No surprise -- Cleveland Browns want LeBron James

It's good to know that, once the Lakers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA finals next June, LeBron James will have another career to fall back on.

Cleveland Browns Coach Eric Mangini told reporters today he'd welcome James to the team if he ever decided to trade in his headband for a helmet.

"I think he should come on down," Mangini told the Associated Press.

Of course he thinks that -- have you seen how bad the Browns are?

Even quarterback-turned-cheap-shot artist Brady Quinn thinks it's a good idea. "If he wants to try to play a little bit now, we'd be more than willing to pick him up."

However, Browns nose tackle Shaun Rogers isn't so convinced. As perhaps the only member of the team who actually knows something about football, Rogers has doubts about James adjusting to the game.

"I just don't think you can step off a basketball court after not going through this year in and year out and just play football," Rogers said. "From that standpoint, I don't think it's possible."

Maybe James could train by going on "Shaq Vs." and taking on Rogers and anyone else who doubts his gridiron abilities. Come on Shaq, it's time to start challenging football players via Twitter.

-- Austin Knoblauch

Photo: LeBron James flexes after drawing a foul against Golden State on Tuesday. Credit: Mark Duncan / Associated Press

Bleacher report: Who's better, Kobe or LeBron? It's no debate at all.

From the Bleacher Report

In the same manner in which Kobe Bryant was unfairly compared to Michael Jordan in the late '90s, the debate continues with LeBron James being similarly compared to Kobe.

Some fans and pundits have even had the temerity to go as far as saying that James has already surpassed Bryant as a player.

They reinforce their arguments with statistics and the many milestones that James has accomplished at such an early age. Many of these same milestones are marks that Kobe held until James surpassed them.

There are areas of the game where James holds an advantage over Kobe, most noticeably the physical specimen department, but most arguments are based on the potential of James and not his current accomplishments.

The only problem with gazing into the crystal ball is that sometimes the present intervenes and renders all predictions useless. It's much better to live in the present, and based on that, the James argument doesn't hold up.

While James and Bryant are great players, there are some areas that James has yet to catch up, and in some cases, never will.

Bleacher report: Could LeBron James be heading to the Lakers?

From the Bleacher Report:

Now I've never been one to spread gossip, but this particular item deserved a little attention.

Sam Smith of Bulls.com wrote an article today speculating that LeBron James could be headed to the Lakers next summer.

Smith acknowledges that the Lakers, owners of the NBA's highest payroll, do not have the sufficient cap space to sign LeBron outright. His rationale is that if LeBron has his heart set on going to the Lakers then the Cavs would have no choice but to accommodate his majesty, or risk getting nothing for him in return.

To make matters even more complicated, Smith writes, "I’ve heard this scenario from some NBA people, though I’ve heard every other one as well..."

Well, that last part I agree with. If James did plan on leaving town the Cavs would be much better off at least getting one building block for him.

Here's what Smith writes about the particulars of the deal:

If [the Cavs] don’t accommodate him, he’s going to New York or Miami and they get nothing. But if they do in a sign-and-trade to save the franchise, they get a young, potential All-Star center in Andrew Bynum. Maybe Lamar Odom as well or Ron Artest. Draft picks, some pieces like Jordan Farmar.

Celtics-Cavaliers matchup complicates Candace Parker's fanhood

Beginning today, Sparks forward Candace Parker will put her rooting interests to the test.

The Boston Celtics play the Cleveland Cavaliers today in the first day of the NBA's regular season, a matchup that will feature Parker's husband, Shelden Williams, with Boston against Parker's brother, Anthony Parker, with Cleveland.

Fans and media aren't the only ones wondering which team Parker will favor. Williams often jokes to Candace, "Don't listen to your brother." Candace's family often jokes they'll disown her if she roots for her husband over her brother.

"Honestly, I’m rooting for both of them to do well," Parker said during the WNBA regular season. "I’m a fan of basketball. It’s fun. It’s great to look at our family and know how special we are."

This isn't new for Parker. On her Twitter account, Parker has often explained she roots for the Lakers but ultimately still favors the Chicago Bulls since she grew up in Naperville, Ill.

After Williams joined Boston as a free agent this off-season, Parker recalled fans immediately asking her what she'll do when the Celtics visit the Lakers at Feb. 18 at Staples Center.

"I don’t know," Parker said, laughing."I know I can’t be wearing my Boston green sitting in the stands of L.A."

--Mark Medina

LeBron James to star in upcoming movie

Shaquille O'Neal isn't the only movie star on the Cleveland Cavaliers roster.

LeBron James, who's seen plenty of camera time making commercials and as a "Saturday Night Live" host, will appear in the upcoming Universal Pictures production "Fantasy Basketball Camp," according to Variety. The movie is a comedy about a group of guys who attend James' basketball camp in Las Vegas. How can that not be funny?

