All indications are that LeBron James is leaning toward signing with the Miami Heat on Thursday night, according to several sources with knowledge of the situation. 
 
 Barring a late change of heart, sources say James has decided to join fellow All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to form a potential NBA powerhouse. 
 
 James will make his announcement from the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich, Conn., during an hourlong special called "The Decision" on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET Thursday. Sales of sponsorship for the program will go to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. 
 
 Wearing a lavender shirt and jeans, James arrived at the club about 8:50 p.m. and entered through a side door, missing most of the crowd. As folks realized it was James exiting a van, the crowd of about 400 people began chanting "New York Knicks, New York Knicks," then switched to "LeBron James." 
 
 James, in a T-shirt and shorts, showed up at a basketball camp he sponsors at Cleveland State University in midafternoon with former teammate Damon Jones. James nervously chewed his fingernails while watching some high-schoolers play. He stayed a little more than an hour before heading off in a white Bentley, presumably on his way to the airport. 
 
 He did not speak to a reporter, but said "thank you" to some coaches in the stands who wished him luck. 
 
 Some of college basketball's top coaches were on hand, including Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, North Carolina's Roy Williams, West Virginia's Bob Huggins and Syracuse's Jim Boeheim. 
 
 Chris Paul, one of James' best friends, has urged him to stay in Cleveland and let new Cavaliers coach Byron Scott coach him, according to sources. With such strong sentiment around him to not go to Miami, it's possible James could alter his decision. 
 
 James' family and friends are divided over his decision to play in Miami, according to sources. Opinions range from understanding his desire to play with All-Star teammates, to feeling he is selling himself short by joining Wade's team, to concerns that playing on such a power-packed squad will hurt his brand even if he wins championships. 
 
 "I'll believe it when I see it," Louisville coach Rick Pitino said while at James' camp. "In the end, it's going to be tough for LeBron to turn down what he has here, but there could be some championships for him down there." 
 
 James worked hard to help the Cavaliers improve their roster, sources said. He tried to sell Bosh on the idea of going to Cleveland, but the 6-foot-11 forward was adamant he did not want to play in northeast Ohio. 
 
 While sources close to James insist his heart is in Cleveland and remaining with the Cavaliers was his preferred choice, they say he had concerns about signing a six-year deal there and ending up "31 years old, with bad knees and no title." 
 
 If James does announce he's leaving the Cavaliers, police in Ohio are preparing for civil unrest. 
 
 A source told ESPN's Shelley Smith that police are increasing patrols in downtown Cleveland and around LeBron's house in Bath, Ohio, calling in officers in neighboring cities. 
 
 Bars and restaurants throughout the region are hosting "LeBron Watch" parties featuring dunk tanks, beer specials and poster giveaways. Frank Borally, owner of The Purple Shamrock bar, says he'll pick up the food tab for anyone who stays from 7 p.m. until the announcement is made -- if James chooses the Cavs. 
 
 "Hopefully, I have to pay. I want to pay. I don't care if it's $3,000," said Borally, whose bars are downtown and in suburban Willowick. 
 
 But the fans are prepared for the worst. 
 
 "If he leaves, and says so on national TV, it would be the cruelest act imaginable," said resident Bill Plagens of suburban Rocky River. "Pure evil." 
 
 ESPN.com reported June 28 that James, Wade and Bosh held a scaled-down version of the free-agent summit originally suggested by Wade to seriously discuss their futures. 
 
 Sources in the initial report told ESPN.com that the sitdown took place in Miami during the weekend before July 1, when free agency commenced. That was subsequently denied by Henry Thomas, agent for Wade and Bosh. In reconfirming Wednesday that the three players did convene for at least one face-to-face meeting, sources now say the three players met in Ohio on James' turf on the Saturday before the NBA draft. 
 
 James averaged 29.7 points for Cleveland last season; Wade averaged 26.6 points for Miami; and Bosh averaged career bests of 24.0 points and 10.8 rebounds for Toronto. 
 
 By joining the Heat, James would leave nearly $30 million on the table, unless the Cavaliers agree to an unlikely sign-and-trade. The Cavaliers could give him a six-year, $128 million contract, while Miami can offer him only a five-year deal worth up to $99 million. 
 
