New York Knicks 2010 Offseason Outlook , Lebron James Predictions
July 1st 2010 18:24
Over the past three plus years the most talked about story in the NBA is “where will Lebron James end up?”. Today marks the beginning of the NBA Free Agency and the question still remains “where will Lebron James end up?” The Knicks, a once glorious franchise that has fallen by the wayside over these past few years and hopes that through a franchise changing player like Lebron they can get back to their championship caliber product.
While it is known that there are roughly 6 teams interested in Lebron the Knicks remain (at least in my view) the 4th most likely to attain his services. Cleveland has the home team advantage being able to offer him $30 million more aside from Lebron having lived in the state his whole life (which I think means more than most people think). Chicago being the most lucrative alternative offering both the incentive of playing with Derek Rose, Joakim Noah, among potential others (Bosh), but also allows him to fulfill his dream of becoming the next Michael Jordan. Don’t underestimate the significance of Lebron changing his number to #8 instead of #23. I feel he thinks he can brand his own image of #8 into a Bulls uniform and be the next Jordan. The Nets also stand a more likely chance of landing Lebron with the new ownership and potential for moving to Brooklyn.
The Knicks have several selling points for Lebron. The first most obvious selling point is the simple fact that it is New York City, the biggest stage to play on and biggest to market to. The second is that they can also build a team around Lebron with enough cap space to sign two max free agents much like the aforementioned Bulls. The question for Lebron is as simple as “do I have the best chance to win in New York?” and the answer is no.
Now, I know it’s hard for Knicks fans to accept, but if you can just accept that and move on you can focus on how truly to build a winner in this offseason. This gets us to my offseason prediction for the New York Knicks. With Lebron out of the way and presumably in any of the three aforementioned destinations the Knicks are free to focus on a more realistic strategy on building a winning franchise.
It is my firm belief that the recent news from Denver reporting that if Carmelo Anthony rejects the Nuggets latest contract proposal he will be traded and what better place than to trade him to New York. ‘Melo gives the Knicks the franchise player to build around after losing out on Lebron. If you’re from the New York area you’ll know that with all the hype in this offseason if the Knicks don’t end up with a marquee name there will be riots in the streets so trading for ‘Melo is a logical move. Denver won’t be willing to part with him so easily, but if you’re willing to part ways with a Gallinari, a draft pick and a few players he can be had for the taking.
Bringing in Carmelo leaves the Knicks with one more max contract spot to bring in an additional player to improve the team. The field still remains with some talented big men, Dirk Nowitski, Carlos Boozer, and Amare Stoudemire along with solid perimeter players such as Joe Johnson, Ray Allen, among others. The Knicks without a doubt need to play to their strengths here and sign Amare Stoudemire to a max contract. Nowitski is expected to resign with Dallas and has strong ties there to owner Mark Cuban so I don’t expect him to move while Boozer projects to go to Miami to play with Dwyane Wade. Of the three big men Stoudemire is the best fit for the system in which the Knicks run. Aside from the obvious coaching connection between D’Antoni and Stoudemire it should be noted that under D’Antoni’s coaching reign Stoudemire put up a career high in points scored (26.0 in ’04-05). The addition of Stoudemire allows D’Antoni to run a more fast paced offense and with the addition of Carmelo via trade would drastically improve the Knicks to a playoff contending team.
I figured with all the talk I mentioned in the beginning with Lebron that I would inevitably have to address where I think he would be going. It is my personal feeling that although The Cavaliers and Bulls remain the frontrunners in the Lebron sweepstakes that the New Jersey Nets, yes the New Jersey Nets will be the team that signs Lebron James this offseason. I feel that simply put his friendship with Jay-Z and potential for growth in the Brooklyn market allows Lebron to make the move to New Jersey (only temporarily). What better ways for Lebron to become an Icon than to have a whole NBA franchise relocate just because of him?? In addition Brooke Lopez and Devin Harris offer an interesting talent alternative to that which the Bulls offer. There is not a single person out there who can convince me otherwise that with the swagger of Jay-Z in that meeting room he won’t be able to convince Lebron to make that move and carry a franchise to new leaps and bounds in Brooklyn.
As always I wish to hear your opinion on these thoughts and to hear thoughts of your own on where Lebron will end up & the Knicks offseason plans. As usual be sure to send me questions & comments to: behindthebarricade@hotmail.co .uk and follow me @nickteodoro
Last blog I asked "Is Stephen Strasburg deserving of an All-Star Bid" heres what some of you said.
C.J Bauer ( said: "I love this kid and have been aware of him since high school in Texas. He very special, and yes your right, it's to early to anoint him the next greatest because of the health factor. But, we are watching something special so lets enjoy it and wish him well. Having said that, he does not merit an All Star appearance this year based on wins alone not to mention starts. But, I promise, if healthy he will be there for years to come."
