If LeBron is smart, he won’t overlook Nets

You know, because unlike others, I don’t have to worry about taking time away from things like the energy crisis to talk sports.

The NBA’s free-agent window opens July 1, and early fireworks are popping throughout the skies of cities like Chicago and Miami.

Where should LeBron land?

Let us count the possibilities.

Smart choice: New Jersey.

Forget that quote about the mosquito being the state bird of New Jersey. It’s not that bad a place. If he’s smart, it also is where James signs.

Two words: Prokhorov Party.

You can have South Beach and Times Square. Give me nightly limo rides with Mikhail Prokhorov any day of the week. The new Nets owner is the second richest person in Russia with an estimated fortune of $17.8 billion, give or take a few rubles. He will spend like crazy to win.

Here is a guy who built his empire on the acid wash jeans fad and who once hosted a two-week Christmas party at a French ski resort, where he flew in seven gorgeous Russian women as his, well, companions. Sure, there were arrests and insinuations of prostitution, but no charges were filed.

Another time, Big Prok paid almost $10 million to marry a woman with the idea of divorcing her a week later all so he could win a childhood bet that said he wouldn’t take a bride before his 42nd birthday.

When is the last time an NBA superstar could play for an owner he receives tips from on groupies?

A new home and arena in Brooklyn are coming in 2012. James’ good friend Jay-Z has an ownership stake in the Nets. The supporting cast includes some good young players (Brook Lopez, Devin Harris, Chris Douglas-Roberts) and soon might include another (John Wall) if the draft lottery falls right.

This would be like having all the good of New York and not any of the bad for James.

Expected choice: New York.

I suppose if James really does want to be more global than any other player in NBA history, if he wants his image plastered across as many marquees in Beijing as it would be in Manhattan, the Knicks are the safe pick with the gargantuan upside.

He could be Gordon Gekko in shorts, and everyone still would bow at his hightops.

But it’s difficult to make a case for the Knicks when the Nets offer better young players, less of a nightly media swarm and the fact if defense really does win championships, New York should be in line for the title right around the time Derek Jeter’s grandson is preparing to choose a college.

The Knicks could sign James and another star player. That’s how much salary-cap room they have. That’s how much they purposefully have stunk the past few years in anticipation of this summer.

I have a bad feeling about this. I think he goes to New York and makes more money than God.

Just not as much as Big Prok.

Wrong choice: Miami.

If for nothing else, I hope James doesn’t sign with the Heat to save us from Pat Riley again coming out of retirement to coach. You know Riley’s ego couldn’t take James and Dwyane Wade being on the same team and not swooping in to take all the credit once Miami wins the 2011 NBA championship. That poor Erik Spoelstra kid would be out as coach quicker than Riley could begin greasing whatever hair is left for the cameras.

Intriguing choice: Chicago.

Of all the suitors, the Bulls have the best supporting cast of talent to offer James. He could have a big say, if not the ultimate say, in who Chicago hires as its coach.

Just one thing: Does he want to live with the daily expectations of being the savior competing for rings in the shadow of the greatest player in history?

He might want to be like Mike, but does he want to be like Mike in Chicago?

Loyal choice: I never have been to Akron. I’m sure it’s a nice town if you like things like tires and Soap Box Derby. But not only is it James’ home and fewer than 40 miles from the Cavaliers’ arena, he in all likelihood could name the team’s next coach, given management now is evaluating Mike Brown.

Which, after five straight seasons of at least making the conference semifinals but with no ring to show for it, pretty much means he has been given 48 hours to gather his personal belongings and disappear or risk being beaten with one of Shaquille O’Neal’s shoes.

I can’t see James staying home. Cleveland had its opportunity to build a champion around the King. All seven years worth.

Senseless choice: Los Angeles Clippers.

No explanation needed.

It’s the Clippers.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618.