But James isn't all about getting laughs. Check out this story on his upcoming memoir and related documentary.

No word on whether James gets dunked on by one of the campers (check out the dunk at the 34-second mark).

-- Austin Knoblauch

Ted Green: Trying to explain LeBron's confession

I suppose we could act all surprised and maybe even feign a degree of moral outrage, but in a revelation that should astonish exactly no one, the King has confessed:

LeBron James admits that, yes, he did smoke pot during his junior year of high school.

No wonder he jumps so high.

In Akron, I guess practice let out at 4:20.

In a related story, Bill Clinton phoned to ask if LeBron inhaled.

Who was LeBron's spiritual advisor, Michael Phelps?

I could go on, but my 10-minute stand-up is almost up.

Now, it was certainly sporting of the NBA's reigning MVP to admit to an experience with Mary Jane, and I don't mean the prom queen, especially if it sells a few more books.

LeBron's new book, "Shooting Stars," chronicles his rise from Ohio prep prodigy pursued relentlessly by the overeager press, to what he is today, an NBA superhero pursued relentlessly by the overeager press.

Some things never change, except, hopefully, LeBron's toking habits.

The next NBA Champion will be...

Six days into the NBA's free agent derby, oddsmakers have weighed in on the favorites to win the championship next June.

And the favorite? LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers, who added Shaquille O'Neal in a trade with Phoenix last month, are favored by 7-4 odds to win the title next season, according to Beted.com.

The next favorite is the Lakers, who this month reached terms with free agent forward and loose cannon Ron Artest, but lost starter Trevor Ariza to Houston. The Lakers are still negotiating to resign valuable reserve big man Lamar Odom. The odds on the Lakers winning again next season are 2-1, according to Beted.com.

Next up is their archenemy, the Boston Celtics, who snagged free agent forward Rasheed Wallace at 9-2 odds. They are followed by the Orlando Magic, who lost to the Lakers in the NBA Finals last month, at 5-1.

As for the Clippers, who signed the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, Blake Griffin, they are near the bottom, as usual, at 95-1 odds to win the NBA title next season.

-- Barry Stavro

Photo: LeBron James, left, and Shaquille O'Neal dance during NBA All-Star game practice in Las Vegas on Feb. 17, 2007. Credit: Kevork Djansezian / Associated Press

Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan? Obama chooses Jordan

First, Jerry West.

Now Barack Obama.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Obama was asked today whether Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan is the best basketball player of all time.

"Oh, Michael,'' Obama said. "I mean, Kobe's terrific. Don't get me wrong. But I haven't seen anybody match up with Michael.''

Could be a hometown call. Obama is from Chicago.

Or it could be that MJ was better.

Kobe isn't faring well in the comparisons game. Even West, a legendary Laker, said earlier this year that LeBron James had overtaken Bryant as the NBA's best player.

-- Randy Harvey

Photo: Orlando Magic players Hedo Turkoglu (L) Dwight Howard (CT) and Rashard Lewis (R) try to block a shot against Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant (C) in the second half of game five of the NBA Finals at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida, USA, 14 June 2009. Photo credit: Larry W. Smith / European Press Association.  

Photo: Chicago Bulls' Michael Jordan goes up to score past Indiana Pacers' Dale Davis during the first half on Friday, Nov. 28, 1997. Photo credit: Tom Russo / Associated Press.

Merry Christmas: Lakers vs. Cavs

Next season's NBA schedule won't be out for a while, but basketball fans can now dream about finding this in their holiday television stocking:

Kobe Bryant and the Lakers versus Shaquille O'Neal, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

And there are a couple of very good reasons to expect such a matchup:

1) The Lakers have played a marquee Christmas Day game every year since the shortened 1998 season.

2) TV executives love those Kobe vs. Shaq grudge matches, real or imagined. After Shaq was traded to Miami, the Lakers and the Heat played three consecutive Christmas Days, 2004 to 2006.

Hey, in the spirit of what the NHL has done with outdoor games the last couple of years, how about the Lakers and Cavs playing over a portable court at the Rose Bowl -- the first part of a holiday tripleheader: NBA game on Christmas, Rose Bowl football game Jan. 1 and the BCS title game Jan. 7?

Or maybe just stick to that original idea?

-- Mike Hiserman

Photo: Cleveland's LeBron James, left, and Lakers' Kobe Bryant battle for a rebound during a game on Jan. 27, 2008. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

Final chapter for Kobe and LeBron puppets?

Kobe stars in the latest installment of the Nike puppet commercials featuring arch-rival-in-training LeBron.

Seems like a good way to wrap things up for now. But don't worry, the NBA off-season is only a few days long. Maybe Lil' Dez will rise again.

-- Adam Rose