[h3]
You want optimism. (NY's only likely real shot)[/h3]
LeBron James to New York looks bleak with Miami and Chicago cutting salary during the recent draft, but there is still a slight hope for
Knicks
fans that this off-season doesn't turn out into a disappointing road to mediocrity.
I feel the New York Knicks could still have a shot at
LeBron James, if he feels that creating several very strong teams rather than one or two powerhouses could help the league the most. If those teams are big-time franchises like
the Knicks, the Bulls, and
the Heat (all had great 90s rivalries), its even better for the league. If two of the top free agents (James & Bosh) jumping to a team like Chicago, who already have Derrick Rose, or a team like Miami, who already have Dwayne Wade (he's not leaving), that team will have a very strong chance at building a dynasty and
winning titles, but in the end it would be rather cheap way to do so.
Now if James and Bosh joined forces on a team like the Knicks without any established superstars, or if he stays in Cleveland and Bosh stays in Toronto, that will create more parity among the top teams. James could very well have a shot at a title with the Knicks (in 1 or 2 years at the most), so it's not like they would be giving up on their championship aspirations if James & Bosh did decide to come to the Big Apple. Financially it would make sense for them too. It would be more of a challenge and an accomplishment to beat a few equally strong teams in the playoffs, such as the likely improved Bulls and Heat, the Magic (potentially with Chris Paul), and maybe the Nets as well, rather than trying to build a dream team in Chicago or Miami. I think that would hurt the league, but creating good teams and those team developing REAL NBA rivalries (like in the 90s) will help the the league tremendously, in my honest opinion. I would also suck in the video game world because everybody would be picking
the Bulls or the Heat, as they currently do with the Lakers.
Let's face it, if NY misses out on James and Bosh, they have virtually no shot at being able to compete with the top teams in the East for a long time. Now if NY ended up with the top two free agents in this 2010 free agent class, that would diminish the potential of the other teams with major cap space (mainly Chicago & Miami) to improve dramatically. James and Bosh comes to NY, then Chicago signs Carlos Boozer and Joe Johnson, Miami signs Amare Stoudemire and a good starter, and Oklahoma City signs David Lee. These teams would battle in the post-season for years to come. Imagine the energy in the arenas as a LeBron/Bosh led Knicks team face a much improved
Bulls team with Boozer & Johnson in the playoffs. The Bulls fans pissed off LeBron didn't sign with them, and the hungry Knicks fans going crazy in MSG after so many years of terrible play. Imagine LeBron & CB4 vs D-Wade & Amare in the playoffs. If Chicago or Miami sign James and Bosh, the league is pretty much over until those the players on that team either decline or suffer a major injury. Not the same drama, is it? Maybe between the Lakers and the Bulls/Heat, until Kobe hits his mid-30s.
LeBron James comments about going to the "Free Agent Summit" (which may or may not have happened) and trying to figure out "what's best for the league" is the only hope remaining, in my mind, that opens the opportunity of James picking the less talented Knicks over the Bulls or the Heat during free agency. He could also just stay in Cleveland, and I would understand if he did, but unless they could make a trade for a bona fide superstar to pair with him (maybe a Chris Paul) via a trade, I think it would be difficult for the Cavs to compete with the potentially new and improved Bulls and Heat. Plus a Knicks/Bull or Knicks/Heat rivalry would probably be more intriguing than a Cavs/Bulls or Cavs/Heat rivalry, but I'm probably just saying that because I'm a Knicks fan.
If Donnie Walsh can convince LeBron James (and Chris Bosh) to sign because of this reason I think the NBA as a whole will benefit. The Knicks sucking or wallowing in mediocrity, while an unbeatable powerhouse is formed in Chicago or Miami, is not going to help the league. This of course, is just my opinion.
I still think the Knicks are long shots at James and Bosh, and they are likely doomed to waste their cap space on non-franchise caliber players. With no picks in the next two drafts, it doesn't make sense to preserve cap space and just try to rebuild the old fashion way, which is to truly suck and then add franchise-changing players with top 5 picks. I think there will be assumed pressure, by the fans, on the Knicks franchise to at least put together a competitive team, even if they have no shot at a title in the next 5-10 years. Walsh risky trading of those picks (including the 2011 swap option) for Tracy McGrady, has likely removed the possibility of a normal rebuilding process, so I expect some plan B, C, or D to occur via a combination of tier 3 free agent signings and a trade for a star accompanied with bad contract (see: Marbury trade from Phoenix). We can only hope that the Bulls and Heat are unsuccessfully in their goals of opening up two full MAX free agent slots... and/or that LeBron does what's best for the NBA/league.
