New York Knicks: The LeBron James Pipe Dream

LeBron James is not likely to land in New York. (NBA.com photo)

Here we go again.

According to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith (on 98.7 FM ESPN New York), LeBron James has made it known to those in his “inner circle” that he will strongly consider signing with the New York Knicks as a free agent in 2015.

Very few NBA insiders are as in touch with personnel movement as Stephen A., who was adamant about LeBron landing in Miami for several weeks before “The Decision” actually came to fruition.   This isn’t a National Enquirer type making up rumors for web hits.  This is one of ESPN’s most popular and consistently reliable on-air personalities.

But in this case, that of LeBron James wearing orange-and-blue and joining forces with Carmelo Anthony to electrify Madison Square Garden and bring New York it’s first NBA title since the 1970s, Stephen A. Smith (a native New Yorker and an admitted Knick fan) is a starry-eyed dreamer.

LeBron James, one of the more modern, proactive-thinking athletes in recent memory, has already proven willing to eschew the most imaginary of sports virtues, loyalty.  And rightfully so.  The NBA is a business and owners and front offices rarely ever reciprocate the type of loyalty fans expect from today’s athletes.  So when you look at what James did in the past in Cleveland, history suggests he is going to put himself in the best possible situation, and he is going to do it as soon as possible.  What does it all mean?

LeBron James will opt out of his contract NEXT season.  He will not exercise his player option and give the Heat one more year, making him a free-agent in 2015.  He is going to put himself on the market at the end of 2013-14.  He’ll do this to put pressure on the Miami Heat to retool around him immediately.  He’ll do this to ensure himself four to five more years of guaranteed money (as insurance in case of a freak injury).  And most importantly, he’ll do this because it gives him the best chance to win more championships.

When LeBron opts out, it will virtually eliminate the New York Knicks, who won’t have the available cap space until 2015, from the discussion.  The Miami Heat could have a leg up in the process, having proven that they have a front office shrewd enough to rebuild a contender on the fly.  The Los Angeles Lakers, assuming Kobe Bryant potentially takes a pay cut, belong in the discussion as well considering the fact that they’ll have the books almost completely clear next off-season.  Lastly, the Cleveland Cavaliers, with a nice collection of young talent and a familiarity with James no other franchise has, belong in the conversation as well when talking about possible landing spots for LeBron.

The allure of Madison Square Garden has been a bit misleading over the years.  The only major free agent they’ve managed to attract since 1995 is Amar’e Stoudemire and the only reason he came on board was because New York was the only franchise willing to give Amare his completely uninsurable $100 million contract.  Carmelo Anthony followed suit, forcing his way to the Knicks in a trade mainly so he could join forces with Stoudemire, who now has the NBA’s only “untradeable deal” and rarely stays healthy.  First order of business for the Knicks is convincing Anthony to stay.  Rumors have floated that they have already started the process, with some connected within the organization claiming Anthony will essentially be able to “pick his own teammates” in 2015 when the books clear and Amare’s albatross mercifully expires.

But is Carmelo Anthony, who has an opt-out in 2014, willing to wait that long?  Anthony seems like an East Coast, NYC-type guy and he’d be public enemy No. 1 at MSG if he spurned the Knicks after making a power play that essentially led New York to the unenviable situation they are in now.  Hard to imagine Carmelo would be willing to do that, but the threat of him leaving for greener pastures next offseason is very real.  The idea of Lebron James coming to New York, simply put, is not.