K.C Deforge (New York) said: I agree with you and it's been something I've been thinking about for some time. I hear a lot of people on TV saying he deserves a bid, but I think he should be there just because of the lack of games he's played in. If for some reason a bunch of other pitchers back out of the game then sure let him in, but until that happens I think there are other players that deserve the bid more. Maybe next season when he plays more he'll get AS status
Until Next Time,
-Nick Teodoro
While it is known that there are roughly 6 teams interested in Lebron the Knicks remain (at least in my view) the 4th most likely to attain his services. Cleveland has the home team advantage being able to offer him $30 million more aside from Lebron having lived in the state his whole life (which I think means more than most people think). Chicago being the most lucrative alternative offering both the incentive of playing with Derek Rose, Joakim Noah, among potential others (Bosh), but also allows him to fulfill his dream of becoming the next Michael Jordan. Don’t underestimate the significance of Lebron changing his number to #8 instead of #23. I feel he thinks he can brand his own image of #8 into a Bulls uniform and be the next Jordan. The Nets also stand a more likely chance of landing Lebron with the new ownership and potential for moving to Brooklyn.
The Knicks have several selling points for Lebron. The first most obvious selling point is the simple fact that it is New York City, the biggest stage to play on and biggest to market to. The second is that they can also build a team around Lebron with enough cap space to sign two max free agents much like the aforementioned Bulls. The question for Lebron is as simple as “do I have the best chance to win in New York?” and the answer is no.
Now, I know it’s hard for Knicks fans to accept, but if you can just accept that and move on you can focus on how truly to build a winner in this offseason. This gets us to my offseason prediction for the New York Knicks. With Lebron out of the way and presumably in any of the three aforementioned destinations the Knicks are free to focus on a more realistic strategy on building a winning franchise.
It is my firm belief that the recent news from Denver reporting that if Carmelo Anthony rejects the Nuggets latest contract proposal he will be traded and what better place than to trade him to New York. ‘Melo gives the Knicks the franchise player to build around after losing out on Lebron. If you’re from the New York area you’ll know that with all the hype in this offseason if the Knicks don’t end up with a marquee name there will be riots in the streets so trading for ‘Melo is a logical move. Denver won’t be willing to part with him so easily, but if you’re willing to part ways with a Gallinari, a draft pick and a few players he can be had for the taking.
Bringing in Carmelo leaves the Knicks with one more max contract spot to bring in an additional player to improve the team. The field still remains with some talented big men, Dirk Nowitski, Carlos Boozer, and Amare Stoudemire along with solid perimeter players such as Joe Johnson, Ray Allen, among others. The Knicks without a doubt need to play to their strengths here and sign Amare Stoudemire to a max contract. Nowitski is expected to resign with Dallas and has strong ties there to owner Mark Cuban so I don’t expect him to move while Boozer projects to go to Miami to play with Dwyane Wade. Of the three big men Stoudemire is the best fit for the system in which the Knicks run. Aside from the obvious coaching connection between D’Antoni and Stoudemire it should be noted that under D’Antoni’s coaching reign Stoudemire put up a career high in points scored (26.0 in ’04-05). The addition of Stoudemire allows D’Antoni to run a more fast paced offense and with the addition of Carmelo via trade would drastically improve the Knicks to a playoff contending team.
I figured with all the talk I mentioned in the beginning with Lebron that I would inevitably have to address where I think he would be going. It is my personal feeling that although The Cavaliers and Bulls remain the frontrunners in the Lebron sweepstakes that the New Jersey Nets, yes the New Jersey Nets will be the team that signs Lebron James this offseason. I feel that simply put his friendship with Jay-Z and potential for growth in the Brooklyn market allows Lebron to make the move to New Jersey (only temporarily). What better ways for Lebron to become an Icon than to have a whole NBA franchise relocate just because of him?? In addition Brooke Lopez and Devin Harris offer an interesting talent alternative to that which the Bulls offer. There is not a single person out there who can convince me otherwise that with the swagger of Jay-Z in that meeting room he won’t be able to convince Lebron to make that move and carry a franchise to new leaps and bounds in Brooklyn.
As always I wish to hear your opinion on these thoughts and to hear thoughts of your own on where Lebron will end up & the Knicks offseason plans. As usual be sure to send me questions & comments to: behindthebarricade@hotmail.co .uk and follow me @nickteodoro
Last blog I asked "Is Stephen Strasburg deserving of an All-Star Bid" heres what some of you said.
C.J Bauer ( said: "I love this kid and have been aware of him since high school in Texas. He very special, and yes your right, it's to early to anoint him the next greatest because of the health factor. But, we are watching something special so lets enjoy it and wish him well. Having said that, he does not merit an All Star appearance this year based on wins alone not to mention starts. But, I promise, if healthy he will be there for years to come."
K.C Deforge (New York) said: I agree with you and it's been something I've been thinking about for some time. I hear a lot of people on TV saying he deserves a bid, but I think he should be there just because of the lack of games he's played in. If for some reason a bunch of other pitchers back out of the game then sure let him in, but until that happens I think there are other players that deserve the bid more. Maybe next season when he plays more he'll get AS status
Until Next Time,
-Nick Teodoro
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