 Wade does not know what the terms of the next contract he'll sign with Miami will be, nor when he'll sign the paper. Bosh doesn't have terms of his next deal done, either. It's all contingent on what James says Thursday night, and Wade insisted he knows nothing about what the two-time MVP will say. 
 
 Players could not sign new contracts until Thursday, but Miami fans were not afraid to show their excitement for the potential South Beach dynasty. Season-ticket sales for the Heat's coming 41-game season were suspended Thursday afternoon after the entire supply of available seats was sold out. Not every seat has been released for sale yet and some will be held back for single-game purchases at the 19,600-capacity arena. 
 
 Asked why he didn't agree to a sign-and-trade that would have paired him with James in Cleveland, Bosh said he decided Miami was the best choice. 
 
 "I wasn't sure if LeBron was coming back [to Cleveland] and I just wanted to leave that decision up to him," Bosh said. "I wanted to choose the best situation for me and my family, and Miami was the best decision for me." 
 
 The salary cap released Thursday for the 2010-11 season is just more than $58 million, about $2 million more than teams expected, and that extra money could be yet another free-agency edge for the Heat. 
 
 "We'll see what the best thing is for us to win," Wade told The Associated Press. "I'm going to make a lot of money, no matter what happens. I've been blessed. I'm not counting every dollar and every cent. Let's sit down, let's see what the best thing is for us, for the long haul." 
 
 Boeheim, who was an assistant coach on the 2008 gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic basketball team that included James, Wade and Bosh, said he has no doubts the three superstars can coexist on the same NBA team. 
 
 "All three can play together, they played together for us and they were great," Boeheim told ESPN.com's Andy Katz. 
 
 "If he goes to Miami it clearly gives him the best chance to win. They could easily play together. They are all good friends and they all like each other. Bosh can play off each of them. He doesn't need to be the main guy. You can alternate down the court -- one time LeBron takes it, Dwyane takes it the next time. I don't think it's even an issue," Boeheim said. "We had all of those guys and Kobe [Bryant] on the court at the same time and we did all right. Anybody who says [they can't play together] doesn't know what they're talking about." 
 
 Miami came into free agency with what turned out to be roughly $46 million of cap space, not including $16.5 million or so earmarked for Wade, thanks to years of avoiding just about any deal in which money would have been committed for the 2010-11 season. 
 
 "We want to build a dynasty," Miami Heat president Pat Riley had told fans entering free agency. 
 
 By scheduling his special show and essentially putting a deadline on himself to make an announcement, it would appear that James has made up his mind. If he does, however, change his decision, the Cavaliers, the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls all would be possibilities, according to the sources. 
 
 Knicks president Donnie Walsh, an executive with nearly 30 years in the NBA, understood all the fuss surrounding James' decision. 
 
 "It's something new, but we're in new age," he said. "I don't remember Michael Jordan ever becoming a free agent. I don't remember Larry Bird becoming a free agent. I don't remember Magic Johnson becoming a free agent. It would've been the same back then if they had, but that never happened." 
 
 Chris Broussard is an NBA writer for ESPN The Magazine. ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Andy Katz contributed to this report. Information from The Associated Press was also used. ||||| CLEVELAND, Ohio -- King James has reclaimed his throne in Cleveland. 
 
 LeBron James stunned the NBA on Friday around noon when he announced his long-awaited free agency decision, choosing to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers and leaving the Miami Heat. According to reports, he will sign a four-year, $88 million max contract. 
 
 James made the announcement on Sports Illustrated's website in a letter, writing "In Northeast Ohio, nothing is given. Everything is earned. You work for what you have. I'm ready to accept the challenge. I'm coming home." 
 
 James tried to take a subdued approach to free agency this offseason. He chose to have his agent Rich Paul handle initial meetings with teams. Despite James' silence, rumors and speculation ran rampant during the process. People constantly refreshed Twitter accounts and websites for any morsel of information or clue to his decision. 
 
 James met with Heat president Pat Riley in Las Vegas on Wednesday. The smooth-talking executive from Miami attempted to show James the stability in the Heat organization compared to what has gone on in Cleveland recently, with coaching and front office changes, but this time, Riley wasn't able to convince James to keep his talents in South Beach. 
 
