To me, Chris Bosh has always been the key to this whole thing. Reports are coming out that the Cavs and Raptors are talking sign and trade.

But when has this not been the case? It hasn’t been the case because  it was reported earlier that Bosh to Miami was a “done deal.” In this game there is no such thing.

Ultimately, it comes down to this. If Bosh wants major money he has to accept a sign and trade. In order for him to go to Cleveland, there has to be a salary match, meaning the Cavs strip themselves of players on their roster. Are the Raptors really pumped about a Jamison/Mo Williams situation for example? Maybe if Isiah Thomas were running them (sorry Zeke)…but logically I can’t see that. Do the Raptors want Michael Beasley? Not from what I’m gathering.

What about the Nets? Interesting. They are a possibility. Can Bosh and Lebron end up in Newark? Again, that’s a big wild card still in play.

Chicago? Well, if the Heat strike out with a big can Wade stay in South Beach?

Again, with Amar’e out of the mix, the market on bigs now has a brighter spotlight. It’s Bosh’s move…as it’s always seemed to be.

Also, for a great article on the Amar’e/Bosh debate, head to CBSsportsline…

PDcavsinsider

Brian Windhorst

@PDcavsinsider: Also, can confirm several reports of a rift between Wes Wesley & James camp. Wes was indeed pushing Chicago, I'm told.

Jul 6, 2010 @ 03:12 AM from TweetDeck

The idea that Wes has been boxed out of the inner circle is something that has been talked about for the last week or so. People I’ve spoken to have said similar things about Wes pushing Chicago. I’ve talked to another person who said that Maverick Carter will be in town Wednesday. I can’t say for sure if it’s for personal reasons, or for a meeting with either the Knicks or Nets…will keep digging.

The key to this whole thing as been the decision of Chris Bosh. Do the Cavs have what it takes to deal with Toronto? Does Bosh get paid and head for Ohio? Or does he head to South Beach with Wade? Does he join Wade in Chicago?

The best move for both he and Toronto would be a sign and trade to Houston. Bosh is from Dallas and he’s made it clear in NY that he’s a kid from the South. It seems all signs i’m getting indicate that the Bosh/Wade team in South Beach is far from a given.

Where does that leave NJ? Would Bosh consider teaming with James in NJ for less than the max?

Again, all these questions have answers. And things will start to unravel once Chris Bosh makes his decision.

Via Newsday

Though easily dismissed as mere posturing, Dwyane Wade did send the Knicks positive signals during their meeting with him on Friday.A source with direct knowledge of the meeting said that when the Knicks told Wade they would build their team around him, he responded, “Just get me one player and I’ll get you a ring.”

Could they have that player early in the week?

Yesterday, the Knicks’ brass told LeBron he’d likely earn $1 billion if he chose New York. (See the Exclusive Presentation). Why? Huge market, classic team, wide media reach and large (rich) fan base.

They’ll tell Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade the same. Another Interbrand study (commissioned by the Knicks) claims Wade could expect to earn $425 million as a Knick

Interesting that Forbes notes that the Nets were omitted from the brand study. But frankly, the reason is simple, the Knicks get a head start before the Nets play in Brooklyn. It would have to have some impact.

Thanks, as always, to Big C.

Discuss…The NBA could void a deal they thought was already brokered? Interesting.

I’ve been checking out his blog lately and it continues to impress. BT insists that no one knows where they are going as of yet. But here are his predictions for the upcoming summer, followed by mine.

“…Since everyone else is secondary, grab a dart, and fire away!

Lebron James: 3 year extension with the Cavs, followed by a similar deal with the Knicks–or Nets

Dwayne Wade: staying put

Chris Bosh: Miami

Amare Stoudamire: Knicks or Nets

Carlos Boozer: Nets (Knicks could be in play as well, depending upon Amare)

Joe Johnson: Knicks (4-year deal, nowhere near max-money)

David Lee: No clue…might very well be among the last FA’s standing. So much depends on what transpires with the elite players, but I think the Knicks and Nets are in play

Dirk Nowitski: Mavs

Rudy Gay: (restricted FA) stays in Memphis but T Wolves will pursue aggressively…”

I don’t see James signing a 3 year deal with the Cavs. If he stays, i hope he stays forever. That said, I think he’ll be in NY and I don’t think it’s a given it’s with either Bosh or Amar’e. But odds are that each of the bigs will join James in NY and Wade in Miami. I keep hearing that Miami is a play for the big 3, but I simply can’t see that happening. (more…)

Good post here by our friend Dave from NYSportsSpace who analyzes why he’s not keen on the Knicks signing D-Wade.

