CLEVELAND CAVALIERS James supports Boozer's decision
The Cavaliers couldn't match Utah's six-year, $68 million offer for Boozer.
AKRON (AP) -- Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James, who once said he wanted to play his entire career with Carlos Boozer, says he's supporting the power forward's decision to leave the team.
"It hurts us, of course," James said Wednesday after appearing at the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles, which air again Sunday on ESPN. But James said he respects Boozer for doing what he believed was best for him and his family.
"I'm great friends with Carlos. We had a great run in the one year that I had him," James said.
In February, James said of Boozer, "All I know is that I want him as my power forward until I retire."
James said Wednesday that he has spoken to Boozer since he decided to accept the Utah's six-year, $68 million offer.
Can't match offer
The Cavaliers don't have the money under the salary cap to match the offer and said Wednesday they wouldn't try.
The team says it had a verbal understanding with Boozer to work out a long-term contract. Boozer has denied there was an agreement, although he told The Associated Press at the beginning of the free-agency period that he planned to stay in Cleveland.
"It's a situation where his family comes first," James said. "People in your family come first before anybody -- teammates, coaches, the NBA."
James won the ESPY award for best breakthrough athlete over Carmelo Anthony, Jake Delhomme, Michelle Wie and Freddy Adu. Winners were chosen by fans on ESPN's Web site.