by Lundberg - July 4, 2010 - - Comment Now »
I’ll remember where I was on July 4th 2010 (on the radio and then obsessively checking twitter and realgm.com). If you’ve been following free agency, so will you. Because there has never been anything like this story, ever. There better be a documentary about it.
You can accuse me of being too overly obsessive regarding this topic and you’d be right, except I imagine I’m in a crowded club (you know, the type of club LeBron James frequents in New York). I can’t even organize my thoughts.
Here’s what I do know, no one knows anything. LeBron is still playing the greatest hand of poker ever. Here’s another thing I know, the New York Knicks have put themselves in a position of power. There’s a reason they’re being bad mouthed…because they are a legitimate threat. They’ve also made the most aggressive play of free agency thus far by seemingly adding Amare Stoudemire to the fold.
Amare makes their roster at least as attractive as Chicago’s (and it’s a better fit for LeBron too). In a normal Summer, he’d be the prize of free agency. We are talking about a first or second All-NBA level power forward. Plus, he’s only 27 (for those with concerns about his knees, he’s played four seasons since microfracture surgery; he’d make a good case study for how it works). Most importantly, he’d be the best player LeBron has ever played with.
Another thing this “move” (it isn’t final) does is take a chip off the board. Now, Chicago and Miami are both in danger of striking out. If Chris Bosh goes in a sign and trade to Houston, Dwyane Wade is very much in play. He will not return to the Heat without help. At that point, he’d choose between the Bulls and the Knicks. If he and Bosh wind up on the same squad, then how can LeBron justify staying on the Cavs with a depleted roster?
Donnie Walsh has spent two-plus years preparing for this moment and it shows. The fireworks tonight are nothing compared to the metaphorical ones this story is generating. This is likely the first and last time we’ll ever see some something like it. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Tags: basketball, knicks, lebron, nba, Sports
