The LeBron James sweepstakes are still on, even after the Cleveland Cavaliers continue to surprise with a 2-0 series lead against the Eastern Conference top dogs in the Toronto Raptors.
Adding themselves to the race for The King's services are the New York Knicks, who are fresh off hiring coach David Fizdale, who coached James during his four-year stint with the Miami Heat, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post.
“The path to clearing [cap] space isn’t as daunting as one would think, considering the opt-out clauses of centers Enes Kanter and Kyle O’Quinn,” wrote Berman, who mentioned the Fizdale hire could have played a greater part on influencing a link to the three-time NBA champion.
James has loved working with Fizdale since his Miami days, and the feeling hasn't changed, being one of the many NBA stars outraged by his firing early in the season from his first head-coaching gig with the Memphis Grizzlies after a reported fallout with star center Marc Gasol.
“If both opt out — and there’s a legitimate chance they will — the Knicks still would need to make one more significant move to get far enough under the projected cap to have room for James,” Berman continued.
“The Knicks would have to trade Courtney Lee’s contract to a club that has sufficient cap space to absorb it, such as Sacramento or Phoenix. Kanter’s number for next season is $18.8 million, while O’Quinn has $4.2 million left on his pact. Lee’s salary next season is $12.2 million.”
Putting James with a young stud like Kristaps Porzingis would certainly put the Big Apple back on the map, and the allure of playing the last few years of his career in the bright lights of Madison Square Garden would close out his legacy in a grand way.
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