While it's evident to people close to him that

LeBron James will make this decision alone

, don't underestimate the influence of a Maverick.

No, we're not talking about John McCain or Dirk Nowitzki, but Maverick Carter, LeBron's business manager and buddy from St. Vincent St. Mary High School.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports it was Carter who pushed out NBA power broker "Worldwide" William Wesley - agent for Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau and alleged source of 'LeBron to Bulls is a done deal' - from last week's meetings in Cleveland.

Wojnarowski writes,

While the Bulls were the favorites heading into this process, especially among national writers, there is growing sentiment the Cavaliers now have the edge.

Wojnarowski goes on to write,

Which brings us to that 'Family Guy' cartoon the Cavaliers showed LeBron during their visit on Saturday. The New York Daily News writes this about it,

Funny stuff to be sure - and more bad news for Knicks fans - both LeBron James and Maverick Carter were not at the second meeting between the Knicks and James' agent. That's like asking for a meeting with the President and getting Chris Matthews instead.

So, if we cross off the Knicks (and maybe the Bulls) and you're still not convinced LeBron is staying?

Consider then Brian Shaw, the Cavaliers-coach-to-be until he suddenly wasn't. Lost in the frenzied hiring of Byron Scott the day before the Cavs' presentation to LeBron, was an interview Shaw did with a Los Angeles radio station and transcribed by ESPN.com. Shaw told the Mason & Ireland Show on ESPN 710 in L.A.,

All told, three things that make you go 'hmmmmm' equal another 'Looking Good' on the 'Meter today.

Like everyone else in Cleveland, we wonder what LeBron James will do when his contract is up this summer. Will he stay home, or team up with one of his buddies elsewhere? Until he decides to talk, we have to rely on hunches, instincts and educated guesswork. We'll report our findings, more or less daily, using the LeBron-O-Meter.