The New "King" Of New York?

When I think about the NBA for the year 2010, there is one question that continues to pop-up in my mind:

Will LeBron James leave Cleveland for New York?

This is a question that even LeBron James doesn't know the answer to. James has started a media frenzy in the NBA regarding his loyalty to the Cleveland Cavaliers. We all know that Cleveland had it's share of heart breaks throughout the years. From Michael Jordan's game winning fade away jumpers to the awful Cleveland Browns, Cleveland desperately needed LeBron James to save their city.

Not only did LeBron save the city of Cleveland, he resurrected a throne in the Eastern Conference. With three Eastern Conference Finals appearances, one NBA Finals appearance, countless awards and broken records, James became a dominant force.

After all the accomplishments in Cleveland, the "King" may be looking to resurrect another throne in New York City. LeBron couldn't dodge the temptation to leave Cleveland and his teammates for the bright lights of Madison Square Garden. In an interview with ESPN's NBA analyst Stephan A. Smith, James didn't rule out leaving the Cavs for New York city. James's words struck a chord with Hall of Famer Charles Barkley.

In an interview on "Dan Patrick Radio" Barkley said "If I was LeBron James, I would shut the hell up." Barkley also went on to say "I'm a big LeBron fan. He's a stud. You gotta give him his props. I'm getting so annoyed he's talking about what he's going to do in two years. I think it's disrespectful to the game. I think it's disrespectful to the Cavaliers."

Hearing Barkley's comments, James called Barkley stupid.

Even with Barkley's comments James still has his eyes fixated in New York. Every basketball player dreams of playing in Madison Square Garden because of it's rich tradition of champions. Players like Walt "Clyde" Frazier, Willis Reed, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, etc. These players have blessed the Garden with memorable games and championships that will leave you drooling.

Let's be honest, who would turn down playing basketball in Madison Square Garden in New York City for the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio?.. That's what I thought, no one.

The New York market is a place where LeBron can thrive in. Knowing that he won't be able to throw down thunderous dunks forever, LeBron has utilized his personality through endorsements. Watching how Michael Jordan took over endorsements deals for athletes, LeBron has become the face of Nike, Coca-Cola, Upper Deck and State Farm.

According to Fortune magazine, in 2007 LeBron took in $25 million in endorsements making him the #1 marketable player in the NBA. Imagine if James was playing in New York where there are more avenues in terms of endorsements. He would set a new standard for players being marketed in the NBA.

Having endorsements is good, but James is a big competitor and winning tops his lists when it comes to basketball. If the Knicks aren't prepared to lure LeBron away from Cleveland, then Knicks fans might as well bring out the tissue box.

But Knicks team president Donnie Walsh understands the significance of the 2010 free agency period. To have a chance to sign one of the best players in the NBA doesn't come around too often these days. Walsh erased $27.5 million from New York's salary cap for the 2010-2011 NBA season by trading away guard Jamal Crawford to the Golden State Warriors and forward Zach Randolph to the Los Angeles Clippers. In return Walsh brought in former Clippers Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas. Both of these players contracts expires in the 2009-2010 season.

According to ESPN.com writer Chris Sheridan Walsh was quoted saying "We're getting ourselves in position, and now we have a year and a half to get the team in shape to get where we want to be, and the object is to put together a title-winning team here."

Clearing that $27.5 million from their salary cap will allow the Knicks freedom to offer maximum contracts to two of the elite free agents in 2010. Everyone knows that LeBron will be the first priority for the Knicks organization, but surrounding James with a supporting cast is key when it comes to winning NBA championships. The Celtics were fortunate enough to have three leaders in Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. The Spurs were also fortunate with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

The Knicks have a chance to bring in another elite player from that 2010 free agency period. Players like Amare Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Bosh, Steve Nash and Dwayne Wade will be great additions to join forces with LeBron. Its just a matter of how Donnie Walsh wants his Knick team assembled.

Many feel that Chris Bosh is the likely candidate to join LeBron in New York. Bosh would be a great sidekick for LeBron because of his ability to face-up and knock down jumpers in the post. The two also won gold medals together this past summer in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Through all of the media attention, James has continued to say that his focus as of right now is his teammates in Cleveland. But two years from now his main concern may be his teammates in New York. Only time will tell.


Be Peaceful

• Sadly, 11 year NBA veteran Cuttino Mobley was forced to retire because of a heart disease. Mobley, who is 33 years old, had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This was the same disease that lead to the deaths of former Boston Celtics star Reggie Lewis and Loyola Marymount legend Hank Gathers. Through his 11 year NBA career, Mobley averaged 16ppg with the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers.
  
• Christmas is right around the corner and the NBA has a huge present for you basketball fans! Christmas day the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers will face each other for the first time since last years NBA Finals. The Celtics beat the Lakers 4-2 making them the 2008 NBA champions. Gather the family around the television because this game will be interesting!

The Rotten Apple In The Garden

The very first time I heard the name Stephon Marbury, I was looking at a Slam Magazine in a local grocery store. Marbury was a phenom from Brooklyn, New York that was getting ready for his freshman year at Georgia Tech. Watching highlight tapes and hearing stories from players that played with Marbury while at summer camps made me fall in love with his game. He easily became one of my favorite players(the other is Isaiah Thomas) and I continued to follow his career.

