fishmike wrote:My gut feeling tells me Lebron isnt coming. He strikes me as cowardly. The kind of guy who is used to getting what he wants. What is his motivation for stepping outside his warm fuzzy bubble? He's not MJ and he's not Kobe. I think he wants the attention without the responsibility. I think he wants to think he has options abound, but knows and has always known he is staying put.

I think Lee gets $14mm from Washington. They need an image upgrade and he does that. They need a high BB IQ player to put up there with Blatche and McGee and he does that. They need a PF and he is that. He's great in an uptempo scoring system and his passing is excellent. Next year they will start Wall and Arenes in the backcourt, Blatch and Lee up front and go get a 3. McGee is the perfect guy to come off the bench.

I also think with the bigger raises and 6th year that Lee would stay here for less. The Wizards could offer him 5 years $82mm starting at $14mm. The Knicks could counter with 6 years $82mm starting at $10.5. Same guarenteed money. It takes an extra year to earn it w/ the Knicks.

Why would anyone take an extra year to earn the same amount of money. Doesn't make sense Fish. There is no loyalty Fish when it comes to a career and money.

I appreciate the thanks from some and understand the..well negative responses from others.

I didn't post this to be some kind of insider...I am clearly not. I had a chance to rub elbows with someone who is. He gave his opinion and that is that. He happens to have been hired by Cablevision to be one of a few people to head several teams of individuals to lure top FAs to the Knicks. Nothing more. He's one of a few who then brings in their "team" to make things happen. I'm not posting this to get attention. I simply had a chance to talk to an individual who was hired by our team to lure the top FAs to New York. He is also the man the city of New York hired to try to get the Super Bowl here (success) and to get the Olympics here (failure). So I picked his brain and he gave me his opinions. In the end right or wrong who goes where.... this is what it is.

In that I like to think he knows what is going on here more than your average fan or journalist. His job is to lure these guys to NY. In that I'd like to think he knows what is going on in the 2010 FA more than your average fan or journalist. Maybe his speculation is off maybe it is right but again the man was hired by Cablevision to do this job. His job here is to lure LBJ and Bosh to the Knicks and if those failed to lure the "others" to the Knicks. I think that qualifies him to know what the hell is going on more than anyone.

Do you not think it is of interest that three days after I spoke to this man (Saturday) that we get a breaking story that the Knicks are putting together a multi-million dollar celeb group together to lure top FAs to our city (Monday)? You know the story, Greek posted it this AM.

So, no, I'm not making stuff up here. He told me that was what was going to happen three days before you all read it in the press. Does this not make it legit? I know it does because I talked to the man who is legit. You don't like it well fine...be stupid...I can't help you.

No, I'm not some insider that can go back and forth either. I had a once in a lifetime opportunity and that's it. I thought it was interesting and therefore I shared it. Anyone who has a problem with it well whatever. If I _REALLY_ wanted to I could probably press my family connection to this man but I don't see the value in that. I was invited to a get together and was able to talk to a man involved in our team's future in a candid nature. You'd think this was something of interest and not something to be ridiculed. But, again, whatever.

As to other questions such as Dirk and what not. It never got beyond that. I did not think to ask past Boozer (as I think Dirk will stay in Dallas and is just opting out to maximize the next contract) plus when I did he said he had no comment on second tier players because he is focused on the top handful of players that the Knicks and Cablevision asked him to recruit. I'm guessing if that job can't be done that then those hired to do that job are well...finished at that point.

Again, take it for what you will, my original post outlines all I talked to him about regarding the Knicks. There wasn't much more beyond "wow nice house" and "pretty humid day think we'll get rain" and "is that your kid lol that's hilarious watching the kids play together" and what not.

Figured I was doing a nice thing here. For some I guess not.

.....back to lurking I go. Probably a good thing. Nothing good to talk about until July 1st I would think.

s3231 wrote:My first post in awhile as I wanted to take a nice hiatus until July 1st came close...

Anyway, awesome post Cosmic and thanks for the insider info. Very much appreciated as we always want to hear new info. Confirms that Donnie is going to unleash everything under the sun to get LeBron here. If he chooses not to come to NY, at least we'll know it's not because of the recruiting pitch (and we can welcome a new villain to Knicks fans if that happens).

This only happens if we recover from a LeBron James diss and build a winning and contending team. If we continue to be a joke, as I honestly expect if we don't land King James, I guarantee you the Garden will continue to cheer for the opposing teams Star.

iSergio wrote:

s3231 wrote:My first post in awhile as I wanted to take a nice hiatus until July 1st came close...

Anyway, awesome post Cosmic and thanks for the insider info. Very much appreciated as we always want to hear new info. Confirms that Donnie is going to unleash everything under the sun to get LeBron here. If he chooses not to come to NY, at least we'll know it's not because of the recruiting pitch (and we can welcome a new villain to Knicks fans if that happens).

This only happens if we recover from a LeBron James diss and build a winning and contending team. If we continue to be a joke, as I honestly expect if we don't land King James, I guarantee you the Garden will continue to cheer for the opposing teams Star.

There would definitely be some cheers b/c many perceive him as the best player in the game. However, I think most of the crowd (Knicks fans at least) would be vicious. I was at the Cavs game this year and talking to other Knicks fans that were there cheering for LeBron (something I refused to do), they mostly said they were doing it just to entice him to come to NY. If LeBron turns us down, I guarantee there will be a lot of fans that turn on him. Even if we continue to lose, he might be perceived as a reason for that (turning us down) so there will be plenty of reason to hate him from a Knicks fan standpoint.