“…1) A future with persistent injury problems - This is the most frightening and disconcerting reason. I love the way that Wade plays the game. He dives after loose balls as much as anyone, isn’t afraid of drawing contact, and is generally balls deep in every possession, The question lies, though: Can he sustain this style of play for the next 3, 5, or 7 years? No matter how good a guy keeps himself in shape, once you hit the 27-28 year old threshold you cannot play like Dwyane does without frequently getting injured. It’s impossible. He has a history of injuries too, only playing 50 games in the ’07 and ’08 seasons due to shoulder and knee issues. Would you make an investment in a car used in a demolition derby? What if this car was able to dunk on Yao Ming? What if you bought a T-Mobile Sidekick as a result of these high flying antics?…more.”

We know Wade to NY isn’t happening. At least, it doesn’t appear to be in the plans, and I agree that the back end of Wade’s next contract could present times where injuries could creep up. It’s hard to question how good Wade is right now. Wade and a big man in NY would certainly make the Knicks a top 4 seed and compete with the league’s elite, but the chances of that ever happening seem very slight.

Via CBSsportsline

“…Sources say that the Knicks’ likely fallback option if they don’t get LeBron is Atlanta’s Joe Johnson – but that strategy comes with a caveat. On one hand, Donnie Walsh is too smart to overpay for a player like Johnson who probably isn’t quite deserving of the max. Then again, the Hawks will pay Johnson the max to stay, so if anybody else wants him, the max is what it will take. Johnson said recently that he’d sacrifice to pair up with another elite player, meaning he’d take less than the max. But there’s no reason for him to take less under any other circumstance.

• For similar reasons, Walsh will have to decide whether Chris Bosh is worthy of a max deal if he strikes out on LeBron. Sources familiar with Walsh’s thinking are convinced that he does not regard Bosh as being on the same level as James and Wade, who will be the only two clear-cut max players on the market. “That’s the fallacy with the max,” one prominent agent said. “It allows you to buy Chris Bosh for the same price as LeBron James.” In fact, another person familiar with Walsh’s strategy said if it came down to deciding whether to keep David Lee or sign Bosh to a max deal, Walsh would choose Lee. “There are questions about whether Bosh is the kind of player who can carry a team by himself,” the person said. “He certainly hasn’t done it in Toronto…”

Several things here. One, everyone knows the “myth” of Bosh being a max player. Bosh is riding Olympic momentum. As he relates to Wade and Lebron, he is less than a max player. I don’t love the idea of Bosh and Johnson, myself. I’d add more pieces this summer and set my sites on 2011. They can be a playoff team next year if the roster is tweaked and more talent is added. I’d sign one of them, for a potential partnership when the team finally gets rid of Eddy Curry, aka the last remaining reminder of the Isiah Era.

On the Lee front, it’s a simple answer when you talk about Lee and the Knicks. As Walsh would say it’s about “the number.” Common sense tells you that if the team strikes out with James and Wade, they don’t want to overspend. Yet, I’m not sold, based on who I’ ve talked to, that Walsh prefers Lee over Bosh. Bosh is a better player. The idea that they could have done nothing and waited until next year is valid, but we’re talking about rebuilding a franchise. Walsh knew James and Wade weren’t signing extensions and they’d have the chance to sit down in July. You do whatever it takes to make that happen.

They can give both whatever they want.

After that the team will still have options, and should keep the door open in terms of flexibility.

Finger point to Frank T for the look…

In a lot of ways, Donnie Walsh’s job seems to have become harder as it’s gone along.

When the team hired Walsh to be President of Basketball Operations on April 2, 2008, it was in the midst of the worst run in franchise history. They weren’t even competing most nights, and the level of basketball was so bad the filth made you want to take a shower when you got home after going to Madison Square Garden. That is, if you were the one who drew the short straw for those free tickets.

I remember as Walsh sat in the stands for the rest of the season evaluating the players and situation that he was now a part of, that Knicks fans wondered if this was the man who was going to make things better.

Walsh really wasted little time in the 2009 season in building towards the goal that he set on that April day, to put the team in the best position to be players in a free agent market. Superstars win championships in the NBA, and Walsh knows that fans, whom he’s asked to be patient, will be devastated if LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Joe Johnson all decide not to make 2 Penn Plaza their permanent address in July.

