The NY Knicks Have Forgotten Something: Answers to the LeBron Sweepstakes

The Knicks have forgotten something: some answers to the LeBron sweepstakes.

As we all know, the Knicks made two blockbuster trades this week, one with the Warriors, one with the Clippers. It is no secret why they have made these trades...To be in a better financial situation for 2010. To be in a better situation to sign LeBron James.

Or if not him, then Chris Bosh or Dwyane Wade, or another of the all-world talents available in a few years time; though, of course, the primary target is James, who could be tempted the most by New York with his connections to Jay-Z and his apparent love of the Yankees.

But I believe the New York Knicks may have forgotten something rather important. Namely, winning.

There is roughly a season and three quarters to go until LeBron can be signed. That's a lot of basketball to be played just yet. The Knicks gave away their two best players in Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph, and have apparently given up on at least this season, if not the next as well, in order to prepare for LeBron.

Let's answer some questions:

Were the Knicks going to be contenders this year or next anyway?
No.

Could they have made the playoffs, and maybe even won a series?
Possibly.

Were they having a promising start?
Yes.

OK. But now, with less talented players coming again, and the Knicks now having to adjust to a new roster yet again, the chemistry that appeared to be there may well disappear. More players are going to have to mold with Coach D'Antoni (though Harrington won't have as much as a problem as the others, having been under Coach Nellie).

The East is much, much stronger this season, and despite this only being November, the Knicks were nevertheless in the playoff picture, which had given the New York faithful something to actually smile about. Let's face it, its been a while since that's been true.

And to be fair, who knows, perhaps D'Antoni will still be able to guide the new players. Perhaps young guns such as Wilson Chandler and Nate Robinson will be able to contribute enough to still give the Knicks some kind of success. Perhaps Harrington, Thomas and Mobley will be able to fit into the system.

But it definitely doesn't look like it. Crawford was leading the league in three-pointers at the time of the trade and Randolph actually looked like he wanted to win for the first time in years. That will need replacing.

And this brings me to my point. Yes, the Knicks may be in a good financial situation, but by the time 2010 comes around many other teams will be too. And the Knicks are going to missing something vital...wins.

LeBron James is a smart person. A heck of a basketball player. An amazing athlete. And a smart person. By the time this comes around, James will be going into his eighth season, and for all we know, he may still be ringless.

Do you think he is going to want to go to a team that isn't constructed to win...Isn't that what he's been struggling with for the past six years in Ohio?

Cleveland looks like a true threat to the title this year, but that hasn't happened before in the LeBron era. Yes they did go to the finals in '07, but we can all attribute that to the apparent collapse of the Pistons, a legendary performance by LeBron himself plus, credit where credit's due some brilliant shooting by then-rookie Daniel Gibson.

Do you think LeBron is going to want to struggle in New York for years while waiting for the Knicks to build a championship caliber team around him? When he's already spent half a decade doing that?

This is all about championships in the end. Let's answer more questions.

As far as we know, will there be another individual better suited for carrying a franchise in 2010?
No, considering Kobe will be 32 and Tim Duncan will be 34.

Is LeBron capable of winning a championship completely on his own?
No. No-one is, Micheal Jordan never did and neither will James.

At that point in his career, will LeBron be willing to leave some money on the table if it gives him a better chance

to win a championship?
Most likely.

And that, is what the Knicks seem to be forgetting about all this.

Also, I quickly want to just mention a scenario that no-one seems to have thought of yet...

Now, let me be clear, this scenario probably has absolutely no chance of happening, but imagine it comes out that LeBron is intent on signing somewhere other than Cleveland...Perhaps the Cavs try to trade him so they at least get something from it? Again, incredibly unlikely, but with LeBron...who knows...

The Knicks may have made a huge mistake, only time will tell...