James wants to win with Cavs

Now that good pal Dwyane Wade has won an NBA title, LeBron James is even more driven to get his first.

"It just makes me hungrier," James said Wednesday at the groundbreaking for a $4.7 million housing project on the city's east side that he and his business team are partially funding. "The best team won it this year, D-Wade and the Miami Heat. But the NBA doesn't stop in one year.

"I've got a long time to get mine."

It's clearer than ever that James wants to win his first championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

On July 1, the club will offer him a five-year, $75 million maximum contract extension. That date has been circled on the Cavs' calendar since they drafted the 21-year-old first overall in 2003.

James is convinced he'll be in Cleveland for a long time.

"I'm very happy here with our team and I'm very excited about our future," he said. "I'm confident we'll get something done. I've got confidence in the organization and what we've done together."

During the announcement of his latest business venture, James was handed a shovel for a photo opportunity to show his commitment to rebuilding an urban area of Cleveland.

The Cavaliers can only hope it also symbolized that their superstar is digging in for a long time.

NBA rules prevent general manager Danny Ferry from publicly commenting on James' contract situation, but it's no secret the team is eager to get beyond July 1.

"It's great that LeBron is showing his commitment toward Northeast Ohio and the city," Ferry said at the ceremony. "The organization is proud of him."

TERRY HOPES TO STAY IN DALLAS: As soon as the Dallas Mavericks were knocked out of the NBA finals, Jason Terry began talking about what they can do to win it all next year. That's the kind of leadership expected from a point guard — except when that point guard is headed into free agency.

Terry sounded nothing like a player ready to sign with the highest bidder following Dallas' 95-92 loss to the Miami Heat on Tuesday night.

"We're going to do everything in our power to get back to this level," he said. "It's very disappointing right now, but we still believe in each other and believe in the system . . . I'm looking forward to next season and trying to get back to the same level with the same group of guys."