Rumor has it that LeBron James is going to sign a three-year deal with a player option for a fourth year instead of signing a max five-year deal. This would benefit James in two ways: 1) he’d be able to sign for more money with his next contract (30% of his team’s salary cap as a seven-year veteran instead of 25% of his team’s cap right now) and 2) it would give him greater flexibility if he doesn’t like the direction that the Cavaliers are headed. The downside for James is that it gives him less security, but with all the money he’s already made from endorsements, he’ll never go hungry…Paul Pierce is negotiating an extension with the Celtics. There were rumors floating around that he might be considering playing elsewhere in order to win a ring, especially now that Antoine Walker has one…Now that the Lakers have used their mid-level exception on Vladimir Radmanovic, they have no ability to sign Marcus Banks, and the point guard may return to the Timberwolves if the team doesn’t sign Mike James. James is meeting with Avery Johnson today and may make his final decision tonight…George Karl and Kenyon Martin met in Las Vegas this weekend in an effort to mend their tumultuous relationship…Isiah Thomas plans to start Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis in what Marbury called “a devastating backcourt.” Whether it’s the good kind of “devastating” or the bad kind of “devastating” remains to be seen.