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A18 SPORTS
Saturday 30 June 2018
AP sources: LeBron declines option, becomes prize free agent

By TOM WITHERS deadline turnover, through
CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron the Eastern Conference
James made the first move. playoffs — they survived
Now what? two Game 7s and swept
Cleveland? Los Angeles? the top-seeded Toronto
Philadelphia? A surprise? Raptors — to the NBA Finals
Stay tuned. Decision III is for a fourth straight meet-
this summer's blockbuster, ing with the Golden State
and it's coming soon. Warriors.
James told the Cavaliers It was James' eighth con-
that he is not exercising his secutive Finals appear-
$35.6 million contract op- ance, a remarkable feat
tion for next season and will not matched since Hall
become an unrestricted of Famer Bill Russell and a
free agent, two people fa- handful of Celtics did it in
miliar with the decision told the 1960s. Cleveland was
the Associated Press on Fri- overmatched but James
day. had the Cavs in position to
The decision to decline the steal Game 1 before a late-
option for 2018-19 was ex- game missed free throw
pected by James because by George Hill and mental
it gives him more options, In this June 6, 2018, file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James shoots against Golden State meltdown by Cavs forward
which includes him re-sign- Warriors' Draymond Green during the first half of Game 3 of basketball's NBA Finals in Cleveland. J.R. Smith, who dribbled out
ing with the Cavs, who can Associated Press the final seconds of regula-
offer him the most money tion thinking his team was
— a five-year, $209 million gotiations with free agents George or work out a trade played in his eighth straight leading, led to an overtime
contract. James can also at 12:01 a.m. Sunday. with San Antonio for Kawhi Finals. loss.
sign a short-term deal with The fact that he didn't Leonard. On Thursday, James will factor family With MVP Kevin Durant
Cleveland, something he pick up his option could George told the Oklahoma — he has three children, heading the charge, the
has done each year since be good news for worried City Thunder he's declining and his oldest son is a ris- Warriors completed a
returning in 2014. Cavs fans, who fear James his $20.7 million option for ing hoops star — into the sweep of the Cavs and
James had until 11:59 p.m. may leave them for the next season. choice of where he plays James, who revealed fol-
to express his intentions to second time in his career. James already has some next. lowing the series that he
the Cavs and his agent If he had opted in, it would shallow roots on the West James just completed his had broken his right hand
Rich Paul informed the have likely meant the Cavs Coast with two homes in 15th NBA season, and it in a fit of frustration follow-
team in the morning, said had worked out a trade for the Los Angeles area and a may have been his best ing Game 1.
the people who spoke on James. film production company. yet. James had numerous rea-
condition of anonymity to And while the Cavs remain The chance to join one of He played all 82 regular- sons to be upset. He had
the AP because the sides hopeful he'll stay, there are the league's most iconic season games for the first done everything possible,
are not publicly comment- other teams in the mix for franchises has an appeal time, averaging 27.5 points, and as he left Quicken
ing on moves ahead of free the 33-year-old — and the to James and he said fol- 8.6 rebounds and a career- Loans Arena following
agency opening Sunday. Los Angeles Lakers appear lowing this year's Finals that high 9.1 assists per game. Game 4 along with his sons,
The three-time champion to be at the top of the list. he remains in "champion- He showed no signs of slow- there was an air of uncer-
is now the most coveted With the ability to sign two ship mode." ing down, if anything he tainty heading into this
prize in an NBA free-agent maximum-contract play- The Philadelphia 76ers and had found a new gear. summer.
class that includes All-Stars ers, the Lakers can build a Houston Rockets are also James then carried the Those unknowns remain,
Paul George and Chris "Super Team" with James if believed to covet the four- Cavs, with their flawed ros- but James is closer to solv-
Paul. Teams can begin ne- they are able to also land time league MVP, who just ter after a massive trading ing them.q

LeMond, Holocaust survivors ride to celebrate Jewish life

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — as a powerful experience, gas chambers are an en-
Three-time Tour de France saying, "It was an amazing during testament of the
winner Greg LeMond, two event riding with two survi- atrocities committed there.
Holocaust survivors and vors 73 years after the Ho- They were also spending
some 200 others took part locaust ... We should never the weekend with his com-
in a symbolic ride from Aus- forget!" munity.
chwitz-Birkenau to a Jewish Jonathan Ornstein, the di- "It was incredibly exciting
cultural center in Poland rector of the center in Kra- for us to have such a fa-
to support the renewal of kow, who himself took part mous international cyclist
Jewish life. in the ride, said one survi- not only participate in the
The ride Friday began at vor, Marcel Zielinski, biked ride but get to know Kra-
the site of the former Nazi the entire distance, while kow's story of Jewish re-
German death camp and the second did 14 miles birth," Ornstein said.
ended at the Jewish Com- and traveled the rest of the On the eve of the Holo-
munity Center of Krakow, Three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond, right, Marcel way by car. caust, Poland was home to
55 miles (89 kilometers) Zielinski, a Holocaust survivor, center, and Jonathan Ornstein, He said LeMond and his 3.3 million Jews. Most were
away, site of a growing the director of the Jewish Community Center of Krakow, pose for wife a day earlier visited murdered by Nazi Germa-
Jewish community. the media in Oswiecim, Poland, on Friday June 29, 2018. the site of Auschwitz, where ny in death camps like Aus-
LeMond described the ride Associated Press barracks and the ruins of chwitz and in ghettos.q