All about the King

Ain't it funny how we all know who they're talking about when they say "the King". Haters where you at?

ESPN.com's J.A. Adande and NBA analysts Tim Legler and Bruce Bowen answer questions about LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
Will the Cavs' acquisition of Antawn Jamison affect their chances of keeping LeBron James?
J.A. Adande: Yes. Having an All-Star caliber player around can only boost their shot. How many former All-Stars are on the Knicks roster? In acquiring Shaquille O'Neal and Antawn the Cavs have shown they are willing to make moves to surround LeBron with talent.

Tim Legler: No. Not at all. I think that decision is going to be LeBron's and LeBron's alone. There are other issues he's going to weigh on his mind.

Bruce Bowen: No. What LeBron is doing is allowing them to be held accountable. He understands his star power. He's not going to get locked into a long-term deal because he wants to be sure the Cavs will put people around him who allow them to compete.

How will Shaq's injury affect the team's prospects?
Adande: As long as he comes back before the playoffs, they're fine. They only got him for matchups against the Magic and Lakers. The games between now and the late playoffs are pretty much irrelevant.

Bowen: I don't think it affects them in a negative way. It gives people a chance to step up. You always want to see where your team is when a big part is missing. They'll maximize their efforts from other guys.

Legler: It'll force them to see how they play with a smaller lineup with a scorer at the 4 in Jamison. That ultimately could help them because it gives them another look they can go to in the playoffs.

How do you see the trade deadline moves in New York, Chicago and elsewhere affecting the LeBron chase?
Adande: I'm told he'll look at all of his options, so at the very least the cap-clearing moves mean he'll be visiting those cities this summer. They can compete financially, if nothing else.

Legler: I don't think they affect it at all. I think LeBron's decision is going to come down to him weighing loyalty to him weighing the potential to get on a bigger stage and turn around a franchise and the challenges that come with that.

Bowen: I don't see the New York trade doing anything. He's going to get the max wherever he goes. LeBron doesn't have a championship yet.

What do you make of LeBron's desire to change his uniform number from 23 to 6?
Legler: I don't think it has anything to do with whether he's going to stay or go next year. I just think he made up his mind to pay homage to Michael Jordan, and this will leave that option open to him if he stays in Cleveland.

Bowen: I've heard so much stuff about this. I never looked into a number change this much. My thoughts are he's fulfilling something he said back in Miami.

Adande: I think he's picked up something from Shaq, whose favorite word is "marketing." Have you ever seen a number change with so much fanfare? Usually you find these things out well after the fact.

What do you make of LeBron's quote from Monday night ("I've yet to play for a team that doesn't like defense in my career, but it is not about the team, it is individuals first") before the Knicks-Cavs game?
Adande: I'm guessing he meant to say defense starts with individual responsibility. Uh, right LeBron?

Legler: I think he's saying it starts with having an individual pride in playing defense. And he's right. And he has done a great job of accepting defensive responsibility and setting a tone for that time.

Bowen: It doesn't sound right. He's also never played out of the home state he's from. It's one thing when you go away and you experience the hardships. It's another thing actually leaving at another point in life. I don't see much to it.

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