LeBron scoffs at premature FA talk: I've still got a lot of work to do with Cavs

Call the hoopla surrounding LeBron James' free-agency decision fake news. After all, he still has a few months of basketball to play as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers before he has to think about July.

The Cavs superstar is in the midst of one of the best statistical seasons of his career - an anomaly for anyone in their 15th season of a prestigious career. But instead of all the talk being on James' current level of greatness, much of the chatter this season has surrounded a list of three teams he's reportedly named as his preferred destinations should he leave Cleveland. Those teams include the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Houston Rockets.

However, the 33-year-old was quick to shut down any talk of free agency, reminding reporters that the season isn't over and he's still focused on the new-look Cavaliers putting it all together for a playoff push.

"I've still got too much work to do here," James said, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "One thing about me and my career, you probably don't know, you haven't been around me, that I handle my business accordingly, and when that time comes, I'll take care of that. But right now, my job right now is to get these guys prepared for the Clippers tonight and then how we can continue to get better going down the stretch."

The first time James was an unrestricted free agent, it turned into a spectacle forever embroidered in the history books as "The Decision." His 2010 decision to leave the Cavaliers to join the Miami Heat quickly became a circus of drama and controversy. His return to the Cavaliers four seasons later was a much quieter display, and James has learned not to steer into the smoke.

"I understand that I'm a free agent at the end of the summer, so I understand the frenzy that comes with it," he said. "It's not my first rodeo, but I don't, it doesn't bother me. I don't talk about it too much. Like I said, I'll handle that whenever it comes, but it's, I understand that the conversation happens here because, first of all, they have cap space. And this league is much better when the Lakers, the Knicks, and the Celtics are all good at the same time. That's just how it is. So that's what also creates the frenzy."

Despite his unwillingness to budge on the matter, it hasn't stopped cities from trying to attract the four-time MVP. Like the billboards that a Philly-based company purchased just outside of Cleveland. Or the Cleveland rebuttal. Or even Los Angeles fans shot at both cities.

"It's the same as I stated when I seen the Philadelphia billboards," James said. "Listen, I'm 15 years into my career, and fans and cities want me to play for their team or have dreams. I think it's pretty cool. Listen, my kids see things like that, they think it's cool and I think it's cool. It's flattering more than anything, that a fan of a team or somewhere would want me to play for their city, so it's very flattering."

James is on pace to play 82 games for the first time in his career, and averaging 27 points, nine assists, and 8.4 rebounds per game - his best averages since his return to Cleveland.