Fans reacted with shock to James' announcement during the regrettable "Decision" special, then gathered in the streets and burned his jerseys as retribution for a perceived betrayal. 

Well, with James' free agency approaching next summer, the people of Cleveland would like for James to forget all of that and return to his home state.

A "Come Home LeBron" rally will take place when James' Heat visit the Cavaliers on Wednesday, and another will be organized for the Heat's March visit, according to the Akron Beacon Journal.

To gather supporters, rally organizers will pass out 2,000 T-shirts. Any fan who takes a picture in the shirt and tweets @comehomelebron will be eligible to win 2014-15 Cavaliers season tickets.

Another part of the "Come Home LeBron" campaign will seen in the form of billboards around the area, one near James' alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, and another on Interstate 71.

At this point, some three years and two titles removed, it's unlikely that James loses any sleep over fans burning his jerseys in the streets of Cleveland. He hasn't forgotten, though.

And, to be fair, not every Cavaliers fan railed against James, but there was frustration throughout the city and some resentment still exists. Now, if he were to decide to return to Cleveland, that would all go away in a heartbeat.

But what is there in Cleveland from a basketball standpoint to lure James back? Kyrie Irving is an All-Star guard, but he has his faults, as do all players. Every other player on that roster is exponentially more flawed than Irving, and team chemistry appears to be an issue with reports of a players-only meeting gone awry hitting the Internet not long ago.

You have to appreciate the fans' effort, though this probably isn't a fight worth fighting.


THE ROSE EFFECT


After contract extension talks failed, Bulls forward Luol Deng is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.

Deng's situation was a talking point coming into the seaason, but it has become even more of an issue with Derrick Rose's injury, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. Rose, who had just started his comeback from a left ACL injury, suffered a torn medial meniscus in his right knee. If Rose misses the remainder of the season, his absence could serve as incentive for the Bulls to trade Deng sooner, Johnson reports.

See, the Bulls value Deng and what he can offer to a team with Rose in the lineup. He's a glue player who defends, rebounds and provides timely scoring. 	But if there is no Rose, there is no real contention in the Eastern Conference for the Bulls. And if the Bulls don't see this season going far, it would make sense for them to explore the trade market for Deng.

Deng was part of the effort to keep the Bulls afloat without Rose last season. He was the team leader in points (16.5) and minutes (38.7) last year and has proved as durable a player as there is in the NBA. Until a move is made on the trade front, Deng will return to that role.

"Guys just have to pick it up," Deng told the Tribune. "Obviously, it'll be a setback not having him. But we've been there before. We just have to play together."


PAINT THE CITY


The Bobcats' transition to becoming the Hornets began in earnest in May, when majority owner Michael Jordan said the team planned to apply to return the name to Charlotte. The bid was approved in July, and the campaign to Bring Back the Buzz kicked off.

It turns out the name won't be the only Hornets staple to return to the city prior to the 2014-15 season. The Bobcats on Sunday announced their intention to switch back to the original teal-and-purple jersey format. Secondary colors on the jerseys will be black, cool gray and light blue.

“It was important to us to acknowledge the heritage of the Charlotte Hornets when bringing the name back to the market,” Jordan said. “The purple and teal color scheme was instantly recognizable as being associated with the original Hornets and we felt it was only appropriate to utilize the colors once again with this historic brand.”

The Bobcats surveyed season-ticket holders, team sponsors and the Charlotte community before deciding to go back to the teal and purple. As the next phase of this change, the team will introduce the colors and a new phrase, "Painting the City," during a three-week campaign.

Once the colors have been revealed, Charlotte will adjust its logo, uniforms, court, mascot and dance team to fit the new direction.

One has to believe this will be a welcome change around the NBA. The old Charlotte Hornets jerseys and hats are favorites for basketball fans in general.

Contributors: DeAntae Prince

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