NBA commissioner David Stern said on Tuesday night that it's a good sign that there is so much attention surrounding LeBron James and his pending free agency.

"It actually shows the NBA's importance to culture," Stern said prior to Tuesday's Draft Lottery.

"It shows what a fixture that the NBA has become."

Stern was then asked about what restrictions teams have in regards to recruiting free agents, if any.

"Come July 1, everything goes," Stern said with a smile.

"Before July 1, nothing goes."