This morning at about 4:30 Pacific — I’m on the West Coast working on a project — I was awoken from a perfectly satisfactory dream about golfing by people in the next room being very loud.

A few moments later I heard a hotel security guard’s walkie-talkie crackle in the hall.  Which led me to one of two conclusions.  Either he was a peeping tom right out of the movie Garden State or some other guest had been awoken and reported a possible assault going on in room 437.  If the police come knocking later looking for witness statements, the only thing I’d be able to report is the perp’s name was either "Baby" or "Sweet Jesus."

Unable to return to sleep, I was left to consider who in the NBA has been, ahem, screwed this summer.

The Cavs by the Nuggets.  Six years and $60 million for Nene!  Totally messed up the Drew Gooden talks.

The Warriors by the Hornets.  Golden State may very well have gotten its hands on Al Harrington had the Hornets for some reason decided to just hand the Pacers a $7.5 million trade exception for Peja Stojakovic at the last second.  I know the Hornets GM has maintained that it helped them with "flexibility."  Uh, yeah, you were concerned with flexibility when giving Peja $64 million and then trading an expiring contract for Tyson Chandler and $50 more million.  Hey, I’m not criticizing those moves, but it sort of undermines that argument.  Had they gotten $3 million, the max allowed and certainly enough to sign a free player, from the Pacers I’d believe it.  But they reportedly got 250K, which won’t even get you a rookie playing for the minimum.

Flip Murray by the system.  He played last season for less than a $1 million because he felt he was worth more than the $3 million per year deal the Sonics were offering.  Then he was sold to the Cavs and came in and helped turn around the end of the season.  Some were thinking he was in line for a $25-$30 million deal as a starter.  Then the Cavs drafted Shannon Brown at his position and let him walk.  He signed a two-year deal worth less than $4 million in Detroit.

The Knicks by themselves.  I think with the talent on the roster and a new up-tempo style they could really win like 35 games this season.  Which, by the way, only hurts them because it may convince them to stay the course.  But let me get this straight.  Including luxury tax penalties, they traded away expiring contracts to take on like an extra $100 million in Steve Francis and Jalen Rose and have just signed Jared Jefferies to an offer sheet that will cost them $60 million in real money if Washington doesn’t match.

Yet they have a young, athletic big man with significant upside in Jackie Butler, who they actually found the old fashioned way in the CBA, and they don’t match a three-year $7 million offer sheet from the Spurs?  Talk about being penny wise and dollar foolish.  I mean the fact that the always thrifty and intelligent Spurs wanted Butler should’ve been enough to make them consider what they had.  Heck, they could have always traded him in a bad deal to get an average player with a massive salary down the road per usual.

The Raptors by God.  They thought they had John Salmons wrapped for $23 million over five years.  Then he backed out, saying isn’t wasn’t where God wanted him to be.  Then a day later he signed for $25.5 million over five years with the Sacramento Kings.  Now, as you know, Sac is no Eden, but they were offering more money, are a playoff team, have better weather, and Cali has a more favorable income tax structure than Canada.  Simply Divine!

Of course, I could be wrong about all this, I’m sleep deprived.

It ain’t easy being a restricted free agent.  This is the tedious and tenuous reality Drew Gooden is now going through.

Many of you have e-mailed me asking about Gooden recently looking for an update.  There’s been no news coming out about it.  His agents have stopped taking phone calls from me and the Cavs aren’t commenting, either.  So I’m going to break down the situation as I see it for you, point by point.  As of this moment, of course.  Hopefully you’ll see why this is taking so long.

1. The Cavs are probably standing very firm on a contract offer.  My guess is they have probably offered a deal that starts a little higher than the mid-level exception of $5.3 million available to all teams.  I’ll guess it starts in the $6 million range.  That would be a five-year deal worth about $38 million or six years and about $45 million should he sign for the maximum length.  The Cavs feel this is fair because it is more than any other team can or will offer him in the current market.

