LeBron to opt in?

So it sounds like all this talk about LeBron James signing with the Knicks next year might have been premature. LeBron reportedly told Trevor Ariza, whom the Cavaliers were courting as a free agent, that he plans to stay in Cleveland when his contract expires at the end of the '09-'10 season. Ariza apparently didn't put much stock in what LeBron said, signing with the Rockets instead.

As I've mentioned in this space before, there is going to be a lot, lot, lot of talk between now and this time next year about where LeBron will go, if anywhere, when his deal is up. When you think about it, there is basically no news here at all. LeBron told someone he'd sign with the Cavaliers. That's not the same as actually signing with the Cavaliers. Of course, if he does wind up signing elsewhere, he's now a liar. I won't draw a Carlos Boozer analogy, because they're not the same person, but there are nonetheless lessons to be drawn from Boozer's exit from Cleveland.

For what it's worth, I believe LeBron meant what he told Ariza, and currently plans to stay in Cleveland. But none of it means a cotton-pickin' thing until he signs a new contract.