LeBron James Isn't Coming to the Knicks, Says Tracy McGrady

engr_alex · Apr 6, 2010

as usual, tmac's too honest for his own good. but then again, why wouldnt he say that? it's obvious to him that NY wont likely be able to land lebron. that's his hunch, and almost everyone believes the same thing except knick fans. why fault him for saying that?

same thing when he said the lakers would win the championship. he was right wasnt he? and stop saying he threw the entire team under the bus by saying that. he said he's backing his rockets but if houston doesnt make the finals, then he says LA would win it.

MrAwe · Apr 6, 2010

engr_alex said:

as usual, tmac's too honest for his own good. but then again, why wouldnt he say that? it's obvious to him that NY wont likely be able to land lebron. that's his hunch, and almost everyone believes the same thing except knick fans. why fault him for saying that?

same thing when he said the lakers would win the championship. he was right wasnt he? and stop saying he threw the entire team under the bus by saying that. he said he's backing his rockets but if houston doesnt make the finals, then he says LA would win it.
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He is absolutely right, but he should have kept quiet. He just turned the Knicks fans against him, and right now, he needs all the fans he can get.

cjstukenholtz · Apr 7, 2010

MrAwe said:

He is absolutely right, but he should have kept quiet. He just turned the Knicks fans against him, and right now, he needs all the fans he can get.
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It's possible that Knicks fans may be turning against him since the team has won its last two games with him in street clothes.

sabesque · Apr 7, 2010

RV6 said:

ummm, it is his choice. He gets to deciee which offer he takes. All he's saying is he'd like to stay in NY if they get something going, assuming they offer him a deal, or if not, he'd go elsewhere, whatver is best for him...pretty much the way most free agents think..
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He has no choice in terms of the offers he gets

mic · Apr 7, 2010

TTMB

(typical T-Mac behavior)

Setting up his exit strategy, but I agree that NYK won't get Lebron.

BigBenito · Apr 7, 2010

I'm thankfully for TMac's behavior! His actions, words, and failing body in NY have justified his treatment by the HOU management for the past 2 years to a national audience.

Shroopy2 · Apr 7, 2010

mic said:

TTMB

(typical T-Mac behavior)

Setting up his exit strategy, but I agree that NYK won't get Lebron.
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I assume Lebron advances on (without the Knicks in mind)
I assume the Lakers advances on )without the Rockets in mind)

"TTMB" for sure.

emjohn · Apr 7, 2010

Since this has been a principle argument here

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/lebron_shoe_me_the_money_g85KrLo8XNhCFeFlxnGW5H

NY Post said:

LeBron's new Nike deal won't pay him more if he signs with Knicks

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/lebron_shoe_me_the_money_g85KrLo8XNhCFeFlxnGW5H#ixzz0kRzZ3UIi

PORTLAND, Ore. -- LeBron James has said all season it's all about winning championships when he decides where to sign this summer, that it wasn't about marketing and Broadway lights.

His new Nike contract apparently bears that out.

Only miles from where the Knicks disgraced themselves in last night's 118-90 blowout loss to the Trail Blazers, -- who clinched a playoff berth -- at the Rose Garden, big rumblings were going on at Nike headquarters with the company acknowledging yesterday that James had signed a new multi-year contract.

"LeBron James is one of the world's best basketball players and a global sports icon that has transcended generations and cultures," Nike spokesman Kejuan Wilkins said in an e-mail to The Post. "Nike's relationship with LeBron has created innovative basketball products and captivating campaigns. We're proud to continue our partnership with him for years to come."

Nevertheless, the deal may not favor the Knicks in their pursuit of James. CNBC reported the new deal does not have any clauses that would pay James more if he signed with the Knicks.

The idea of the no-New York clause is [that] James is confident he will make extra money off the base contract by selling more shoes because of his new royalty agreement. And he will sell more shoes by winning championships.

The common assumption is James would sell more playing for the Knicks. Nevertheless, marketing experts have advised James he will sell more merchandise, especially abroad, by capturing rings. Kobe Bryant sells more shoes in China than James, likely because of his four NBA titles.

The Cavaliers are favored to win the NBA title this season, owning the NBA's best record, while the Knicks have sustained nine consecutive losing seasons.

Unless James can get to the Knicks by bringing with him another free-agent All-Star such as Chris Bosh, there is no way he can think he can win a title on Broadway. That is why the Knicks at the trade deadline did everything in their power to open up space for nearly two maximum contracts, including trading rookie lottery pick Jordan Hill and two conditional first-round picks.

Several Knicks players visited the Nike employee store on the Beaverton (Ore.) campus the past two days, but that might be as close as they get to LeBron's apparel.

Despite James' urging that his decision will come down to where he feels he can win a championship, there's been speculation Nike would put something into his new deal to make it sweeter to play for the Knicks. James' old Nike contract, which expires this year, reportedly had incentive clauses in the early years.

James' original Nike deal coming out of the draft was seven years, $93 million. The new deal reportedly is worth more than that, but did not reveal specific terms.

When he last visited the Garden in November, James dropped his ominous remark about signing with a winner next July.

"At the end of the day, a max deal doesn't really matter," James said. "It is all about winning to me. When that day comes next summer, I want to win. If I feel like the team is capable of winning, then I will make my decision based on that."

