“COMMON SENSE”: OUR LETTER TO LEBRON

Dear LeBron,

Let’s start with full disclosure – I am a born and raised Knicks fan. So I’ll spend a few sentences pleading with you to sign with the Knicks. Please, please, please sign with the Knicks this offseason. We Knicks fans have been suffering for so long now. We need you. Ok, now that that’s out of my system, let me explain why you should sign with the New York Knickerbockers this coming summer in the most unbiased way possible.

Let’s start with your supporting cast. This seems to be the biggest con against signing with the team, but consider their actions this past trade deadline. It is obvious that the front office is wiping the slate completely clean, and guess who will have first say on whoever the team signs. If you come, you will be the unofficial player/gm. But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves and look at what pieces are already in place.

There aren’t many players on payroll next year, but there are two that I think you will enjoy playing with. We have Danilo Gallinari, who is the jump shooter you’ve never gotten to play next to your whole career. He can spot up and shoot off the curl better than any of the wings you’ve had to play with in Cleveland. Wilson Chandler fills in where Gallinari is deficient, and vice versa. He’s athletic and can fill the lanes. His jumpshot isn’t too shabby either. Neither of them demands the ball to be effective. They will allow you to make plays and bail you out when you get stuck. Don’t forget the guy calling the plays, Mike D’Antoni. He turned Steve Nash into a 2-time MVP. You’re having one of the most ridiculous seasons this year despite having Shaq and Big Z clog the middle and a coach who runs the ugliest and slowest offense I have ever seen (mind you, I was a fan of the 90s Knicks). Imagine what you could accomplish in D’Antoni’s system. You’re getting 30-8-8 this season. Averaging a triple double with the Knicks is not out of the question. Think about it.

The most important part, however, is that you have a clean slate to work with. If you like David Lee, we will keep him. He is the rebounding machine with a jump shot you used to have in Carlos Boozer. Remember him? The guy who would’ve helped put you over the hump against the Magic, or the Celtics, or the Pistons. If you don’t like Lee, we can use the salary cap space to sign whomever you want. We’re all aware of who the other free agents are this offseason. Let us know who you want to play with.

If you come, the other free agents will follow suit. That doesn’t only apply to this offseason, too. Don’t laugh, but Eddy Curry will be an important part of our team next year. Not with his actual skill-set, but with his expiring contract. All it takes is one disgruntled star to ask for a trade (What’s that Chris Paul, you’re tired of being stuck in the West with a weak supporting cast?). If a trade doesn’t happen during the season, we can use the cap room in another strong free agent class next summer. If you come to New York, there is a strong possibility that we will get another top tier free agent to sign with you this summer and then another star either via trade or free agency the following year. We all saw the instant chemistry you had playing with Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade in this year’s All Star game. With Mike D’Antoni as coach, there’s no reason you couldn’t bring that same magic to the Garden for an entire season.

That brings me to the fun part, the best part – Manhattan, New York. The Best City in the World. Your mural on that building by Quicken Arena is cute and all, but that’s as big as it’s going to get. (Don’t think we didn’t notice this tidbit.)

Imagine your billboard in Times Square. And on 34th Street. And in SoHo. And in every relevant neighborhood in the most relevant city in the world. The city will build your image to epic proportions. If you wear a Knicks jersey, New York will love you unconditionally. The Garden will sell out every night. The “Who’s Better – Kobe vs. Lebron” argument would be moot to every New Yorker.

Look at the all time greats – West, Jordan, Kobe, Wilt, Kareem, Magic, Bird, Russell – what was the common denominator? They all played in a big market. Oscar Robertson was one of the most transcendental players ever. During his era, it wasn’t fair how far ahead he was of his peers. No one had a chance, and his stats showed that. Sound familiar? But, as great as Big O was, he wasn’t relevant to the casual basketball fan until you reminded everyone of the possibility of averaging a triple double. He will always be underrated compared to the all time greats. I’m not trying to say that you need to go to a big market to get all the respect you deserve, but it definitely wouldn’t hurt your image.

I know you’re considering other teams, and I want to leave you with one last thought to consider. As great as Kobe’s career will end, we will never be able to say he is the greatest Laker ever. We could argue it, but never convince everyone. I know the Bulls have cap space this offseason, but that franchise casts a huge shadow over anyone who wears their jersey. Remember when Kobe passed up the chance to sign there? We all know who the greatest Bull is, and there is no way to convince anyone otherwise. It is impossible to decide on who the greatest Celtic was. Why did I name these franchises? Because the Celtics, Lakers, Bulls, and Knicks will always be considered the main franchises of the NBA. As bad as the Knicks have been, they are still in the news. The NBA needs the Knicks to be good. As great as the players in Knicks history have been, you will automatically be the greatest player in New York Knickerbockers’ history the day you sign with us. I loved Ewing, but he wasn’t even the top (or 2nd best) center of his era. He’s the co-star/prop getting dunked on in the Jordan DVD. The Walt and Willis teams were great, but they will always be remembered more as a team. That’s pretty much it.

Imagine having the title as “the Greatest Player of the Most Storied Franchise in the Greatest City in the World”. Sleep on that. Think about that next time Varajeo clangs an open jumper or Shaq just stands there uselessly or Mike Brown calls yet another pick and roll play.

Sincerely,

Joe

P.S. If this didn’t do enough to convince you, please forward to Dwayne Wade.