Nike's Role in the LeBron James Sweepstakes

What do the New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, and Portland Trail Blazers all have in common? Each team has been mentioned as a potential suitor for LeBron James in 2010, when his contract expires with the Cleveland Cavaliers. These franchises all have the cap room to make a run at James and the media has had a field day weighing the pros and cons of each destination, even though his decision is still two offseasons down the road. While each team feels that they have the pieces to lure LeBron, the biggest player come 2010 may very well be Nike, who can offer the superstar more money than any of the competing NBA clubs and will definitely make their presence felt throughout the course of the LeBron James sweepstakes. For the past couple of years, a rumor has continued to pop up that a clause exists in James' contract that would increase his earnings if he were to sign with a team in a large market such as New York or Chicago. While this sounds ... (link)