HoopsHype.com Rumors

Evans Clinchy: LeBron on Ray Allen: "I've always been in his ear over the years, telling him, 'Let's join together at some point. Let's join, join, join.'" Twitter @evansclinchy

Miami Heat, Ray Allen, LeBron James 

NBA MVP LeBron James is trying to raise money for families affected by the December massacre at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. The sneakers he wore in Miami's game against Washington on Dec. 15 — one day after the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., where 20 first-graders and six educators were killed — are up for grabs in an online auction that runs through Saturday. San Antonio Express-News

Miami Heat, LeBron James 

Memphis center Marc Gasol won the Defensive Player of the Year, finishing 14 first place votes ahead of LeBron James, with Serge Ibaka third. During his first media availability since the announcement, James made his feelings clear. “It sucks,” James said. “It sucks. It sucks.” James was asked if his candidacy for other awards — notably the MVP — hurt his chances. “I don’t know,” James said. “It definitely sucks, though. Finishing second? Who wants to finish second?” Palm Beach Post

Miami Heat, LeBron James 

Was this his best defensive season? “Probably,” James said. “I mean, I guard everybody on the floor. I don’t know if there’s one player in NBA history who’s guarded one through five (positions). It’s over with now, but that’s cool.” Palm Beach Post

Miami Heat, LeBron James 

Mary Schmitt Boyer/Jodie Valade: Gilbert asked about elephant in the room (LeBron in 2014): We understand why it's in the media, it's of interest to everyone. There's so much that happens in an NBA year you can't even speculate. You can't get too far ahead of yourself. Twitter @PDcavsinsider

Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James, Dan Gilbert, Owners 

Gasol received 212 of a possible 1,089 points, including 30 first-place votes, from a panel of 121 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Miami's LeBron James (149 points, 18 first-place votes) and Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka (122 points, 14 first-place votes) finished second and third, respectively. Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote received. NBA.com

Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron James, Serge Ibaka 

Tim Reynolds: Baron Davis on LeBron James: "I think that LeBron is going to be the greatest. He's definitely going to surpass Michael Jordan, in my eyes." Twitter @ByTimReynolds

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Baron Davis 

With the Cavaliers set to rehire Mike Brown, the question the minds of many fans is, "What does LeBron James think?" "I'm happy for him," James told the Associated Press before the Heat's playoff game against Milwaukee. "Very happy for him. I think he's a really good coach, very defensive-minded coach. It'll be good for those young guys that they have." Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Coaching, Mike Brown 

It is a fact James' agent, Rich Paul, has eagerly created anticipation for James' possible return in 2014, but eventually his client will have to spare himself the pummeling of raising Northeast Ohio's hopes, only to dash them under closer inspection of the move. Yahoo! Sports

Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Coaching, Mike Brown, Agents, Rich Paul 

For the good of this franchise, Brown doesn't need to be set up again as the fall guy for James wanting to play elsewhere. Three years later, Brown returns to coach the Cavaliers and somehow they're all still trying to get LeBron James to love them. "The way Mike had to bend for LeBron weakened him as a leader," one former Cavaliers staffer told Yahoo! Sports. "They'd be crazy to put him through that again. It's pointless." Yahoo! Sports

Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Coaching, Mike Brown 

Chris Tomasson: LeBron James said before the game he's in full playoff mode. No cell phone. No Twitter. Won't watch any TV with NBA talking heads. Twitter @christomasson

Miami Heat, LeBron James 

After being awarded with a technical foul for a reaction during Game 2 of Heat vs Bucks, LeBron James simply explained that he was talking to himself and the T was rescinded. SB Nation

Miami Heat, LeBron James 

LeBron James did speak on Brown’s behalf when the Lakers fired the latter early this season, and was diplomatic prior to Tuesday’s game. “I’m happy for him, very happy for him,” James said. “I think he’s a really good coach, a very defensive-minded coach. It will be good for those young guys they have.” Will he contact Brown? “I don’t have no phone right now,” said the Samsung endorser, who did announce a social media shutdown prior to the playoffs. Palm Beach Post

Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Coaching, Mike Brown 

Royce Young: KD told @SI_LeeJenkins that he checks LeBron's box score every game: bit.ly/XUvrM0 Twitter @dailythunder

Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron James, Kevin Durant 

Sam Amick: For those asking obvious question of how Cavs' choice impacts possible LeBron recruitment, decision was made for the now. Bottom line. Twitter @sam_amick

Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James, Coaching, Mike Brown 

Ken Berger: "If they want LeBron, they better reach out to his crew," one exec said. "LeBron isn't a huge fan." Twitter @KBergCBS

Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James, Coaching, Mike Brown 

LeBron James beat Ray Allen and Mario Chalmers in a long-range shooting contest after a Miami Heat practice on Monday, and demanded they pay their debt with 20 pushups. Very, very shoddy pushups. Shane Battier was wise to stay out of this contest. For The Win

Miami Heat, Ray Allen, LeBron James, Mario Chalmers, Shane Battier 

Shaun Powell: If Phil Jackson doesn't want the job, Cavs should try David Fizdale, Heat assistant. LeBron likes him. Twitter @Powell2daPeople

Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Phil Jackson, Coaching, David Fizdale 

He needed just 11 shots, he made nine of them, to pile up his game-high 27 points. The 10 rebounds and eight assists, nearly each and every one of them a momentum shifter in one way or another, completed his performance. “He really just let the game come to him,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He facilitated quite a bit for us. He was creating triggers a lot of times by setting screens and generated a lot of offense just by doing that. It was a very mature, high IQ game. Yeah, that’s about as an efficient as you can get. He made that look easier than it was.” NBA.com

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Erik Spoelstra 

A calm and composed James can nitpick his own work, highlighting his five turnovers and the Heat’s 19 that resulted in 22 points for the Bucks, who will get another dose of this in Game 2 Tuesday night. “That is the disappointing thing for us,” James said, “The 19 turnovers and 22 points. A lot of those 19 turnovers were careless, including myself, I had five. You know how I am about turning the ball over. I had five of them and three or fourth of them were careless and unforced. We can’t allow that to happen.” NBA.com

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Erik Spoelstra