday party. Years later James fired his Seattle-based agent, Aaron Goodwin, and formed his own management company, headed by Carter.

Carter was in his mid-20s at the time but prepared for the role by serving an 18-month sports-marketing apprenticeship with Nike. Two other longtime friends, Randy Mims and Richard Paul, formed LRMR Marketing - LeBron, Randy, Maverick and Randy. Mims became a full-time employee of the Cavaliers, with the title of player liaison.

James explained the decision to branch off with his tight circle of friends in a 2008 interview with Esquire Magazine.

"For me to grow as a businessman, and for me to become a man, I decided I've got to start working with guys I can trust - my friends," James said. "Now I don't need to be there for them to get into places, high-prestige places, or to have a business meeting with somebody. LeBron doesn't have to be there."

Will James' management circle influence his decision on where to sign as a free agent? After all, the key players in his life grew up and still live in Akron.

A potential wild card in this equation is the presence of Williams "World Wide Wes" Wesley, something of a mysterious figure who is essentially a well-connected NBA superfriend.

According to a story by Roland Lazenby on Hoopshype.com, Wesley moved into the same downtown Cleveland apartment building as James during the No. 1 draft pick's rookie season and quickly forged a friendship.

Yahoo.com's Adrian Wojnarowski wrote this week about a possible conflict in James' camp, with Wesley hoping to gain more influence over the young superstar if he leaves Cleveland for a larger city.

Carter tried to squelch that talk Tuesday by telling The New York Times that Wesley will not be present at the meetings where NBA teams will make their recruiting pitches to James.

During his interview with CNN's Larry King a few weeks ago, James tried to set the record straight as far as who would make his final decision.

"Ultimately, that one person is me," James said. "Even with the discussion with the rest of the free agents, with my friends, with my supporting cast - ultimately, it's going to be me. I'm going to have to sit down and say where do you want to play? What's going to be your future?"

There is a strong suspicion that James is working through an inner conflict over whether to stick it out in Cleveland or move to another city, where his chances of winning championships might improve.

Perhaps working in the Bulls' favor is this line from a 2007 Fortune Magazine article about James' quest to become a global basketball hero.

"First he has to win," Nike Brand president Charlie Denson said in the article. "He can't get there unless he wins. LeBron knows that."

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