2. Gooden doesn’t have negotiating position since no teams with cap space likely have interest in him.  If Gooden were to sign some mid-level deal somewhere, the Cavs would gladly match.  His agents were hoping to get a sign-and-trade going, but so far there has only been smoke and the Cavs don’t have to be cooperative.

3. Nene got six years and $60 million, it sounds as if Al Harrington is going to get six years and $57 million.  Gooden is hoping to get as close to that as possible, because he feels he’s comparable to both players.  Statistically he has a point, so you can see the gap here.

4. Drew’s one-year qualifying offer is $5.3 million, ironically the same as the mid-level.  His agent has told me playing it out is a realistic option.  Now, that would be bad for the Cavs because they wouldn’t be able to trade him without his permission and would risk losing him for nothing.  That is unacceptable.

Judging by history, it might not be a good decision for Drew either.  Players like Stromile Swift, Michael Olowokandi, and Vladimir Radmanovic have done this in recent years.  They got their unrestricted free agency as they wanted and all switched teams after their one-year deals.  But all signed for the mid-level exceptions the next year.  Since I believe the Cavs are offering over the mid-level right now, Drew would seriously risk leaving lots of money on the table.

Just look at Radmanovic.  He supposedly turned down a six-year $42 million deal with the Sonics last year (a deal above the mid-level, I might add).  He signed with the Lakers this summer, which surely made him happy…but for five years and $31 million.  Are we all getting the drift here?

One more point on the one-year option.  Sure, Drew could work a sign-and-trade next year or get traded during this upcoming season and sign a huge deal with a new team.  But if he says with the Cavs on a one-year deal, it isn’t likely he’s going to get a chance to have a huge statistical year simply because the way the Cavs play him.  So I don’t see his value going up.  Also, Drew likes playing for the Cavs, why would he want to leave for less money?

5. Drew’s agents are smart.  Last summer, in my opinion, Ferry overpaid and overextended for free agents.  I think we can all agree Larry Hughes getting $70 million was a little much unless he becomes a regular All-Star, which I don’t see and I’m a Hughes supporter.

Ferry also gave too many years to Zydrunas Ilgauskas (5), Donyell Marshall (4), and Damon Jones (4).  He had to do this to get these free agents to Cleveland.  It’s a cold-weather city with a bad tax structure and a bad history.  I am not blaming him, he had to fire his bullets.  But don’t think the agents didn’t notice, it is their job.  Also, don’t think they don’t see how Dan Gilbert isn’t afraid to throw money around.  I’m sure they feel if they can find a way to put a little pressure on, Ferry/Gilbert may cave.

So there you have it.  Hunker down, it is going to be a continuous struggle.  It will be interesting to see which side wins out and whether any mud-slinging goes on before it gets done.  It is hard for me to predict what will happen since I don’t know the inner-workings.  Stay tuned.

If you’re bored with Drew Gooden and want more LeBron James — and who doesn’t? — check out my latest ESPN.com piece.  It is lighthearted yet educational.    

LV, NV — After 13 days in the steamy Southwest, I am returning home.  Any long trip will have its highs and lows and here are mine.  Of course, I am at an extreme low right now, it is 2:42 a.m. Pacific Time and I am stranded in the Vegas airport waiting for my plane to arrive to I can go to Cleveland.  Estimated departure is 3:40 a.m., like four hours behind schedule.

–On my second night in Vegas at a mid-range off-Strip hotel, my phone rings at about 3 a.m. and the following exchange occurs:

            Front desk: "Yes sir, um, your entertainment is here."

            Me: "Huh?"

            Front desk: "Yes, um, you have a visitor who says they’ve been invited to provide entertainment, sir."

             Me: "Oh, um, wrong room."

–On my third day here, I am talked into playing in a poker tournament by a friend, my first ever in a casino.  After walking away from the table two hours in thinking I’m out before the dealer handed me back a few lousy chips, I stage an incredible rally.  When it hits the final table, I start getting some cards and push people around.  On a huge hand I bluff a guy that I had an ace and got him to lay down two Kings.  I win it and take home a handsome purse.

