It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Cavaliers guard LeBron James will be honored as the NBA's Rookie of the Year at that media gathering. The suspense was taken out of the ordeal last weekend when the Associated Press broke the story that the Eddie Gottlieb trophy was earmarked to James.

''It would be exciting if I won that award,'' James said last week.

James supposedly received considerably more votes than Denver forward Carmelo Anthony, who guided the Nuggets to the playoffs and outscored the Cleveland rookie. Anthony was the league's top rookie scorer at 21.0, while James was second at 20.9.

''I know (Anthony) wants it and I know I want it,'' James said.

Cavaliers coach Paul Silas said last week that he expected James to win the award.

''If you look at his production, it speaks for itself,'' he said. ''The other guys, Carmelo and (Miami guard Dwyane) Wade are terrific players, but they are not the athlete that he is. He deserves to be Rookie of the Year.''

Miami coach Stan Van Gundy said because the Heat qualified for the playoffs, Wade should be a front-runner for the award (he will likely finish third in the voting).

''If this thing had continued and we were in the playoffs, it would have been hands down,'' Silas said. ''He's had a positive effect on our ball club. We've had the third biggest turnaround in the league (plus-16 victories), and he's partly responsible for that.

''He's really had a sensational year.''