Could Rangers Wednesday win prove prophetic?

The Texas Rangers came from behind Wednesday night to beat Cleveland 4-3. Now I would like another area team to take something from Cleveland, much to the delight of this gentleman. Although most prognosticators are now predicting LaBron James will join Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in South Beach, I'm hoping that when James makes his announcement on live television Thursday night, he announces he will stay in Cleveland. I say that because the only chance the Dallas Mavericks have of landing James is via a sign-and-trade with the Cavaliers. They certainly don't have the cap space to sign James as a free agent and, in fact, haven't been among the active suitors for James's services.

Mark Cuban promised Dirk Nowitzki, when the Big German agreed to contract terms with the Mavs this past weekend, that he would go out and find another marquee name to play alongside him. Bosh and Wade, however, are out of the picture. Carlos Boozer has signed with Chicago, Amare Stoudemaire is now a New York Knick and Joe Johnson is apparently staying put in Atlanta. Except for James, those signings have wiped the marquee clean. If Cuban is going to fulfill his promise to Nowitzki, it all hinges on James announcing he re-sign with the Cavs.

Actually this makes sense for LaBron. Sign a three-year deal, come to Dallas to play in what is probably going to be the final three years of Nowitzki's prime (plus having the opportunity to play alongside a Hall-of-Fame-bound point guard), and then, three years hence, have the opportunity to sign an even bigger free agent deal. Plus, he will be playing for the most player-friendly owner in the NBA. Meanwhile, my beloved Mavericks become the pre-eminent team in the NBA and the most likely choice for at least one NBA title, which is one more than they have ever won.

It would also do my heart good to see the Mavericks put one over on Wade after what the Miami guard did to us in our only trip to the NBA finals.