It was reported on Saturday by The Plain Dealer’s Brian Windhorst that LeBron James would consider signing an extension with the Cavaliers after this season. The King said he was very happy with the direction the wine and gold was headed, and why shouldn’t he be. He’s already on one of the best teams in the NBA, right now.
The Cavaliers continue to have the second best record in the Association at 23-4, and have done this despite playing more games on the road than at the friendly confines of The Quicken Loans Arena. The only team with a better mark is the defending champion Celtics, who have played six more games at Boston than they have on the road.
Indeed, it would not be surprising if James did sign an extension with Cleveland, especially in the team gets to The Finals, or perhaps brings Cleveland its first title since 1964. However, what #23 may do is re-up for less than the maximum years allowable. He may sign a three-year pact, for example. Why? To keep the pressure on owner Dan Gilbert and GM Danny Ferry to keep the wine and gold at a high level.
Obviously, nothing can or will happen until the season ends, but the fact LeBron let even a small cat out of the bag, shows he knows how good this team is, and how much he likes and trusts the guys he is playing with. It also shows that he trusts Gilbert and Ferry. He feels confident that the front office will do what they have to do to keep the Cavaliers among the NBA elite.
There really are very few situations in the league that would be comparable to Cleveland in terms of being close enough to win a title. The Celtics are aging, and by 2010, Ray Allen may be retired, Kevin Garnett will be 34, and Paul Pierce will be 32. In Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant will be 32, and although he won’t say it, I doubt Bryant could play in a situation where he isn’t the lead dog anymore.
Probably the two places that would offer an immediate title shot without taking into account salary cap implications would be New Orleans, with LBJ’s friend Chris Paul, and Orlando, with Dwight Howard. Other teams with young superstars. Adding LeBron James to either of those teams would have the league shaking.
Signing early would also help Ferry and Gilbert to attract other free agents in 2010 to come to Cleveland to play alongside James. Remember, the wine and gold have the cap room to sign another max contract even after inking The King. Imagine a Chris Bosh or Dwayne Wade wearing a Cavalier uniform in the 2010-11 season…
Keep your eye on January 9th. The Celtics visit Cleveland that night, and play the Cavs for the first time since opening night. We can measure the improvement the wine and gold have made since the first game of the season.
JK
Cleveland Sports Perspective 
By the end of the 09- 2010 season there will be alot of "aging" in the league. Including Zydrunas, who is the second most dominant player on the Cavaliers and Ben Wallace who is third most dominant player. When they retire, the Cavaliers will need to have some serious ‘patch work’ done to the roster. Lebron is very wise, he does not want to be held hostage on a lack luster team in the near future, so the pressure he is putting on management is "good pressure" because it forces them to spend money on MAJOR roster improvements, "or else". Chris Bosh in Cleveland could happen–Dwayne Wade is a fierce competitor, I would be shocked if he settled for being Lebron’s sidekick… "It won’t happen, if he decides to leave Miami he’ll go home and play for the Bulls.Kobe will not go out like Michael Jordan (a washed up legend), he will try to win a championship and maybe try to defend it, after that he will retire, because as you said, "I doubt Bryant could play in a situation where he isn’t the lead dog anymore." When the Lakers drafted Andrew Bynum, they planned on making him the franchise player whenever Kobe retired, he is right on schedule with is development as dominant big man. "I expect the Lakers to stay in contention in the future.Orlando, New Orleans and Atlanta are very young and talented, and they will improve, but Lebron James is better than each of their franchise players, so with ‘smart decisions and major improvements’ I see the Cavaliers becoming a dynasty, and not a quick fix like the Boston Celtics.