Since that time, it has been an up and down basketball career for Marbury. Although he's averaged 19.7 ppg and 7.8 apg for his career, Marbury has a cloud hanging over his head. The word has always been that he's a distracting selfish ball player who cannot run a team.

The latest on "Starbury" is his on-going battle with his teammates of the New York Knicks and head coach Mike D'Antoni. Last summer Donnie Walsh brought in the former Suns head coach to revive the Knicks team and bring life back into Madison Square Garden. It was supposed to be a great union between D'Antoni and the New York Knick organization. Marbury would be able to flourish within D'Antoni's run-and-gun offense because of his scoring and play making ability.

But this isn't the first time that Marbury has played in D'Antoni's run-and-gun offense. Back in the 2003-2004 season, Marbury and D'Antoni had a brief stint together in Phoenix. The coach and player didn't have the best relationship out in the desert and things wouldn't change in the Big Apple.

Intent on having a well run basketball team, D'Antoni brought in former Chicago Bull Chris Duhon to be the starting point guard for the Knicks.

When the NBA preseason got underway, Marbury was in an unfamiliar role that he's never faced in his basketball career. He came off the bench. Accepting his new role and playing spot minutes, Marbury knew that his days in New York were numbered.

As the NBA season started Marbury took on another new role, not playing...at all. You could see Marbury sitting at the end of the bench with his warmup on looking aimlessly at the crowd. There was no laughter or interaction with his teammates, just a "i don't care" expression that occasionally yawns because of boredom. His off the court incidents with teammates and coaches throughout his stay in New York left a bad taste in the Knicks front office and they had enough.

D'Antoni made it clear to everyone that there weren't going to be any minutes for Marbury in New York. But things would change when the Knicks traded guards Jamal Crawford, Mardy Collins and forward Zach Randolph. The Knicks were on the road in Milwaukee and short handed because players they traded for were not available. D'Antoni needed bodies, especially at the guard position. Mike D'Antoni came to Marbury and told him that there were 30-35 minutes of playing time available. According to D'Antoni, Marbury said that he "wasn't comfortable with the situation, and he did not want to play."

When asked about the meeting with D'Antoni, Marbury had different views. Marbury said that D'Antoni never told him that there were going to be minutes for him against the Bucks.

Marbury told the New York Post he taped his ankles in case he was needed. Marbury said "Refusing to play is when the coach tries to put you in the game and you say you're not going in." Marbury also told the New York Post "If he asked me to go into the game, I was going into the game. That's why I taped my ankles."

Marbury again refused to play in Detroit, leaving his Knicks teammates short handed. The level of frustration was at an all time high within the New York Knicks locker room and players started to speak out.

Quentin Richardson, who has been in altercations before with Marbury, voiced his frustration towards Marbury's refusal to play. According to ESPN.com, Richardson said "This is directed at us regardless if you're trying to stick it to whoever you're trying to stick it to." Richardson also said "At the end of the day we're shorthanded, people are hurt."

The Knicks lost both games that Marbury refused to play in.

Observing everything from his front office chair, Donnie Walsh had to make a decision. His entire organization became a circus as reporters swarmed the Garden with questions about the back and forth confrontation with Stephon Marbury. Walsh met with Marbury in hopes of reaching a buyout. After no deal could be reached, Walsh released a statement saying "After meeting with Stephon and his representative this afternoon, we have directed Stephon not to participate in practice or attend games until further notice. We want to continue to meet with him to discuss a long-term resolution."

Walsh also suspended Marbury for one game without pay and took away an additional game's salary for Marbury's refusal to play in a loss at Detroit.

After Marbury's meeting with Walsh, his built-in anger spilled over. According to ESPN.com writer Chris Sheridan, Marbury said "When things got bad and then worse, guys like Quentin Richardson say, 'I don't consider him a teammate. He let his teammates out to dry.' He didn't care I was his teammate when I was banished. They left me out for dead. It's like we're in a foxhole and I'm facing the other way. If I got shot in the head, at least you want to get shot by the enemy. I got shot in the head by my own guys in my foxhole. And they didn't even give me an honorable death."

Honorable death or not, Marbury did not help his situation in New York. He had run-ins long before D'Antoni became the Knicks head coach and its pains me to say that Marbury is a cancer on any team he's apart of. Donnie Walsh is still working on a buyout plan for Marbury and the Knicks are moving forward with their season. Currently the Knicks are coming off of a loss to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, placing their record at 8-10.

No one knows where Stephon Marbury will end up next. What we do know, is that Marbury is a consistent guard with very good numbers on the court, but he is plagued by his negative attitude. Maybe Marbury can one day change from being selfish to selfless, but until that day day comes, he will always be a distraction.

Be Peaceful

• Have you read my story "Showing "Flashes" Of Elite Status"? If you haven't I suggest you do. Dwayne Wade is back healthy and tearing up NBA opponents! The Robbins, IL native is averaging 28.4 ppg, 7.7 apg and he's shooting 50% from the field! Please re-read my story because I told you was back to an elite status.


• Please go to ESPN.com and read about or watch Wayman Tisdale's survival against cancer. Tisdale was a 12 year NBA player that averaged 15 points and 6 rebounds for his career. He is now a very successful smooth jazz bass guitarist, that was awarded the Legacy Tribute Award by the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.