The NBA yesterday fined the Cleveland Cavaliers $150,000 and suspended head coach John Lucas for the first two games of the NBA season for violating league rules prohibiting contact between NBA teams and players not yet eligible for the NBA Draft.

Translating this into English, the Cavs were slapped across the wrist rather hard by the NBA for including high school junior LeBron James in their informal workouts under the direction of coach Lucas, a violation of the NBA?s rules.

NBA rules state that teams may not directly or indirectly have or engage or attempt to have or engage in any discussion, communications or contact whatsoever with any player who has remaining intercollegiate eligibility or is otherwise ineligible to be selected in such draft.

We have all heard the rumors about the Cleveland Cavaliers super guard Andre Miller.  The Cavs are shopping the NBA?s assist leader they say, and his team is unwilling to pony up the max cash that Miller deserves.  All this has thus far just been as a result of intuition, the Cavaliers never denying or confirming the rumor as truth.

Peter Vecsey of the New York Post asks are the Cavaliers really trying to trade Miller, or are they just sifting through offers created by the perception that they would not cough up the money.  According to Vecsey a source close to Cavs GM Jim Paxson states it is definitely the latter.

"The stuff about them being unwilling to pay the kid is not true. They've told Miller [and attorney Lon Babby who represents Tim Duncan and Grant Hill, among others] they plan to pay the going rate for a team's best player, they just want him to wait a year so they have the cap flexibility to improve the team by adding another piece or two."

Vecsey believes someone must be leaking information to teams like the Magic, Bucks, Timberwolves, Pacers and Clippers, all teams who have showed interest in Miller, that is Dre doesn?t get his payday this summer then he wants out.  Possible sources, again according to Vecsey, are Cavs coach John Lucas and attorney Lon Babby, the former of whom has not been as passionate about Miller as most.

?While I tend to believe the Cavs aren't itching to trade Miller - given the circumstances and the deluge of offers - they're, nonetheless, apt to find one too delicious to decline,? writes Vecsey.

Remaining on the topic of the Cavs, Vecsey is also reporting that the league is stressed out that Lucas allowed high school junior LeBron James work out with his players under his guidance, an NBA no no.  The Cavaliers are expected to be fined over the incident.

LeBron James is currently competing in a Cleveland Cavalier voluntary four day workout camp that concludes today, and if you listen to those who are in attendance speak it is very hard not to become a believer.

There is talk of Bryant Stith calling a timeout after a James play, ex-Spur Willie Anderson talking up how James is better than Kobe Bryant at this stage of their careers, and Cavs coach John Lucas wishing that James was on his squad now.

It is true, Stith did call a timeout immediately proceeding a James dunk as they all stood around open mouthed, but he was not the only one impressed.

"That dunk was so unbelievable that you wouldn't have believed it if you would've seen it on replay," said former Toronto Raptors assistant Johnny Clark, who was in attendance. "I've seen a lot of basketball but I've never seen anything like that."

James will be a senior at St. Vincent-St. Mary this coming season but even as a junior is he is considered the best high school player in the country.  If he is this good now, how good will he be when he becomes eligible to be drafted in 12 months time?  The camp showed that James, once comfortable, is very competent against NBA talent.   According to Branson Wright of the Plain Dealer James held his own against both Cleveland?s Jumaine Jones and Anderson, showing the ability the slash to the basket and hit the outside jumper.

So what does Coach Lucas think of this prospect?  "We got to have him. We got to have him," said Lucas.

It was Lucas who invited James to attend the camp, but surprisingly this is not James? first NBA experience.  James was also involved in the secret Michael Jordan workouts in Chicago last year as MJ contemplated another comeback.  It is also not the first time that Lucas has invited a high school phenom to a workout, Anderson revealing a key other.

"John invited Kobe [Bryant] to work out with us when I was in Philadelphia," Anderson said. "Just like LeBron, Kobe was heading into his senior year and LeBron's the closest thing I've seen next to Kobe at the same age. But LeBron has a little more power and strength than Kobe did. I'm very impressed."

"I appreciate coach Lucas inviting me out," James said. "Whenever anyone invites me out, they must believe I'm good enough to play with them, so it's up to me to try my hardest while I'm out there. It was a good experience. I learned a few things and I had fun."

James did everything during the workouts, including switching teams and playing point guard with the Cavs, recording ?around six assists? in the process.   The most impressive pass, Wright says, was an ally oop lob to Jumaine Jones for the dunk.

"He's the most developed high school player I've ever seen and he has another year of high school," said Jones, while shaking his head and smiling. "He's very mature physically and mentally. Unlike most high school players, he wants to do more than just score. He likes to get everyone involved. He could play in the league right now."

"I know how good he is," said DeSagana Diop, who competed against James as a high school senior. "He's very good, and he's going to play in this league. The only advice I give him is to continue to work hard and get ready because players in this league have read about him and they'll be waiting for him."

Not only will the players be waiting for him, but with reports like this the fans are bound to be just as anxious.

Word within the National Basketball Association is the Cleveland Cavaliers have decided they can't afford both Andre Miller and Ricky Davis, who will be a free agent this summer. That means Miller could be available to the Timberwolves, who could trade former Miami of Ohio star Wally Szczerbiak for the point guard.

? A problem for the Wolves would be point guard Terrell Brandon, who is guaranteed $33 million for the next three years. Just before the 1999 NBA draft, Cleveland tried to trade its No. 8 and No. 11 picks to Minnesota to move up to No. 5 to take Szczerbiak, but the Wolves declined. The Cavs chose Miller with the No. 8 pick and Trajan Langdon with No. 11.