All that remains to be seen, but Walsh has a very important decision to make as the NBA’s trade deadline approaches, February 18th.

First of all, if you haven’t been paying attention, the Eastern Conference has really improved. Yes, the Bulls, the current 8th seed, are still several games under .500, but we’re talking about a team that pushed the Boston Celtics to the limit last year. They are tournament tested.

Larry Brown, co-director of Sanitation at MSG several years ago, has the Charlotte Bobcats playing really solid basketball. So the Knicks are no lock to make the playoffs, which if you ask is everyone’s main goal, as it should be. To me, two of those three teams (including the Knicks) will be the 7th and 8th seeds come playoff time.

As the trade deadline approaches, Walsh needs to decide who stays and who goes, if anyone. If the team has the chance to move Jared Jeffries‘ contract, once thought to be job one this year before Jeffries stopped getting booed and started to anchor the team’s vastly improved defense, do they do it if it lessens the chances at the playoffs? More.

Read the “5-0n-5 questions” here.

“…3. Which sophomore would you rather have: Michael Beasley or Danilo Gallinari?

Abbott: Beasley might be one of the only potential future MVPs who can be had on the cheap. But Gallinari is one of the biggest and best spot-up shooters in NBA history, and he plays some D, too. Any team could use a guy like that. Another question: What’s more likely to go haywire: Gallinari’s back or Beasley’s judgment?

Broussard: Beasley. His talent is greater than Gallinari’s and though he’s got a long way to go, he’s showing signs of maturity. Gallinari’s a great shooter, but Beasley’s got more versatility.

Ford: Beasley. He’s a more complete player. He rebounds, he can score inside and he doesn’t have a bad back.

Hollinger: Beasley. Gallinari is a better shooter, but Beasley is the better athlete and has more ways to develop his game in the future. Additionally, there’s the issue of Gallinari’s back. Gallo will be a great shooter for many years, but Beasley is the only one of the two with All-NBA potential.

Sheridan: Beasley. I’ll take the multidimensional player over the one-trick specialist every time, and it’s a bonus that Beasley can shoot 3s, too. Plus, Gallinari gets attacked every night on defense…more“

Pass...

Actually, I’ll ring in on the Beasley/Gallo stuff. The idea that this question is even presented shows that Gallo has started to open people’s eyes. Anyone with any sort of talent eye knew Beasley was a top 2 talent. Period.

But let’s not get carried away, the guy is shooting 20% from three point range this season.

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Via  NY Post:

“…Magic Johnson said he believes LeBron James will decide to leave Cleveland to play for the Knicks — but urges Knicks team president Donnie Walsh to lure “The King” by first signing a marquee free agent such as Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire.

The Hall of Fame point guard/businessman, asked by The Post for his gut feeling on LeBron in 2010, said: “I think he’s going to go to New York.

“They’re in the lead, they just have to make it [attractive] for him. LeBron will come to New York if he knows they’re gonna win. . . . So, if they sign a free agent first, that would probably seal the deal, I believe. They should have somebody else on their radar to make him want to come.”

Someone not named Dwyane Wade.

“Him and Wade can’t play together, I don’t care what they say, because they both dominate that ball,” Magic said. “You want somebody like a Chris Bosh. . . . You want somebody like Stoudemire to go along with LeBron. You got Yao Ming, if he’s healthy, I’d take a look at him as well…” (more…)

Via Miami Herald-

“…Dwyane Wade doubts that he’ll be teammates with LeBron James, but acknowledged on Wednesday that such a pairing isn’t impossible.

“It’s something we’ve talked about, of course,” Wade said. “No question, it’s a long shot. He’s put in position in Cleveland where he has the opportunity to compete for a championship now. I’m in Miami, where I’ve won a championship and this is where I love to be. So it’s not like we’re both looking over our shoulders saying we want to get out of here. So it’s a long shot. But at the end of the day, it is a shot.”

The Cavaliers will travel to Miami to play the Heat on Thursday night in a highly-anticipated game.

“Me and D-Wade have been friends for seven or eight years and have talked about a lot of things. [Playing together] may have come up in a conversation. … It doesn’t come up all the time,” James said…”

As I’ve repeatedly said, the idea of them playing together, as cool as they think it may be, isn’t happening.

