The New York Knicks are ideally in a prime window to compete for an NBA championship.
Having a star guard, forward and big man in their primes is a luxury few teams possess. The Knicks have just that and are now hoping to capitalize.
It has been an up-and-down season for New York. While the team sits among the best teams in a top-heavy Eastern Conference, there is still some doubt floating out there whether the Knicks should be taken as serious title threats.
They’ve had volcanic wins, like a 39-point drubbing of the Denver Nuggets in early March, and some crushing losses, like a double-digit defeat to an 11-win Kings team in January.
But New York has been a major postseason player in recent years. Last season, the franchise made it to the conference finals for the first time in a quarter century. Finishing any worse this season will be deemed as a failure.
Regardless of the outcome of this season, the Knicks will have to make some choice this summer. It will focus on ways to maximize the roster.
Perhaps that could mean making a seismic move that could shift the league’s landscape.
New York Knicks not opposed to going after LeBron James this summer
LeBron and the Knicks.
Even 23 years later, it just doesn’t sound harmonious.
James has been a popular foe in New York for decades. Finishing his iconic career with the franchise he has often dominated would be move-like. The four-time MVP isn’t headed for another low-key offseason; he is potentially on a collision course with unrestricted free agency.
One of the surprises of last summer was James opting into his contract and not asking for an extension. Many felt that the move could mean that this is his final season. But as the year has gone on, the belief that this is truly James’ last hurrah has dissipated. Many aren’t convinced the league’s all-time leading scorer will go out without a farewell tour.
Even if James returns for a 24th season, it is highly unlikely he’ll get a deal from any team paying him close to what he is earning now. That opens the door for the 41-year-old to explore his options. Here is where New York comes into play.
According to ESPN, a Knicks source didn’t deny the team wouldn’t at least consider bringing James on board after this season.
“A Knicks team source told ESPN that the franchise would have to decide if it would be worth it to dramatically change its team complexion for just one season of James — likely not even a full 82 games when accounting for injuries and rest — when New York’s current core has had steady success.”
Is signing James a risk worth taking?
James is far from an average player; in fact, he is still one of the best in the league and capable of playing like the best in the world on any given night.
In addition to what financial commitment a team would have to make to onboard James, it must consider the dynamic of the roster.
The Knicks have a core that appears to fit well. How would they introduce James into their system? The four-time MVP may not be the ball-dominant handler he once was, but he won’t be effective as a spot up shooter, either. He could perhaps work well as a primary initiator, but how does that change Jalen Brunson’s role? How does that impact the often-erratic Karl Anthony-Towns?
On paper, a core of James, Brunson, Towns, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby has immense firepower. The Knicks would stroll into next season as the prohibitive favorites to at least come out of the East.
For James, making a drastic late-career move would take enormous convincing. Even when he was in his prime back in 2018, James’ move to the Lakers was predicated on more than purely basketball; where he wanted to settle his family for the rest of his career and beyond perhaps mattered just as much.
It is likely whatever decision James makes will cater more toward his family and life after basketball over winning a title.
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