–On the fifth day or something, my good friend from Washington came into town and we headed out to play blackjack.  In a dirty, smelly, old fashioned downtown casino the foreign dealer at our table says she doesn’t want to hear any cussing, saying she was "tired of it."  No cussing?  In a casino? In Vegas?  "You know what I’m tired of?" someone at the table said.   "Immigration."  (NOTE: This is not a political statement, just a funny line, OK?)

–With a few off days, I drive to Phoenix.  The car computer thingy says it hits 119 degrees outside at one point.  Then a nasty storm blows it, creating the awesome sight of lightning in the desert.  The temp drops no less than 50 degrees, down to 70, before climbing back to 107 when the storm passes.  Weird.

–Attend a Diamondbacks game at Chase Field.  Where the give-away is wool blankets.  Umm, blankets in Phoenix…in July…you’re kidding, right?

–Make my first visit to the Grand Canyon, which wasn’t as cool as dinner at Doc Holliday’s in Williams, Ariz.  We’re seated by a guy in a beard down to his belt, circa 85 years old, wearing a holster and gun.

–Dent my rental car by backing it into a post.  That was sure fun.

–Get put in a headlock my LeBron James when I ask him why he’s using five ice bags after practice all of a sudden.  He says he’s trying to keep up with Eric Snow.

–Turn an corner at UNLV during Team USA practice and run into Maunte Bol talking to Mark Eaton.  No lie.  That’s 15 feet of men right there.

–Have breakfast at Denny’s with Bob Finnan (you knew he was making an appearance in here) and we hear a cook vomiting in the kitchen.  And, no, our food hadn’t arrived yet.  Finnan got the "Moons over my Hammy."  Again, no lie.

That’s all I can remember this late, er, early. It looks like I’m going to miss the British Open final round and I’m pissed about it.  Good night now…

Las Vegas — I am around NBA players often.  I do not blink when I see guy who’s seven feet tall.   I think nothing of craning my neck to speak with pro athletes.  Then I met Greg Oden.  I blinked.

I have been reading about Oden for two years now.  In case you don’t know who he is, he’s been recognized as the best high school player for the last two years and he probably will be the No. 1 overall pick next year.  He would’ve been No. 1 this year and, sorry Andrew Bogut, he might’ve been last year, too.  He went to school in Indy and is now at Ohio State.

He is 18 but he is a man.  He might be able to pass for 25 or 30.  Heck, he could pass for LeBron James’ older brother.  He’s tall, he’s built, his fingers are the size of hot dogs.  His forearms are thick and you could use his shoulders for coat rack.  He’s not a man-child, he’s a man.

From what I’ve been told and I can see from his frame, he appears he could be athletic.  He told me that he doesn’t think he’s ready for the NBA yet because he’s got some things to clean up with his game.  Maybe so, but he’s got the body to be another Shaquille O’Neal-type player.

I haven’t been able to watch him because he has a wrist injury so I can’t tell if he has the game as everyone says.  But I do know this, I’m going to be watching him for years to come.  So will you.   

Las Vegas — My reporting was wrong.  Some of my sources turned out to be inaccurate.  For the last two years I have reported that LeBron James’ endorsement contracts have location bonuses except for his Nike contract.  I got this information from numerous conversations over the course of three years.

I have recently learned from different sources that the Nike contract does have a location bonus.  It is not a huge one, one that doubles his deal or would make the difference between signing a max contract or signing for the mid-level exception.  I wanted to wait until after LeBron signed his contract to discuss it on in this forum because the last thing I want is more speculation about LeBron’s grand plans and all his desires to go to New York or whatever.

LeBron has signed his second contract with the Cavs.  He is committed to the Cavs today as he was four years ago when he was drafted.  I would advise fans to prepare yourselves for constant speculation on his future for the next 10-12 years, it is the nature of the beast.  Every three or four years he’s going to come up for a contract and at least a year before he does, there will be stories and commentators who suggest he will be going elsewhere.  In fact, it won’t just be contract time, if the Cavs have a down few months, some will predict he’ll demand to be traded.  Prepare yourselves to live with as a cost of having a superstar in Middle America.

