The 2014 NBA Free Agency Rumors & Predictions just finished the Carmelo Anthony roller-coaster ride from Chicago to Texas and Los Angeles. Now, all roads (and airways) lead to Cleveland as LeBron James' agent Rich Paul screens the team offers to see who is worthy of having a conference with 'The King.'

After the reported meetings with the Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and of course, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the LA Lakers were granted a meeting at the last minute, and GM Mitch Kupchak promptly took a plane to LeBron James' home state.

@ramonashelburne reports that Mitch Kupchak flying to CLE to meet with LeBron's agent Rich Paul

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 4, 2014

Do they even have a chance? Is it really worth the time and effort? What exactly do the Lakers have to offer?

James' demand is two-fold. One is a max contract, the other is a competitive roster that can win a championship. Remember, he was second place and he's not very pleased.

The Lakers can offer the first condition outright. But how on Earth can they convince James that they can win a championship?

Basketball Insiders' analyst Yannis Koutroupis says that there's more to LA than meets the eye:

"The Lakers continue to get killed for that extension for Kobe. But it's because we're so locked into thinking through the lens of how things impact this owner-friendly CBA. Think about it from the player's perspective. The Lakers didn't see Kobe play a single minute on the floor after his torn Achilles and they made him the highest-paid player in the NBA for the next two seasons. That's loyalty. That's giving a star player everything that he deserves."

That was exactly what GM Mitch Kupchak said. The Lakers are about lasting relationships. There are not a lot of teams where former greats like Magic Johnson and James Worthy (who was there at the Carmelo pitch) still stick around even if they have no official designation. The Celtics would also be in the category and maybe the Pistons. James would like to think the 'Heat Mafia' is about to reach that point.

He continues: "I know that LeBron is gung ho over getting a max contract right now - as he should be - but of all the guys that we've talked about so far, I think that Kobe is the one guy who he could live with getting paid more than him. Look what he's been through with that franchise. The highs and lows, they've stuck by him. And, at his weakest moment - where 29 out of the other 29 teams in the NBA would refuse to give him a max extension and make him take less, they said here's the biggest offer we can make you, if you want to stay with us another two years, sign on the dotted line. "

One can argue that if LeBron was thinking of the long term, he should just stay in Miami. Pat Riley is there-the former coach of the Lakers.

It's a long shot, but someday, LeBron will be old like Kobe, and maybe even injured like Kobe. When his priorities have changed and he's no longer chasing a title, only one team would jeopardize their cap flexibility to write a $ 48 million dollar "Thank You" note, and it's not on the East Coast.