Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
The facts:
1. The Knicks aren't the only team with cap space for 2010. Everyone is clearing cap space for what is arguably the biggest summer in NBA free agency history. Here's the thing though: Every team with a guy like LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh already has the money to pay these guys whatever they want. Detroit, Cleveland, New Jersey, Sacramento and Minnesota -- just to name a few -- will all have tons of cap room for that summer.
2. New York isn't home. Cleveland and Akron will never be mistaken as the city that never sleeps, but where LeBron James has lived his entire life will never change. That matters.
3. You'll need a Robin to LeBron's Batman, and that's no sure thing either. One name going around lately seems to be Carlos Boozer landing with the Knicks in advance of 2010 -- possibly this offseason -- but does that really seem like a relationship that will work after he left 'Bron at the altar in Cleveland once already? If history has taught us anything, it's that cap space doesn't always equal free agency domination. I'd also like to give you, as an example, the post-Jordan Bulls, who had all this money and were allegedly set to land every free agent out there. How'd that work out?
4. He's getting endorsements either way. Right as I was finishing this post, Darren Rovell posted something I initially neglected to include. There is no bonus for LeBron James from Nike if he plays in New York. Do you hear this? We please stop perpetuating this myth now.
5. You are not special. I really want to hammer this point home because entitlement from sports fans drives me up the wall. The Knicks, as a franchise, are absolutely special. They have history, and I can appreciate that. But to quote the great philosopher Cheese Wagstaff (slightly edited), "There ain't no back in the day. Ain't no nostalgia to this here. There's just ... what happen here today."
Mike D'Antoni makes the Knicks an undeniably attractive destination for any player -- LeBron or otherwise. And if he goes there for a change in style, it would be completely understandable. (Although I think they'd tie Danny Ferry and Mike Brown together and throw them in Lake Erie if LeBron asked.) But the point is this: There is a lot of work to be done by the Knicks before No. 23 changes area codes and it’s hardly the slam dunk that many make it out to be. Until then, can't we all just take a tip from KD over at Ball Don't Lie and just enjoy a really great player while we can? Tomorrow isn't promised.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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Thank you Chris!!!
by boomhauertjs on Nov 26, 2008 10:51 AM EST reply actions
LOL love you "haters" from hicksville keep eating pasta with chilliKing LBJ can’t wait to get to NYC I have a nice loft in TriBecA to how him next time he’s in town
by Mel Hein on Nov 26, 2008 1:18 PM EST reply actions
Actually, it is. And he’ll be in orange and blue in a year and a half.
I’d place our chances at landing Lebron as far better than any other big name—Bosh, etc. Lebron loves NYC.
by Dubsy on Nov 26, 2008 3:41 PM EST reply actions
What the NYC fans don’t seem to understand is that under the collective bargaining agreement, Cleveland can pay James much more than the Knicks will be able too even with all that cap space. Unless Jay-Z is going to give up Beyonce to LeBron as part of the contract, they simply won’t be able to mach Cleveland’s offer.
by zamboni77 on Nov 26, 2008 3:57 PM EST reply actions
What fail to mention is the Upside. The name Donnie Walsh carry a lot of weight in attracting marque players.
by deps67 on Nov 26, 2008 3:58 PM EST reply actions
Mel — Before you start in on some more name-calling, can you explain to me why it’s such a lock when the Knicks haven’t signed a significant marquee free agent away from another team in the last two decades? I’m just saying. Most movement comes via trade or sign-and-trade, and can you really picture Cleveland giving away LeBron to another team willingly?
Deps67 — I think you and I are probably closer on this one than you realize, at least in the fact that I agree if there’s one legitimate reason to believe LeBron would go to NYC, it’d be D’Antoni. (And you could argue that’s an offshoot of Walsh.) I’m just saying any rational fan can look and see there are more than a few things that might keep it from happening.
by littmann.tsn on Nov 26, 2008 4:00 PM EST reply actions
get over it america…the king is coming to NYC and the garden…and there is nothing you can do about it.
by lordhlatts on Nov 26, 2008 5:26 PM EST reply actions
That is not guaranteed. Lebron may have a cruch of NYC but that doesn’t cover up that the Knicks are the NBA’s version of the Detroit Lions. Also, the Knicks aren’t the only team freeing up cap space.
by Tindale33 on Nov 26, 2008 5:46 PM EST reply actions
This guy is right. I have to listen about this lousy Knicks franchise constantly. People from NYC complain about this team up and down but still shell out hundreds of dollars to watch them suck. The NBA’s version of the Detroit Lions do not deserve the King.
by Tindale33 on Nov 26, 2008 5:48 PM EST reply actions
Lebron in an open court…just imagine it, no more half-court set plays.
