Derek Jeter, Jay Z Not Recruiting Lebron James

Yankees star Derek Jeter and New Jersey Nets part owner Jay Z say it doesn't make any sense to recruit Lebron James to New York, either the Knicks or the Nets.

"It wouldn't make sense," the Yankees captain said.

Knicks president Donnie Walsh has begun a campaign to get as many New Yorkers as possible to help convince James to choose Madison Square Garden when NBA free agency opens July 1. James is a Yankees fan, and has a special pair of Yankee-styled Nikes.

"If there's Yankees that want to help us, we would involve them," Walsh told the New York Post.

"That's his decision," Jay Z said in a Rolling Stone interview.

"We're friends -- we've still gotta hang out! I don't want to convince somebody to do something, then have to see him and say, 'Uh, yeah, we're 4-30 ... sorry.'"

During an interview with Larry King that aired Friday night, James reiterated that his first choice could be to stay in Cleveland, though he has not ruled out playing for other teams such as the Bulls or Knicks.  The one thing he stressed, however, is that he must be on a team that is built to win.  James also said that he would be overseeing a group of free agents to discuss among one another various options and pairings.

James odds of staying put in Cleveland were at -150.

His odds of going to the Bulls were at +150 ($15 would be paid for every $10 bet), while moving to the Knicks would pay out $20 and the Nets would pay out $40 at Sportsbook.com. 

Elsewhere, the Clippers would pay out $100 for every $10 bet.

The Heat would pay out $60.

Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter