Another LeBron Sweepstakes

No, the NBA Finals aren't over yet -- at least, not technically -- but the rampant speculation over where LeBron James might go next has gotten hotter just as the Cavaliers have gone cold.  Las Vegas oddsmakers, meanwhile, can't be bothered to wait out the inevitable.  BetDSI created an odds list of LeBron's potential landing spot for next season:

The Lakers have long been rumored as LeBron's preferred landing spot, and in recent days, those rumors even have him teaming up with Paul George.  But if you're LeBron James, do you really want to compete with Magic, Kareem, Kobe, Shaq, and all the ghosts of Lakers Past?  And it's not like bringing a lone championship to L.A. will be big news.

Like the Lakers, the 76ers also have some young stars, a strong enough supporting cast to give them the second-best odds.  But with the Philadelphia front-office suddenly in disarray, does LeBron really want to cast his lot with this organization?

I'll skip over the Heat, because, the Heat?  Been there, done that.  And besides, the next team on the list is why I'm here.

HEY LeBRON -- SIGN WITH THE KNICKS!

Long considered the Mecca of basketball, even as bad as the Knicks have been, New York is still New York.  No, LeBron probably won't increase his Q score or pick up any more endorsements than he already has, past arguments about the benefits of starring on Broadway.  But to win in New York is like nothing else.  LeBron should have a conversation with Mark Messier about what it's like when you become The Savior and bring a championship to a starving New York fan base.  Winning a title in Cleveland?  Whoopee.

And unlike with the Lakers, who will LeBron be competing against?  Clyde Frazier?  All the rings Patrick Ewing never won?  The field is wide open.

The Knicks just don't have New York to offer, though.  David Fizdale, reportedly a James' favorite from their days in Miami, is now the head coach.  Kristaps Porzingis, recovering from surgery but expected back in 2019, can be LeBron's All-Star sidekick.  Add a top-10 draft pick this summer to an improved Tim Hardaway, Jr. and the Knicks core, starring LeBron James, is suddenly competitive in the East.

LeBron copped out the first time by running off to South Beach to form a super team.  He won a couple of rings there but realized winning that way just wasn't fulfilling.  He satisfied his critics and thrilled his hometown fans by returning to Cleveland and bringing them a title.

But basketball's biggest reclamation project lies in the heart of New York City.  Madison Square Garden is in dire need of gentrification, and the basketball equivalent of Bob the Builder may be looking for a new job.

Can we fix it?  

Yes we can!

Return of The King

To be honest, I didn't pay much attention when LeBron James entered the NBA.  At the time, the Knicks were one of the worst franchises in basketball and my interest in the NBA was pretty much zero.  You couldn't escape the hype or the headlines, of course, so it wasn't as though I didn't know about James' exploits and his takeover of the NBA.

But nearly seven years into James' career, the Knicks appeared to have a plan.  A plan, in fact, that prominently featured a certain free agent from the Midwest.  So when LeBron spurned the Knicks, made a "Decision" and trotted on down to South Beach to join D-Wade and CB, I officially joined the LeBron Haters Club.

When the Spurs prevailed in this year's Finals -- knocking off LeBron's Heat -- I was giddy.  Sure, the Heat were in four straight Finals but they only managed to win twice.  Not quite the LeBron guarantee.  And, I suppose, not quite what LeBron had in mind, either, because it became quickly apparent that a return to Miami was not a done deal.

For the past week, we were all caught in the Speculation Vortex, as theory after theory was floated about where James might land.  And then, to the surprise of most of us, King James gave us his answer: Cleveland.

I must tell you: whether it was genuine and heartfelt, or merely a manufactured P.R. smoothie, LeBron' open letter hit all the right notes.  "I'm coming home," he declared.  He didn't apologize for going to Miami, but said he'd "obviously do things differently" if he had to do it again.  While he still cares about winning titles, winning a title for Cleveland is most important of all.

To be honest, my hatred of LeBron was basically manufactured, a "He screwed my team and ran off to play with a bunch of other all-stars" grudge.  A Schadenfreude perfect storm.  But now I'm finding it hard to root against a guy who left the cushy gig to take on a real project in his home town.  I heard that the Cavs are now the favorites in the East next season, so it probably won't be so hard to win, but winning this way just seems right.

Don't get me wrong -- I'll still be rooting against LeBron and the Cavs, but only when they're facing the Knicks.  I'll take an Eastern Conference Finals matchup any time.

The Beat Goes On

The reality of the situation is this: I rarely, if ever, watch an NBA game that doesn't have the Knicks playing. And the Knicks have been so bad for so long, I could barely stomach watching them play. So now that LeBron is in Miami, it's not like my viewing habits are going to change. I can't not watch the Heat any less than I already didn't watch the Heat.

As for the Knicks, I might -- might -- watch them play to see how Amare and the rest of the lesser assembled pieces are getting along. But chances are, my lack of interest will ultimately prevail. Until next summer, that is, when the Knicks will have the opportunity to be stood up by Carmelo Anthony.

Let's Go Rangers!

Miami? Really?

Here's hoping that the sheer mass of egos now concentrated in South Beach causes the American Airlines Arena to implode.

Fuck off, LeBron.

Yeah, that about does it.

Bull Feathers

According to a report in the New York Times, LeBron James will be headed to the Chicago Bulls. An unidentified NBA executive

who did not want to be identified discussing a player who is not yet a free agent, said he had gathered from discussions with his fellow N.B.A. executives that James was strongly leaning toward joining the Bulls in tandem with another free agent, Chris Bosh

Aside from the obvious disappointment and unbridled hatred of the Bulls, I still don't like this idea. I just don't get it.

If you told me LeBron had decided to stay with the Cavs, OK. Disappointed, sure. But James decides to be the hometown hero and re-up with the only NBA team he's ever known. Plus, the Cavs are in a position to give him the most money, not that I really think James is in it for the money. Wherever he goes, he will be a rich man.

Then there's the Heat -- sure, you can make a case for that. A running buddy in Dwayne Wade, South Beach, and possibly Pat Riley as coach. Yep, I could see that, too. Even the Nets, if you buy that Jay-Z can get LeBron to put up with Newark for a few years before going to Brooklyn. And you're almost in New York.

But the Bulls? Really? Not to put too much pressure on a guy who seemed to be buckling under in Cleveland, but Chicago? They don't have much of a winning history there. Perhaps he misunderstood about being the next Jordan -- you don't actually have to follow in his footsteps. Why not ask for your #23 jersey while you're at it?

Like the song goes, "If you can make it there, you'll make it anywhere". There's nothing like winning it all in New York. While no contemporary Knick can explain this phenomenon, the Knicks may want to bring Mark Messier along with them to Ohio. As with the push for James, Messier was brought to New York for one reason only -- to win a championship. "The Messiah" delivered and will be forever remembered as a conquering hero. Hey, LeBron -- that could be you, too.