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April 7, 2008Weighing Options With Eric Snow
April 7, 2008And so it continues. With each move that the New York Knicks appear to have on the itinerary, we continue to have to consider the LeBron impact. If we do this, what will LeBron think? What about if we do that? It makes you wonder how a team can operate when they’re more focused on another team’s player than the ones that they actually employ. Obviously, since we’re speaking of the 21-and-56 Knicks – a team not exactly known for their fluid operations – but still.
Which brings me to Ken Berger’s blog over at Newsday. It’s no secret that Donnie Walsh will be bringing in some fresh faces to the franchise going forward. Business people for the front office, talent scouts, et cetera. Obviously, the biggest hire of them all (at least from a PR standpoint) will be a new head coach. Which is why I was a bit shocked to see John Calipari’s name listed as a possible leader. Remember what happened with the Nets?
But even more shocking was the reason why Calipari could be a top candidate: His ties to LeBron James.
Calipari has a few things going for him…
…There’s also a wrinkle that’s little known outside of the intimate basketball community: Calipari has a close working relationship with hoops maven Williams “Wes” Wesley, who has close ties to LeBron James.
No doubt Coach Cal will try to play the LeBron card if and when he decides to go after the Knicks’ coaching job. Wesley works closely with James’ agent, Leon Rose. A secretive mover and shaker at all levels of basketball, Wesley has become a behind-the-scenes operative for Calipari and is credited with steering top talent to Memphis.
While Berger also mentions that Derrick Rose, a current Memphis product, will likely be leaving college after the season wraps up, and that the Knicks have a top selection in the lottery – another reason for Calipari to skip town. However, has there ever been another player, in any sport, with the impact that James has on other teams?
It still blows my mind that some people feel that James is over-hyped or overrated, but then can still understand why a team would bend over backwards two years in advance of free agency for this guy.
For the record, I still feel that James will be re-signing with the Cavaliers in 2010. Not because I’m a homer, or delusional, or any of the underlying. Because I think he actually enjoys it here and wants to win a championship with this town. Now, this could all change if the team starts taking drastic steps backwards. But don’t forget, even though the 11-man trade brought some high-paid players to town, the contract situation is in no way worse shape than before hand and the Cavs have plenty of ammunition to right the ship if needed.
But if other teams want to base their future on what they couldhave – I’m all for it! Sign away, New York. Just ask Boston how things went back in 1998 with Rick Pitino. They’ll be your biggest advocates.
(h/t goes to Ziller)
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4 Comments
Ironically enough, I had a thought to do a very similar post over the weekend. Too bad my laptop had crashed and I had no way of writing it.
Regardless, nice work Scott.
Nice work. I certainly hope you’re right about LeBron’s future with the Cavs. How exactly does “steering top talent” work?
i hate mike brown.
nothing to do with the actual post, but when i think of the cavs recently, all i can think of is how badly we’re coached.
Amen, Spencer. Amen.