LeBron James said on Wednesday that the Cavaliers will welcome Delonte West back to the club whenever he is emotionally ready.

"We've been around this block before with Delonte, so we know how to handle it," James said. "I'm sure he'll be OK. Basketball has nothing to do with what's going on. He needs to take as much time as he needs, and when he comes back, we'll welcome him as we've always done."

James said he called West but didn't get an answer.

Danny Ferry declined to meet with reporters Wednesday, but the Cleveland GM did speak at length with West.

Jameer Nelson played beside Delonte West for three years at St. Joseph's and never once did he know or suspect that Delonte West was dealing with mood disorders or depression.

"People don?t look at us as having problems because we are professional athletes," Nelson said Wednesday after practicing with the Orlando Magic. "They look at us as the guys that go out there on the basketball court. We have outside life as well, and things can go on in your life that would trigger you to act a certain way. We?re human just like anybody else."

Nelson said he spoke on the phone with West several times during the summer, and nothing seemed wrong.

"He seemed well," Nelson said. "But you can never tell over the phone how somebody is doing.

"He's in my prayers," Nelson said. "I know this about Delonte: He?s a strong person and he's a great person. I don?t want anybody to think because of what?s going on and what happened to him that he?s a bad person. He?s a great person, and people need to understand that."

During an interview in New York to promote the release of "More than a Game," LeBron James said, "I'm very excited to be here in New York, I love New York ... you know, couldn't be better than to be in the Mecca of basketball and that's New York City."

The interviewer then asked James, "And we know you said you loved playing at MSG, how about next summer?"  

James responded, "We'll see when it gets here, all right," and ended the interview.

As the video ends, James is heard chanting "New York! New York!" as he walks with a group.

Delonte West remains a no-show, missing his second straight day of the Cavs' training camp.  

West did not attend either the morning practice or evening session on Wednesday.

West's absence continues to be unexcused.

The Cavaliers previously considered the possibility of trading Delonte West, sources said, but his recent instability has made that an impossible option.

Beyond the fact that he?s in his Cleveland apartment, one associate said, the reason for West?s absence is still a source of speculation for Cavs general manager Danny Ferry and coach Mike Brown. West attended the Cavs? media day availability Monday but was an unexcused no-show for both of Tuesday?s practices at the team?s facility in suburban Cleveland.

Delonte West did not report for the first day of the Cavs' training camp on Tuesday.  West's absence was not excused.

"On a personal note, you always hope he's doing well," Mike Brown said. "But I have to continue looking forward and coaching this team. Whether it is Delonte or somebody else, if they miss practice and it is unexcused it will be handled internally."

West also missed the Cavs' evening practice session.  Late in the day on Tuesday, the team said West is dealing with a personal matter.

West was arrested on gun charges Sept. 17 and admitted at the Cavs' media day on Monday that he was struggling to stay on medication to manage a mood disorder.

At Cleveland's media day on Monday, LeBron James wanted to focus on the upcoming season, not free-agency nine months from now.

"Next summer is next summer," James said. "When it's time to deal with it, I'll deal with it."

Shaquille O'Neal echoed a similar party line.

"I won't mention my situation, I won't mention his situation, I'll just come play," O'Neal said. "My mother told me not to say anything about it because I've been the luckiest athlete in the world. I've had three great deals in one career, so if I can get one more, good. If not, I'll try something else."

Cavaliers guard Delonte West downplayed his recent arrest on gun charges when he reported for training camp on Monday.

"We've got to respect the legal process," West told the media. "I understand there's a lot of questions a lot of things you want to know about the situation. Right now I want to focus on this team and playing basketball."

He was arrested earlier this month after police found West was carrying two concealed handguns and a shotgun in a guitar case on his back after they pulled him over on a traffic violation in his native Maryland.

West has a court date in late November.

"Once the details come out surrounding the situation, you'll see that it's not as big as some are making it," he added. "There's a lot going on with a lot of athletes in the news and it was just bad timing before training camp, unfortunately. That's going to handle itself."

On media day in Cleveland, LeBron James said that he plans to attack more down low to complement his perimeter game.

"I did a lot of interior work this summer, on the post and elbows and stuff like that. I'll be more on the inside this year," James said.

Cavaliers center Shaquille O'Neal was welcomed to Cleveland on Sunday with a party that included both sports stars and fans.

"It's a nice town," O'Neal said. "The entertainment is already here. Everything is here. The Browns are here, LeBron is here and now I'm here."

Before O'Neal arrived, former Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar, boxing champion Kelly Pavlik, Browns return specialist Joshua Cribbs, several members of the Cleveland Indians, Olympic gold medalist Dominique Moceanu and former Cavs star Austin Carr walked the red carpet of the event.

"The NBA has become the haves and the have-nots," Kosar told the Associated Press. "We've been lucky that Cavs owner Dan Gilbert has made Cleveland one of the league's top franchises and Shaq makes us even better."