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/lebron_shoe_me_the_money_g85KrLo8XNhCFeFlxnGW5H#ixzz0kRzSw97w
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ApuN · Apr 8, 2010

emjohn said:

Since this has been a principle argument here

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/lebron_shoe_me_the_money_g85KrLo8XNhCFeFlxnGW5H
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Dude,

Nike (sneakers for that matter) isnt the only thing that Lebron can endorse.

If he wants to move to where Tiger was before he got caught, its just more advantageous to be in New York.

People are really obsessing over Nike and Gatorade. But Lebrons Q rating is high enough to sell almost anything.

Kojirou · Apr 8, 2010

ApuN said:

Dude,

Nike (sneakers for that matter) isnt the only thing that Lebron can endorse.

If he wants to move to where Tiger was before he got caught, its just more advantageous to be in New York.

People are really obsessing over Nike and Gatorade. But Lebrons Q rating is high enough to sell almost anything.
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So why can't those other magical companies just use his endorsements now? It's not like there will be people whom know who Lebron is just because he went to NY.

amaru · Apr 8, 2010

LOL @ McGrady.

But I think he's 100% honest and will be 100% correct.

LeTravel strikes me as a "hometown guy". I say that if Cleveland makes a serious title run this year (and they probably will) He re-ups for another 2-3 years.

Ohio is his home

MajorSeanBond · Apr 8, 2010

MojoMan said:

McGrady says he is ready to re-sign with the Knicks next year, if they appear ready to make a legitimate run at the NBA title. Obviously the Knicks are not even close to that now. For the last year the hope in New York has been that the Knicks can lure LeBron James to sign with the team after this season. The Knicks have been working to build an "aura of inevitability" around their efforts to gather top name stars, such as James and McGrady, from around the league during this upcoming offseason.

But now it appears that the "aura of inevitability" that the Knicks have been working to fabricate may be crumbling before our very eyes.

Tracy McGrady spoke to the issue on Sunday:

[RQUOTER]LeBron James Isn't Coming to the Knicks, Says Tracy McGrady

MANHATTAN — LeBron James won't be lacing up his sneakers as a member of the New York Knicks if Tracy McGrady's hunch proves correct.

McGrady has said he's be willing to resign with the Knicks next year if they landed a marquee player like James, but the veteran guard didn't sound too optimistic on Sunday.

"When I talk about players coming here, obviously LeBron is the guy," McGrady told reporters Sunday. "My honest opinion, I don't see it happening. I really don't. It's set for him right now [in Cleveland]."

McGrady sat out of the Knicks 113-107 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday because of his swollen left knee, the New York Post reported.

James is the NBA's leading scorer at 29.9 points per game and has led the Cavaliers to back-to-back 60-win seasons. Meanwhile, the Knicks have lost at least 50 games three straight years and have not had a winning season since 2001.

There's hope in the future for New York. The Knicks, who acquired McGrady in a trade deadline deal back in February, will be more than $30 million under the salary cap when James and other marquee free agents hit the free agent market on July 1.

McGrady, who is making $23 million this season, will consider returning to the Knicks at a discount if he believes they have a chance to win an NBA title. Landing James would be a big step in that direction for New York.

"I would love to be here, be a part of bringing in some players to change the whole situation around," McGrady told the Post. "At the same time, I want to do what's best for me. This is definitely my final run. I want to make sure it's the right decision."[/RQUOTER]

And if the Knicks continue to stink over the next two years, then the value of the draft picks obtained by the Rockets from the Knicks in the Tracy McGrady trade could truly skyrocket. In which case, Darrel Morey will be hailed as a genius, and the Rockets could end up with high lottery picks in the NBA draft in 2011 and 2012. These players would be added to a solid core group that should be in the thick of the Western Conference playoffs regardless.

I hope McGrady is right. Nothing against the Knicks, but this could be really good news for the Rockets.
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Morey will be hailed as a genius? He's already hailed as a genius in case you haven't noticed. In Morey we trust.

MojoMan · Apr 8, 2010

More indications that Lebron James is likely to stay in Cleveland.

Here is a link to a thread on the Knicks board discussing the matter:

News of Lebron agreeing to extension with Cleveland

Hat tip: I stole this link from a post by "1amTiGeR" in the "D Money Morey" thread.

ApuN · May 12, 2010

Sure is funny how all the smart guys in this thread almost got violent over the fact that Lebron could leave Cleveland.

I wonder what you smart guys have to say now that Lebron pulled a "Lequit" last night??

I guess it means he's still staying in Cleveland -- right smart guys???

LFE171 · May 12, 2010

ApuN said:

Sure is funny how all the smart guys in this thread almost got violent over the fact that Lebron could leave Cleveland.

I wonder what you smart guys have to say now that Lebron pulled a "Lequit" last night??

I guess it means he's still staying in Cleveland -- right smart guys???
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I'd bring this up when LeBron actually leaves Cleveland. You're not making it easier by calling out "smart guys" when the series is still going on.

I'm not trying to attack your post (cause I too think he'll leave Cleveland), but I wouldn't bump my gums if there's still a series going on.

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LeBron James Isn't Coming to the Knicks, Says Tracy McGrady

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