In an article for the Detroit News, Chris McCosky explains why he thinks LeBron to New York has become less likely:

Before the season, most NBA executives thought it was a lock that James would be a New York Knick in the summer of 2010. He wants to be an icon on the level of Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, and he will probably get there eventually no matter where he plays.

But he would darn sure get their quicker playing in New York.

If it was a 90 percent lock that James was bound for the Big Apple before the season, it's probably a 50-50 proposition now. For all the reasons stated above, plus the fact that Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry has done a superb job surrounding James with players who complement him without getting in his way, and players he likes on and off the court, there's been more talk of James extending his stay in Cleveland.

That could change in a blink, though. Look at the Cavaliers roster in the summer of 2010. Here are the players who will remain on their payroll beyond the 2009-2010 season: Mo Williams, Delonte West, Booby Gibson, J.J. Hickson and Darnell Jackson. Not good.

Other options

Obviously, the cupboard is bare for a reason. The Cavaliers needed to clear space for James' max deal. The Knicks post-2010 roster will be just as bare. Still, you wonder what impact that will have on James' decision? Maybe by then he will be sick of having to produce triple-doubles every night for his team to win.

Maybe he is counting on packaging himself with Chris Bosh, Steve Nash, Dwyane Wade or another elite free agent? If so, New York might be better suited to facilitate that - especially since James has already expressed a liking for coach Mike D'Antoni's system.

Or, maybe he has enough confidence in Ferry and the Cavaliers to again assemble a championship-caliber team around him?

So many scenarios, so many variables, both known and unknown - why are we talking about this now?

I’ve said all along that if LeBron wins a ring in Cleveland, it will be very difficult for him to leave. This becomes even more problematic if he wins next year, as winning a ‘chip in June and signing in New York just days later would damage his legacy in his hometown. Others argue that in this scenario he would then be able to leave Cleveland guilt-free, knowing that he brought them a championship and his work was done there. I don’t buy that, LeBron wants to be universally revered and held in the same esteem as greats like Jordan, Magic and Bird; the last thing he wants is the perception that he’s the type of athlete that values money more than winning. No matter what spin is put on it, leaving after winning a championship would make him just that.