Redd-faced

The worst-kept secret of the week is now open to the public: Michael Redd took the money over LeBron.
Far be it from me to overly criticize the presence of LeBron James on the Cavaliers. After all, at the tender age of 20, he's already the best thing that's ever happened to this franchise. But when it comes to luring stud free agents, LeBron might actually be hurting the Cavs.
In the egotistical world of NBA superstardom, everybody wants to be center-stage. Who wants to play second fiddle to a 20-year-old phenom on a team that can't even come close to promising title contention next year?
Money was the driving factor in Redd's decision to stay a Buck, just like money was the driving factor in Carlos Boozer's defection to Utah last year. But in both cases, I have to wonder how much ego factored in.
As Boozer was busy averaging a double-double in the 2003-04 season, he grew quietly sick of all the adoration and hype bestowed upon LeBron as a rookie. Redd, who has spent far more time on NBA undercards than Boozer, might have seen that storm swirling ahead of him had he opted to sign in Cleveland.
It's the kind "damned if you do, damned if you don't" bad luck that has been infesting this franchise for most of its 35-year existence. The Cavs need LeBron to have any shot of winning. But the prodigy who was supposed to make it easier to lure the missing pieces to town might actually be hurting those chances, thanks to pure, petty jealousy that does not involve him.