NBA Special: Cavaliers investigate tampering in Heat’s signing of James
LeBron James, facing the prospect of a virulent homecoming in Cleveland, already has too much on his mind and things took a turn for the worse as it was learnt that Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert has hired a group of high powered Midwestern attorneys to investigate
the circumstance behind James departure to the Miami Heat and whether or not the Miami Heat tampered with James while he was the property of the Cavaliers.
The move comes after Gilbert openly claimed in an interview that he has moved on from LeBron James episode.
"I'm over it," he said. "I really am. That's the truth. I let it all out in about 24 hours. I just think we have such a great core and a great coaching staff. We have a lot of opportunities with the trade exception and the draft. I feel good about this
team."
But if rumors are to be believed the multi millionaire owner of the franchise who strongly criticized James's decision, accusing him of, among other things, "cowardly betrayal" the very next morning of his departure, has privately vowed he won’t relent until
he has a strong case to present to the NBA Commissioner David Stern.
Gilbert seems to be so incensed by James departure that contrary to the advice of the members of Cavs' front office, he is pouring in thousands of dollars to pursue the case and aims to leave no stone unturned even if a draft pick is the only reward.
The fact which makes this move all the more interesting is its timing as James is all set to take on his former club on Thursday night and with nothing officially confirmed it might be a dirty move on the part of the Cavaliers think tank to put the Heats
under pressure.
NBA, on its part cannot launch an investigation until it is formally requested by a franchise. Gilbert realizing the fact plans to put forward a detailed case that includes meetings, phone records and contingency plans that date as far back as 2008 to David
Stern, imploring him to move swiftly against James new found franchise.
Gilbert plans to build his case that focuses on a pair of alleged meetings. The first one involved James and Heat owner Pat Riley in November 2009 while the second one involves Dwyane Wade and close aids of James in June 2010.
While Riley, Wade and James himself have always maintained that the context of the meeting was not related to his move to Miami, if found otherwise could be considered tampering.
Proving the same is quite a tough task, though if anyone can afford to dig deep is Dan Gilbert.
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