LeBron Plus Two

The Knicks Free Agent plan is being floated and not only do I think it is a good one, but I think it will work.

Essentially, what the Knicks are going to try to do is sign LeBron (which I think has been a given for years), sign Joe Johnson and sign one of Chris Bosh or Amar's Stoudemire. Under one scenario whey would ask the three stars to take less than max deals with bonus structures and outside income ideas that would more than make up the difference. Other scenarios involve using Eddy Curry in a sign and trade for Johnson, Bosh, or Amar'e. Toward that end the Knicks are meeting with Joe Johnson at 9:01 pm pst tonight to try to get the ball rolling. It's also possible that they will meet with with Amar'e and/or Bosh, too, and get them on board, before taking those options to LeBron on Thursday proper.

So, why is the Knicks offer preferable to the ones being cooked up by the Heat and the Bulls? I think that's simple, with the Knicks, LeBron gets to pick his own wing man, and it appears that that's Joe Johnson. The problem with him going to the Heat is that he and Wade both like to control the ball. It's the old Spencer Heywood, Bob McAdo, thing - not enough basketballs. What's more, Wade owns Miami and LeBron would be a guest. With Chicago, the problem is Rose bringing the ball up, and their inability to give LeBron both Johnson and one of the bigs. And Michael Jordan does now and will always own Chicago.

As I've always believed, the fix is in for the Knicks, and the story is starting to emerge. He will go to the Knicks because they can give him two big time teammates, because he gets to control the ball, because he would have his own city, and because the financial opportunities are unparalleled. Don't worry about how they'll fit the trio under the cap. They will. LeBron will be a Knick. Of course, it will take awhile for all of this to play out and become self-evident. Go Knicks!