David Stern took the unusual step of publicly declaring his preference for where a free-agent-to-be will sign.  The commissioner told the media that he hopes LeBron James remains in Cleveland after this season.

"Hopefully he'll stay," Stern said Monday. "That's the way the system is designed," referring to the additional cash that the team holding Bird Rights over a free-agent can offer the player.

"That's the way it should be," Stern said. "It allows teams to keep their own players."