Danny Ferry

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?

While the Knicks were wheeling and dealing at the trade deadline "[trading] away three paperweights for two guys who should be terrific fits in Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo system," the Cleveland Cavaliers missed out on chances to upgrade their roster and show LeBron they'll do whatever they can to get a dynasty built.

ESPN's Chad Fords analysis of the Cav's lack of movement:
"It sure sounded as if the Cavs were poised to add another important piece to LeBron's quest for a title. There was lots of interest in Wally Szczerbiak's expiring contract, but the Cavs couldn't make a trade. We wonder whether all the talk we've heard from Cleveland and elsewhere about the value of expiring contracts was true. Cavs GM Danny Ferry wasn't the only guy unable or unwilling to move an expiring contract."

Now I'm not saying the Cavs should have made a deal just to make a deal. Perhaps no good trade came around. But the Knicks had VERY difficult and specific trade parameters- they needed to match their players ridiculous contracts (to make the trades work), and only trade for players that do not extend beyond 2010. With those as the rules -and every GM in the league knowing the Knicks bound themselves to that- to give up Tim Thomas and end of the bench garbage, for Larry Hughes and Chris Wilcox, Donnie Walsh showed us all that he continues to know what he wants and, more importantly, how to get it. Very impressive. And if you think LeBron isn't seeing and taking note of what Donnie is doing, you're nuts.