Nor is the idea that Lebron will end up is Chicago. Really? Why would he chase Jordan? It’s the same rational of him playing with Wade and being a ring behind.

Lebron is his own man and good for him for focusing on a the task at hand. July is a ways away. (more…)

Now, I’ve been away from workable computer all day (thanks Sprint/Dell) and I just saw Biggie’s link to the Weekend Dime. They describe Lebron’s suitors and mention some intell that I dropped several hours ago from my blackberry. Now, let’s just say that I did not get what I heard from an agent or an exec, I don’t have ESPN’s corporate card, but I got mine from a serious mole.

“… New York

There is no greater evidence to convey how far the Knicks have fallen than the fact that ESPN hasn’t chosen to televise a single game from MSG in more than three years.

And we all know Knicks jokes have replaced Clippers jokes from coast to coast.

However …

Dismiss the lure of Madison Square Garden and the Mike D’Antoni-Donnie Walsh partnership at your own peril.

MSG will forever be a basketball mecca, with or without its forthcoming expensive renovation, because Jordan declared it so. The Knicks also happen to have a coach who has undeniably strong street cred; D’Antoni is admired by just about everyone he’s worked with on Team USA. For all the valid questions about what the Knicks will be able to put around him, after stripping their roster all the way down to create maximum cap space, D’Antoni and Walsh are going to have a legit shot at LeBron.

Perhaps I’m a hopeless (and gullible) romantic, but I even believe that the prospect of being the guy who resurrects the Knicks and MSG appeals to LeBron almost as much as the aforementioned Cleveland-curse-lifter scenario.

What has to worry the Knicks — even before they get to the obvious nightmare scenario of missing on LeBron, D-Wade and Bosh and then manufacturing a passable Plan D — is how much and how quickly the landscape has changed.

The leaguewide consensus for much of last season, when you broached this subject with league executives, pegged this as a purely Cleveland-or-New York decision for James. Not any more.

The Knicks might quietly have the first seeds of a quality supporting cast in their possession if Danilo Gallinari keeps developing and they find a way to re-sign David Lee, but they legitimately can’t even be sure that they’re still the Cavs’ biggest threat…”

I personally believe, and have been thinking about this for weeks,  that Lee won’t be on the team next year. Just my feeling, but the media continues to shine Lee as the only real asset on this team. (more…)

Via Daily Dime:

“…You’ve heard tons about the infamous memo dispatched by the league office in July warning teams that the salary cap for the 2010-11 season could drop from the current $57.7 million all the way down to somewhere between $50.4 million and $53.6 million.

What hasn’t been widely publicized is that more teams than not, at this early stage, expect next season’s cap to wind up closer to the higher figure.

The NBA’s public position on the matter has not changed. Commissioner David Stern re-iterated again last week in briefings with reporters leading into opening night that his number-crunchers continue to forecast overall league revenue in 2009-10 to decline from 2.5 to 5 percent.

Yet as one Eastern Conference executive told ESPN.com this week: “We are projecting a number somewhere in the 52-to-53 million range. We had been working off the doomsday 50.4 [million] number, but now … we think 53.6 [million] could be very realistic…”

A lot of what’s happening is depending on if the owners agree to let Victor
Prokhorov and his 9.5 million dollar net worth into the league. There has been talk of some shady things surrounding Prokhorov, and with discussions about tainted referees still lingering, it’s going to be interesting to see if the league can knowingly expose itself to the threat of more bad publicity. If the deal goes through then the Nets have to obviously be considered major players in the Lebron sweepstakes.

The Knicks are second, behind the Nets, in cap space.

“…2. NEW YORK

$53.6 million salary cap: $23.4 million in cap space
$50 million salary cap: $19.8 million in cap space
What it means: It’s worldwide common knowledge, as D-Wade noted, that the Knicks’ original free-agent fantasy was signing LeBron along with another max player (such as Wade or Chris Bosh) in the summer of 2010 to start over under coach Mike D’Antoni, who is beloved by James, Wade and several other members of Team USA from their time with the national team. But with first-year salaries for the big names expected to be in the $16 million range, New York can only afford one max player … unless it can (gulp) move Eddy Curry for an expiring contract during the season. This, furthermore, is a best-case scenario for the Knicks that assumes unrestricted free agents-to-be David Lee and Nate Robinson are no longer on the payroll…”

Obviously, Stein forgot to mention the possibility of moving Jared Jeffries off the books for an expiring, as well as Curry…