 "I am shocked & disappointed in today's news," Heat owner Micky Arison posted on Twitter. “However I will never forget what LeBron brought us for 4 years. Thanks for memories @KingJames.” 
 
 "When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission. I was seeking championships, and we won two," James wrote. "But Miami already knew that feeling. Our city hasn’t had that feeling in a long, long, long time. My goal is still to win as many titles as possible, no question. But what’s most important for me is bringing one trophy back to Northeast Ohio." 
 
 Fans across Northeast Ohio celebrated James' return, donning his jersey and taking photos outside Quicken Loans Arena. 
 
 New Cavaliers coach David Blatt and his players learned the news around 12:45 p.m. Eastern time during a team shootaround before Friday night's Summer League opener in Las Vegas and said, James "just lifted a whole state by himself." 
 
 James joins a talented young roster, at least for now, with No. 1 overall picks Kyrie Irving, Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins, as well as Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson and former teammate Anderson Varejao. 
 
 James singled out many in his letter: "I see myself as a mentor now and I'm excited to lead some of these talented young guys. I think I can help Kyrie Irving become one of the best point guards in our league. I think I can help elevate Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters. And I can't wait to reunite with Anderson Varejao, one of my favorite teammates." 
 
 "Welcome Home @kingjames," Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert wrote on Twitter. "I am excited for the fans and people of Cleveland and Ohio. No fans and people deserve a winner more than them." 
 
 Hours before this decision, ESPN reported Gilbert's infamous comic sans letter might be a road block to James' return to Cleveland. It wasn't. 
 
 "I’ve met with Dan, face-to-face, man-to-man," James wrote. "We’ve talked it out. Everybody makes mistakes. I’ve made mistakes as well. Who am I to hold a grudge?" 
 
 "We had five great years together and one terrible night," Gilbert told James in a meeting last Sunday, Yahoo reported. 
 
 The Cavaliers are expected to add pieces to complement James via free agency or trades. The team cleared $21.7 million in cap space and acquired a trade exception in a multi-team deal that sent Jarrett Jack and Sergey Karasev to the Nets and Tyler Zeller to Boston. The trade was made official on Thursday morning. 
 
 There have been reports the Cavaliers might be interested in trading for Timberwolves forward Kevin Love, but may balk if it costs them Wiggins. 
 
 Ray Allen is another name the Cavs could have an interest in, according to league sources. Allen has spent the last two seasons in Miami, and hit the memorable three-pointer, which propelled the Heat to their second straight title two seasons ago. 
 
 James, the Cavs' all-time leader in scoring and other categories, took Miami to the NBA Finals four straight seasons, winning the title twice. Not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven as he famously predicted when he first signed there. 
 
 Former teammate Chris Bosh signed a max contract to stay with the Heat hours after James' decision. Dwyane Wade is expected to do the same. 
 
 "While I am disappointed by LeBron's decision to leave Miami, no one can fault another person for wanting to return home," Riley said in a statement on the Heat website. 
 
 Riley went on to say, "We've won multiple championships and competed for many others ... We've proven that we can do it and we'll do it again." 
 
 James opened his letter announcing his return to Cleveland as follows: "Before anyone ever cared where I would play basketball, I was a kid from Northeast Ohio. It's where I walked. It's where I ran. It's where I cried. It's where I bled. It holds a special place in my heart. 
 
 "People there have seen me grow up. I sometimes feel like I'm their son. Their passion can be overwhelming. But it drives me. I want to give them hope when I can. I want to inspire them when I can. My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball. I didn't realize that four years ago. I do now."
– LeBron James has pretty much decided he’ll be joining Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, sources tell Chris Broussard of ESPN. Of course, James won’t make any announcement before his special tonight at 9pm Eastern—which just happens to be on ESPN—so there’s time for him to change his mind. Good buddy Chris Paul is urging him to stay in Cleveland, as are many others close to him. Friends say LeBron’s first choice was Cleveland, and that he’s been trying to lure players there. But with those efforts continually frustrated, he’s worried he’ll end up, as one source put it, “31-years-old, with bad knees and no title.” The sharps, at least, seem to think the Miami hype is legit. The odds have fluctuated wildly on InTrade recently, with Miami surging while the Knicks and Cavs plunge, Business Insider reports.