Is 2010 Here Yet? Dwyane Wade Dodges All Questions Regarding Knicks

What’s the only good thing about the Knicks’ opening night loss to the Heat? Dwyane Wade is on my fantasy basketball team.

Prior to sending Heat fans home happy by leading his team to a 115-93 win over the Knicks, Dwyane Wade  made sure he took the time to keep Knicks fans frustrated with anticipation.

Wade took questions from the media last night, and acted as though there was a bullet that needed dodging after just about everyone. With an affirmative “I'm not even thinking about it," Wade either deserves an Oscar or really has no plans of even taking a tour of New York City come next summer.

This news should put a scare into Knicks fans, whose hearts have been set on King James coming to town in 2010. If James opts to stay in Cleveland, or even worse, join rap mogul pal Jay-Z in New Jersey, it’s safe to say that Wade would be a more than adequate consolation prize.  Wade’s skill was put on display for the Knicks, as if the team didn’t know already, as he lit the team up for 26 points Wednesday night.

There have been instances where Wade has been more frank about his desire to play in New York (or lack thereof), while at other times, his responses fail to provide the Knicks with any hope.

When interviewed in February, Wade said, “Is it a possibility me and LeBron will play together? It’s always a possibility,” Wade said. “We’re both free agents. Is it a possibility I’m going to New York? That’s not a possibility in my mind.”

He has also speculated that he would not sign with New York because of the cold weather, but if that were true, Wade would not be considering a return to his hometown of Chicago, better known as “the Windy City,” to play for the Bulls.

Whereas Cleveland is nowhere the market than New York is, Wade has to be quite comfortable in Miami. Even so, with reports mentioning past power struggles between Wade and Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, it’s safe to say he would get along just fine with Mike D’Antoni, who shared success and developed a relationship with Wade after their time together during the Olympics.

Upon returning from the Olympics, Wade made it clear “it’s a great system that Coach D’Antoni runs; it gives players a lot of free rein, a lot of freedom to utilize their skills,” Wade said. “I don’t want to say too many nice things about Coach D’Antoni’s style of play because every time I do, people take it as if I’m coming to the Knicks.”

On Wednesday, Wade made no mistake of letting that on once again.

The Knicks need to start coping with the fact that it is possible neither James nor Wade will be signing with the team in 2010. All the hype could be for nothing as stars could end up re-signing with their current teams. If the Cavs and Heat are both title contenders come next summer, why would either of them want to leave for a rebuilding project like New York? A rebuilding project was the exact reason why their own teams drafted them. Years later, James and Wade may finally be where they want to be.

King James comes to town next week, and there is no question he is set to face some of the same questions Wade faced (or diverted) from the New York media. As the months roll on, it may become clear that neither is in the Knicks’ sights, and that all-stars further down that star-studded free agent list such as Dirk Nowitzki, Joe Johnson, and Amare Stoudemire may be facing similar questions when they journey into New York this season.

Until next time, impatient Knicks fan will keep asking the same old question: is it 2010 yet?!