LeBron James certainly has a knack for teasing Knicks fans. It wouldn’t be a typical year before free agency for the all-time leading scorer if he wasn’t using the Knicks as leverage. Back in 2010, the Knicks were convinced they had him. They had Donnie Walsh as the general manager, Mike D’Antoni as the head coach, cap space for Carmelo Anthony, a talented roster, and even managed to bring in stars from The Sopranos for their meeting. But when it came time for LeBron to make his decision, he left them hanging and took his talents to South Beach instead.
Fast forward fourteen years, and the Knicks are finally showing promise. They’re on track to make the Conference Finals for the first time in a long time. With 15 wins in their last 18 games, Knicks fans are once again dreaming of having King James on their team. Their loss to LeBron’s Lakers on Saturday felt more like an opportunity to showcase what New York has to offer rather than a disappointment. They competed without key players and gave LeBron a chance to flaunt his Knicks towel during his postgame interview with ESPN. Some things never change.
Coincidentally, Rich Paul, LeBron’s agent, and Leon Rose, the Knicks president, recently buried the hatchet. Their meeting before Saturday’s game was intended to thaw the tensions between them. This meeting marks the end of a decade-long strained relationship between Paul’s agency, Klutch Sports, and the Knicks. From 2005 to 2012, Rose represented LeBron and was Paul’s superior, teaching him the ins and outs of the business. However, trouble arose in 2007 when Rose’s firm was acquired by CAA, causing friction that led to a Cold War between the two agencies.
In 2012, Paul left CAA along with LeBron to form Klutch Sports, leaving behind Rose and the Knicks’ Executive Vice President William “Worldwide” Wes. Over the years, Paul has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with his time at CAA. In a recent interview, he credited veteran contract negotiator Mark Termini for his growth as a representative, rather than acknowledging the influence of Rose or other Black agents.
The Knicks’ overreaction to these events has led them into a state of delusion, reminiscent of the summer of 2019 when they believed they would secure Zion Williamson, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant. After being humbled, Knicks fans are once again getting their hopes up.
Now, let’s entertain the hypothetical scenario of LeBron James joining the Knicks. For the first time in his career, the Knicks are a well-functioning team led by his former agent. It’s a remarkable transformation. Winning a fourth championship with the Knicks would be a monumental achievement, surpassing the adoration he received in Los Angeles when he won his 18th title in 2020.
However, following the Klutch meeting, Paul made it clear that LeBron did not request a trade. That ship has sailed. Swapping a 39-year-old LeBron for Julius Randle would accelerate the Knicks’ timeline, but it’s more likely that LeBron’s recent tweet about time running out in his career is simply an acknowledgment of his own mortality in the game.
The recent reconciliation between Rose and Paul, along with LeBron’s subtle signals wearing a Knicks towel, has fueled the rumor mill. However, Brian Windhorst poured cold water on the idea that LeBron’s towel choice was a dig at the Lakers or a sign of his interest in the Knicks. According to Windhorst, LeBron was using the Knicks as a tool to put pressure on the Lakers.
Let’s put an end to this speculation once and for all. LeBron James will never become a New York Knick. That ship has sailed long ago. His presence would disrupt the team’s offensive rhythm, and his larger-than-life personality would be a challenge for Tom Thibodeau to manage. At 39 years old, the risks outweigh the benefits for a team that is still building for the future. Unless the Knicks have plans to draft LeBron’s son, Bronny, and sign LeBron himself to a discounted contract or trade Julius Randle for a big-name free agent, it’s simply not happening.
While the resolution of tensions between Rose and Paul may not have a significant impact on LeBron’s future, it does open the door for Klutch clients to consider the Knicks as a viable option. And if LeBron’s time with the Lakers is indeed coming to an end, Anthony Davis, another Klutch client, will need to secure a smooth transition to his next destination once the Lakers realize that rebuilding is in their best interest.
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