When You Really Look at It, New York Just Isn't an Option for LeBron James

If the New York Yankees played basketball, LeBron James would be a lock to play in New York next season.

Let's face it, with all of the media generated talk about the King of Cleveland taking his throne to a "bigger stage" next season, the mystique of playing at Madison Square Garden really does not have the same draw as it once did.

This is 2010, and the New York Knicks are not the Knickerbockers of the 50s, 60s, and 70s.

I will not deny that the Knicks have a rich history.  They have 12 Hall of Famers, two NBA Championships, eight conference titles, and seven division titles.  But when it comes to LeBron's lifetime...they just don't stack up.

Sure, the city of New York offers the lifestyle that would seem to suit a superstar like LeBron James.

On any given night he could sit in one of those amazingly expensive suites at the new Yankee Stadium, check out a New York Rangers hockey game, or hit up the clubs with his boy Jay-Z.

Wait...you mean he can't do those things already?

LeBron James will be the highest paid player in the NBA after this off-season.  His endorsements rival those of Tiger Woods at Tiger's peak (pre-womanizing).  LeBron can get on a private jet and do all of those things in New York whenever he wants...without being part of that miserable franchise.

LeBron has made it perfectly clear that he wants to win more rings than anybody in NBA history, be the richest athlete ever, and be the face of the city he plays in.

With all due respect to New York, you don't offer him any better opportunities than Cleveland.

In Cleveland, he is a God. He is the most recognizable athlete in the city's history.  He is the hometown kid who has revived a franchise that was spiralling downward.  If you don't believe he is the face of this city, take a look at the monster size poster he has next to Quicken Loans Arena.

Playing in New York would provide LeBron with more media attention than he has ever received in his life.  However, it will not all be good. 

If you don't believe me, ask A-Rod, Jeter, C.C, Mark Texiera, etc.  They will all tell LeBron that while the money is great, the media coverage is horrible.

The New York media invades an athlete's life more than anyone could ever imagine.  They are ruthless, cutthroat and will scrutinize every false move he makes.

In Cleveland, we cringe when LeBron pulls up for that three-pointer in transition.  In New York they will make it front-page blunder news.

If the media scrutiny isn't enough to drive LeBron away, how about the roster situation?

The Knicks currently have seven possible players under contract for next season.  Three of which have team options that are surely not to be picked up. 

This means that the Knicks have Eddy Curry, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, and Toney Douglas making roughly 13 million dollars next season.  The current cap prediction of 56 million dollars gives them 43 million to work with in free agency.

EVEN if they could lure LeBron to New York and sign Chris Bosh, both of whom would command max contracts, that would only leave New York around seven to eight million dollars to create a championship caliber team with.

I understand that any team with LeBron and Bosh would be a contender, but Bosh is really more comparable to Antawn Jamison at this stage in his career than any of the NBA greats.

The New York Knicks need LeBron James more than LeBron needs New York.

He has a 25,000 square foot home just outside of Cleveland.  His family is here, and don't forget that his marketing agency is here as well.

If LeBron's commitment toward winning NBA Championships is as true as he makes it seem to the media, no franchise (with the exception of the Lakers) provides him with a better opportunity.

Dan Gilbert and Danny Ferry have met every wish and demand of LeBron since the tandem has taken control of the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise.

LeBron wanted a scoring point guard, they brought him Mo Williams.

LeBron wanted to get more defensive and get complimentary players, they got him Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, and Wally Szczerbiak.

When those players didn't work, LeBron wanted more changes.

Danny Ferry went back to the drawing board and turned Sasha Pavlovic, next year's first round draft pick, Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, and Wally Szczerbiak into Shaq, Antawn Jamsion, Anthony Parker, Jamario Moon, and Leon Powe: either through trade or free agency.

The fact of the matter is that LeBron will not find it better in New York than he has it in Cleveland. 

Other cities may have more to offer in terms of living, shopping, and clubbing; but when it comes to winning, the Cavaliers organization offers opportunity No. 1.

It is up to LeBron to decide what he will do in the Summer of 2010. 

If he follows the path left by his idol Michael Jordan, he will say No to New York.

And as long as the Cavaliers franchise provides him with the opportunity to be in the position to win Championships every season—The King Stays Here.