In the next few years, Nike will probably give James a new and richer contract.  It will probably include location bonuses, too.  It is business.  If I were a fan, I’d be more concerned about basketball and how the Cavs get better.

So I have set the record straight and I’m going to move on permanently, I’m sorry that I led you astray in the past.  I hope it does not happen again in the future, but I will continue working hard to give you the best Cavs/LeBron coverage I can here and in the paper.

Starting this morning, I will be covering Team USA’s preparations for the FIBA World Championships gearing up for my trip to Japan next month.  We have some exciting and innovative plans for coverage in the Beacon Journal and on Ohio.com.  Hope you’ll enjoy it.

Las Vegas — The Cavs and LeBron James have finished his contract extension talks.  LeBron has agreed to a three-year extension with a player option for a fourth year.   The Cavs will announce it sometime after midnight tonight.  Both Danny Ferry and Leon Rose, James’ agent, were here today at summer league, where they met to get it done.

Neither would talk to me on the record because the moratorium period is still on.  I asked Leon if he wanted me to write anything that could somewhat explain to Cavs fans why LeBron didn’t want the extra year and he simply said: "You’ve already written it on your blog."

So, first, thanks for reading, Leon.  Second, I guess just read below and some version of that will be explained when LeBron has his press conference officially announcing the deal.  I’m not exactly sure when LeBron will put ink to paper, but the press conference will probably be celebratory yet won’t happen in the next few days. 

My projections by making an educated guess at next year’s salary cap have the deal worth $43 million over with, with the option year worth about $17 million.

I would strongly encourage fans not to worry too much about four years from now.  Everything changes fast in the NBA, there’s no way to predict what the landscape will look like.  Four years ago the Cavs were about to embark on a 17-win season and the Miami Heat’s future looked so bleak Pat Riley was about to quit as coach.

James isn’t going anywhere and he’s going to get paid, that is today’s story as it was three years ago when he entered the NBA.  Who’s to say that won’t be the story in 2010?

After thinking I could relax a little following LeBron James’ announcement about his intention to re-sign on Saturday, late Sunday night I was back in a tizzy.  ESPN posted this story around 11:30 p.m., which prompted me to write this response only moments ahead of the last print deadline.

About an hour later, I saw Stephen A. Smith’s report on ESPN which was essentially the same but slightly different.  In short, the story is that LeBron doesn’t want the full five years the Cavs are offering but just three more following this season (four more total).

As of this moment (1:45 a.m. Monday) here is what you need to know and I believe:

–LeBron and the Cavs haven’t agreed to anything yet.  In fact they haven’t held final negotiations.  The Cavs offered a max extension and LeBron said he would re-sign.  After the announcement, LeBron’s agent Leon Rose told me he would not talk about the contract terms, which raised a little flag in the back of my head but it was a very little flag.

–Smith probably has an excellent source here.  He is taking part in a seminar James’ representative are putting on today and tomorrow in Cleveland and therefore is probably closely working with James’ friends.  I believe that this is probably Rose and James’ intention.

–An "opt out" is different from a player option.  I wrote that you can’t "opt out" or "early terminate" a contract until after it’s fourth year.  This is a very complex part of the collective bargaining agreement, but you can also have player options to extend deals.  The initial ESPN story said James would "opt out," which led me to discredit that in print.  On SportsCenter, Smith mentioned it would be a player option, which I believe would be feasible.

–The Cavs are going to give LeBron whatever he wants.  If he wants a three-year extension with an option that would make him a free agent in four years, he’s going to get it.

–Just because James wants a shorter deal doesn’t mean he wants out of Cleveland.  By becoming a free agent in 2010 after his seventh season, he would be able to sign a larger max deal because he could get 30 percent of the salary cap to start the deal.  With less than six years experience, this max deal will only start at 25 percent of the cap.

–In four years the Cavs’ advantage will only be greater because the difference between signing with your own team and another team will for more dollars.  Of course, in this case he would be unrestricted.  Yet, teams would have to clear a huge amount of cap space to offer him a max deal.