…Just a thought, his stats would go through the roof not necessarily a championship, but boy would it be fun to watch.
by eatchinesefood51 on Nov 26, 2008 7:43 PM EST reply actions
Thank you Chris, not much I dislike more than those fans who feel their team or city is somehow entitled. Hey knickerbocker fans, I will tell you the same thing I was telling CUBS fans back in October. "Not so fast!!"
I think it is entirely possibile that Joe Dumars can convince The King to play for the Pistons.
by dag962 on Nov 26, 2008 8:00 PM EST reply actions
It is interesting that the Cavs are now fourth in the NBA in scoring this season with Mo Williams. They’re definitely more up-tempo this season than years past when they were grinding like the a broken down car. I’m interested to see what the Cavs are in position to do at the deadline with Szczerbiak’s expiring deal of roughly $13M, too. Then consider the next season they’ll have another expiring deal with Wallace at $14M. All things to consider going forward.
by littmann.tsn on Nov 26, 2008 9:43 PM EST reply actions
I actually had to laugh at those Knicks fans last night. The Knick player must have felt like crap while "their" fans were cheering for a player from the opposing team. What they should realize is that they are setting themselves up to be disappointed. Lebron toyed with them last night just like he does everytime he is there. Nike always comes up with some gimmick to make money, ie..the red shoes and witness t-shirts. If anyone saw his interview with Stephen A. and really listened to what he said, they would know that he will not be playing in NY.
So, lordhlatts, you get over it, because it ain’t gonna happen.
Great post Chris!
by honeyb43 on Nov 26, 2008 11:03 PM EST reply actions
Should LeBron abandon the Cavs for the bright lights for New York, chances are he’ll wind up in the same sort of situation he was in at the start of his tenure in Cleveland: Front man for a team with very little in the way of talent as the Knicks will have pretty much stripped the roster bare for the required salary cap space to sign LeBron, which, by the way, isn’t a mortal lock as New York won’t be the only team who’ll make a play for him.
by Flashjeff on Nov 27, 2008 6:43 AM EST reply actions
LeBron will end up in Detroit…write it down.
by Tileking59 on Nov 27, 2008 5:33 PM EST reply actions
Okay, look.
Money will NOT be an issue. LeBron will be no less filthy and no less rich no matter where he signs. It’ll be entirely a "where do I go to become legendary?" decision.
So yes, New York naturally has the edge, simply because they can lure him with the "Come be the king of NY" argument. I mean LeBron’s star is getting so big it seems like it’s of world-domination proportions. What better place to rule than in the publicity capital of the world?
Then again, he could be all about winning rings, in which case, sorry Knick fans, but I don’t see them surrounding him any better than most teams could, and he ain’t signing on to be no one-man show.
So… depending on his motives:
Publicity: New York
Winning: Detroit or Cleveland
Rocafella ties: New Jersey
P.S. you wanna talk about a false sense of entitlement? Look at Laker fans. Holy SHIT. Knick fans don’t even come close…
by logicjohnson on Nov 29, 2008 11:07 PM EST reply actions
Okay, look.
Money will NOT be an issue. LeBron will be no less filthy and no less rich no matter where he signs. It’ll be entirely a "where do I go to become legendary?" decision.
So yes, New York naturally has the edge, simply because they can lure him with the "Come be the king of NY" argument. I mean LeBron’s star is getting so big it seems like it’s of world-domination proportions. What better place to rule than in the publicity capital of the world?
Then again, he could be all about winning rings, in which case, sorry Knick fans, but I don’t see them surrounding him any better than most teams could, and he ain’t signing on to be no one-man show.
So… depending on his motives:
Publicity: New York
Winning: Detroit or Cleveland
Rocafella ties: New Jersey
P.S. you wanna talk about a false sense of entitlement? Look at Laker fans. Holy SHIT. Knick fans don’t even come close…
by logicjohnson on Nov 29, 2008 11:08 PM EST reply actions
Another possible motive:
Nickname compatibility: Sacramento
And ain’t no LeBron gonna sign with Minnesota. They can just forget that…
by logicjohnson on Nov 29, 2008 11:10 PM EST reply actions
I will admit I am a Knicks fan and would like to see LeBron playing in New York.
But, first James needs to think about one thing, and one thing only for now and for 2 more years..
Playing for the team that is currently paying him.
Or is it just the media that is stirring up the cauldron?
So,either way, both should shut up,
by damnyankee13 on Dec 1, 2008 11:02 AM EST reply actions
I will admit I am a Knicks fan and would like to see LeBron playing in New York.
But, first James needs to think about one thing, and one thing only for now and for 2 more years..
Playing for the team that is currently paying him.
Or is it just the media that is stirring up the cauldron?
So,either way, both should shut up,
by damnyankee13 on Dec 1, 2008 11:03 AM EST reply actions
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