As with anything that has been said or read regarding the 2010 FA market you take it at face value and until something actually happens it's just chatter.
However, while visiting family in Westchester I was put in a very very unique position I am unlikely to find myself in again.
Family is well off up there, they are pretty high in the local community, and therefore know quite a few others who are also of the same. Those others, including family, also have big ties to NYC.
One family member had a meeting scheduled with some pretty prominent figures and there was an after party. He said "hey you're up here why don't you come along this will be pretty cool." Then he says "eh, we gotta get you a suit." (LOL...I guess the tshirt, shorts, and sneakers wasnt going to cut it)
That being said I was able to be a part of a select few at a party over the weekend that featured some pretty prominent people. Over some drinks and food at one hell of an amazing house I found someone very interesting to spend time talking to. Well, they were all interesting, as it's rare to talk to certain people in the spotlight, as, well, normal people having a drink and shooting the ****, as opposed to just seeing them on TV or reading about them in the press, where you have an entirely different opinion of them. In the end they're just people and you forget this. But that's a different story and it's boring.
Without further elaboration, of this primary interest was a man who is heavily involved in NY-Sports politics. He's a wheel greaser so to speak. When the city wants to host a sports venue he is one of the men they call to try to make it happen.
He was a big part in orchestrating bringing the Super Bowl to the area in 2014. He was big in trying to bring the Olympics to the City. The guy is for real I can tell you that much. This is no joke.
Needless to say he does work for whoever hires him. Be it the Knicks, Rangers, MSG, and many other venues throughout the region and city such as the Jets, Giants, Trump, Dolan, again whoever needs something pushed he's the one they call to start the ball rolling. Including the city itself (olympics bid). <--he actually said "I can't talk about that". when I asked why NY failed for the Olympic bid and if we can try again. So I moved on.
He seemed very wide open when talking to me and I got no hint he was telling me this with a "don't pass this along" attitude. But, well, you never know, given this party and who was there (damn was I way out of place LOL my scrubby ass there talking to people who had watches worth more than everything I own), so well I'm keeping it vague. Also he was kind of vague on what exactly he does but others there said he's the real deal.
This man said he has been recently hired by Cablevision to help oversee the recruiting of big name NBA free agents to the Knicks.
Without wasting anyones time on all the convo the short points are this:
-He expects Cablevision to spend millions to try to lure LeBron and others to the Knicks. He expects billboards. He helped facilitate the 'fake' LeBron Knicks jerseys which he said is going to get more serious beyond the few shoddy ones that leaked early (said the guy who did that got canned off the "team"). He expects commercials. He said the Knicks are going to load a plane up with every single NYC great that will agree to do so and fly to LBJ's location the second they can. He said there will be Knicks, Yankees, Rangers, Giants, Celebrities (spike lee)... past and present...all there including all of the Knicks brass. He expects Cablevision to offer LBJ the world - whatever he wants on the side - to make it happen.
-His personal opinion is that LBJ is full of himself and the 2010 hoopla and he personally expects LeBron, after putting on a show when he visits NYC and a few other cities, to ultimately decide to stay in Cleveland.
-He said LBJ's "city tours" are actually most likely to be those cities going to HIM....and again cited LBJ's arrogance and determination to make a big show out of this - and stay in CLE anyway. Saying he just loves the attention just for the sake of it.
-He feels that Wade will stay in Miami and try his best to recruit Bosh or Amare....but not LBJ or Joe Johnson.
-He feels that Bosh is the #1 FA to absolutely be on the move. He expects Bosh GONE from Toronto. No second thoughts. He said all the others could stay put but Bosh was absolutely GONE.
-He named Joe Johnson as the second man that will likely move to another team.
-He suggested that Amare and Joe Johnson could end up being the two most possible to land in NY - unless Amare decides to go to Miami which would leave Bosh as the big man to go to NY. Again said that MIA is going after Bosh and Amare to team with a re-signed-MAX Wade. Said Wade has no real intention on leaving the Heat.
-He said the Knicks absolutely want Bosh and LBJ. Those are the top 2 without debate. Said the Knicks will dump everyone and anyone to make it happen. That includes Gallo, Chandler, Douglas, he said "whoever and whatever it takes if they can get Bosh and LBJ they will do it without a thought."
-He felt Chicago is not a destination for ANY of these guys but he wouldn't elaborate. I asked why and he just really didn't answer. Don't know why...and then...he deflected and went back to Amare.
...He again said that Amare is probably going to move on and might go to NY because of Mike D- and downplayed any media speculation that Mike and Amare didn't see eye to eye in Phoenix...calling it "garbage journalism".
-He said he had no call on Boozer or other guys (because they are "2nd tier") but did say he expects Boozer to be looked at as the next option once Amare and Bosh are done with their negotiations as the next big man that teams will try to get.
-He felt David Lee is going to get a big offer from other teams - and that combined with the other big name FAs looking at NY - meant Lee is gone and probably replaced with Amare or Bosh. He said he doubts Lee accepts anything less than 14M+ starting and he does expect teams to actually offer him this. Said that would be a huge turnoff to the Knicks who for "a few mil more" .. "could have a true max FA" ... "they won't do that."
I asked him again who did he think the Knicks would land. He was 50/50 saying he absolutely felt the Knicks could get left out but also said he thought given the draw and the money that we will land one of the big names. He again said LBJ is unlikely to leave CLE saying that LBJ is very high on his image and said if he leaves the hometown Cavs that his image will be tarnished and LBJ is well aware and concerned about that. He also said that LBJ wants to be global but said in today's day and age that not being able to accomplish that in Cleveland is nonesense. He then again said that he thinks that Wade will stay in Miami and recruit one of Bosh or Amare and then either Bosh or Amare could be NY's prize with Joe Johnson.
Again, take it for what you will, but he is a sincere person, and I'm not screwing around. Wish I had more but well that was about where the convo ended.
6/14/2010 10:20 PM