–This was probably the plan all along.  LeBron’s wait was perhaps just a ploy to make the Cavs realize he’s not hopping up and down eager to re-up it so they’ll be even more willing to bend from the full max years.

–I know it is the Northeast Ohio mentality to start panicking when hearing this.  But LeBron has committed to stay, worry more about how the Cavs will build over the next four years.

–However, this deal does make LeBron look a greedy, thinking that $18 million in what would be the fifth year of a max extension isn’t enough.  But, hey, I guess you get what you can get.

…Because July 8, 2006 (the contract) is just like May 22, 2003 (the lottery), Oct. 31, 2003 (the debut), March 20, 2005 (56 points), April 22, 2006 (playoff debut)…the are all just stops on a journey, the story of which I relate to all of you every day.

…Because as trend-changing as 50-32 and the second round of the playoffs was, it is not even halfway to a championship.

…Because 61 points in Game 7 showed one player can’t win the biggest games alone.

…Because over the last seven years he has constantly raised the bar and met and exceed all expectations.

…Because it doesn’t matter about opt out clauses, endorsement bonuses, max contracts, someone will always believe No. 23 will want to leave.  The Cavs lose eight of 10 games in a stretch in 2008, the stories will start that he’ll want to be traded.   It will be impossible to stop everyone from talking about New York or Brooklyn or Paris.  Accept it will always be there and move on.

…Because the best is yet to come.

A few minutes ago LeBron’s agent called to confirm he will accept the Cavs offer.  Ohio.com personnel are working to get more content up on the site.  More here and at Ohio.com later and plenty in tomorrow’s Beacon Journal.

The deal is five years, estimated at $79 million with an opt-out clause following the fourth year of the extension.

UPDATE: The final terms of the deal have yet to be finalized.  However, I am quite sure LeBron will take the five years and he’ll get the opt out.  Everybody gets it and most use it.  However, the home team advantage only increases because the size of the dollars grows.  Kobe Bryant opted out and re-signed two years ago, Tracy McGrady and Shaquille O’Neal did last year, Allen Iverson and Kevin Garnett did three years ago.  Paul Pierce will next year.

It is not something to get all flustered about, it is standard.  Its exact term is Player ETO (Early Termination Option) and comes on fourth year of a contract that is at least five years in length.  Ira Newble has an ETO for next year, which he won’t take I’m sure.  Zydrunas Ilgauskas has an ETO in June of 2009.  Larry Hughes does not have one. 

I’ve gotten several of e-mails asking me if LeBron’s delay in commenting on the Cavs’ max contract offer is hurting them in free agency.  I believe this is primarily because they’ve told Drew Gooden to wait until LeBron is settled before they press on with him, at least that’s what Drew’s agents have been telling me.

The truth is no one outside the Cavs front office can truly say whether this expanding decision process is changing their plans.  Even though they had interest in Nazr Mohammed and Joel Pryzbilla, I not sure why either would wanted to have come to Cleveland with Zydrunas Ilgauskas in place.  I thought they’d have interest in Speedy Claxton, but his agent told me Cavs interest was lukewarm.  My guess is because he’s not a great outside shooter.

In short, I’m not sure if the Cavs have aggressively pursued any free agent thus far.  I think they saw this class as being somewhat weak and they might want to sit back and see what develops.  Certainly it would help all parties if LeBron committed, but I don’t think it is harming the team right now.

In other news, here is the summer league roster, which was announced today:

15             Martynas Andriuskevicius F/C          7-2           240

4               Jermaine Blackburn            G/F         6-6           216

6               Shannon Brown                 G             6-4           205

8               C.J. Bruton                         G             6-2           170

27             Sharrod Ford                      F             6-9           223

18             Je’Kel Foster                      G             6-2           210

21             Daniel Gibson                    G             6-2           190

1               Stephen Graham                 G/F         6-6           215

26             Brandon Hunter                 F             6-7           266

31             Brian Jackson                     F             6-9           245

3               Sasha Pavlovic                   G/F         6-7           210

50             Roderick Riley                   C             6-11         275

10             Clay Tucker                        G             6-3           195

40             Ejike Ugboaja                     F             6-9           225