Marc Berman

The men arrived shortly before 1 p.m. following the Nets' meeting with James. The group left the IMG Building at approximately 3:25.
"There was no commitment; it was a non-committal meeting," said Walsh, who attended in a wheelchair as he recovers from neck surgery. "We got the opportunity, which were thankful for, to talk about the New York Knicks and explain what we're trying to do."

James left without comment.
D'Antoni maintained his sense of humor afterward.
"You know who's good: LeBron James," he said. "I can say that now without getting fined for tampering."

Asked what was the best part of the meeting, D'Antoni replied, "LeBron was in it, that was very good."

He also was asked about the Knicks being a dark horse behind the Bulls, Heat and perhaps the Nets.

"I know you guys, nothing personal, I'm glad we're not considered a lead horse," D'Antoni said.

Marc Berman Reports:
The mixed messages LeBron James sent during his MVP acceptance in Akron, Ohio, on Sunday swayed oddsmakers into thinking he's not likely to bolt Cleveland come July.
Yesterday, the Cavs were installed as solid 1-3 favorites to re-sign James when he becomes a free agent July 1, according the gambling website Bodog.com.
However, New York can remain hopeful. The Knicks, with whom James has flirted for two years, were installed as a prohibitive second choice at 3-1.

The Nets, whose minority owner is James' close friend, Jay-Z, were a distant third choice at 10-1. (Vegas does not accept such bets).

Because of the rampant speculation about James eyeing the Knicks, the club has sold more than 2,300 new season-ticket packages for next season.
James, honored by Commissioner David Stern before last night's Cavs-Celtics second-round series, lauded his hometown of Akron on Sunday.
But during a Sunday press conference -- and in an ABC interview -- he hardly was definitive about staying in Cleveland
Stern agreed with the oddsmakers last night, saying the collective-bargaining agreement favors free agents staying with their clubs. The commissioner said he hopes the LeBron speculation doesn't overshadow the playoffs -- and that he would like to see Cleveland keep its man.
At one point Sunday, James said of Akron, "This is home for me. I love this place to death. Every day I wake up, I understand that I'm not just carrying myself, but I'm also carrying this city to bigger and better heights. No matter where life may head me, I'm never gone from here."
On ABC Sunday, James teased, "It's going to be a great summer."
Sunday's event at the University of Akron could foreshadow the future. James could make his announcement he's re-signing with Cleveland in Akron. That he's keeping wiggle room is testament to his flair for the dramatic, but the Knicks' odds get better if Cleveland is stunned in the second round by Boston.
Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert was on stage with James during the MVP ceremony and declared, "I'm sure we'll be here next year with MV3."
Knicks president Donnie Walsh, who returned last night from vacation to gear up for the most important offseason in Knick history, has said he realizes the challenge of dragging James out of his hometown.
The Heat have cap space, but their odds of signing James as a tandem with Wade was put at 35-1.
The Knicks' home-run goal is pairing James with either Chris Bosh or Amare' Stoudemire, as they have enough cap space for two maximum contracts. Coach Mike D'Antoni feels a player such as James would be intrigued by rebuilding a dead franchise in the world's greatest city.
The Knicks' likelier scenario, however, is landing Atlanta shooting guard Joe Johnson -- a significant step down in class from James.

I agree these odds are pretty accurate, Ill take a 3 to 1 chance to pry away the best player in the game from his team. (Sportsbook.com says its a little more likely listing the Knicks at +250, with the Cavs the same -300)

Only other thing is, what else is David Stern going to say. I am in no way saying he is lying, however if he says anything but that he hopes he stays, hes going to get attacked big time

LeBron's response "LOL." TMac is doing his part in more ways than just on the court. Marc Berman of the New York Post reports:

Tracy McGrady already began his recruiting pitch to LeBron James after he was traded to the Knicks Feb. 18.

T-Mac and LeBron have been in communication. "He's a good friend,'' McGrady said at the morning shootaround at Quicken Loans Arena. "He wanted to see me back on the basketball court and congratulate me on being back. I sent him an email that said: "I'm in the Big Apple. I'll see you here next season.''

LeBron's response was a "LOL.''

Anything bad that happens to Cleveland is good for the Knicks, so the Cavs announcing this morning Shaquille O'Neal is out about eight weeks because of his thumb surgery isn't the worst thing for Donnie Walsh's July 1 bid. Shaq will miss the first round of the playoffs and if the Cavaliers are stunned early, the chances of LeBron's departure goes way up.

McGrady can see a scenario of LeBron leaving if they win a title or if they got knocked out early this spring.

"(He) could go either way,'' McGrady said. "On one hand, he could say I gave you all something you never had, what you wanted. On the other hand, I've been here seven years, I tried and it just didn't happen. I want to start fresh. It could go either way. Nobody knows what the guy is thinking. Let's just sit back and enjoy and wait till July 1st.''

Despite his sore knee, McGrady expects some time on James tonight, with Wilson Chandler not making the trip because of personal reasons.

"It's what you really get up for,'' McGrady said. "He's a great player. The things he does on basketball court is unbelievable. He's a rare talent. A guy whose 250, 6-8, faster than most of the guards in this league and very powerful. God was like, I'm going to make you the perfect basketball player, the perfect body. He ought to be on his knees every night thanking the Lord.''

Tonight is one of the biggest nights in LeBron's career- could mean the difference between him thinking he has a championship team and is set in Cleveland for his career or realizing they don't have what it takes and hoping on the next flight to NYC as soon as he can.

Marc Berman of the NY Post seems to think this could help lead LeBron to the Knicks as he wrote today:
"Following the Knicks' cap-clearing trades on Nov. 21, rare was the day a Knicks fan wouldn't ask me about the chances of landing James in 2010.

My stock answer was it looked bleak, that James was all about winning championships, and the Cavaliers may have built themselves a championship team. Why would he want to leave a place where he can start a dynasty?

At closer inspection, this "dynasty" is a collection of veterans -- other than James -- who probably aren't getting better in the future. Mo Williams, the supposed starry sidekick, has made more noise for his series guarantee than with big, clutch shots. Williams went scoreless in the fourth quarter and overtime Tuesday, very Knicks-like."

My personal favorite part is LeBron's quote:
"I'm up for the challenge," James said. "And I think my play, my leadership has spoke for that. So I will be ready, and I think our guys will be ready also."

Granted the guy is averaging 42.3 points, 7.3 rebound and 7.3 assists in the series so he can say that, but its still a pretty big call out to your team there saying "hey I've proven I'm ready, I THINK my team is."

Going into tonight's series, when a team goes up 3-1 they are 182-8. But if LeBron has proven anything, he is above the odds.

Marc Berman wrote an article in the NY Post talking about Walsh's options and plans for the Knicks over the summer and into 2010- here are some of the important pieces to note/highlights:
*Possibility of LeBron signing an extension with Cleveland this season(doubtful, remember, this site is not the only place counting down the days):
"If King James passes[signing an extension], the Knicks can still cling to their fantasy of competing for James in 2010 and bringing along point guard Steve Nash as his sidekick with all their unprecedented cap room. Only James and Dwayne Wade, a warm-weather guy who probably won't consider the Knicks, are the two 2010 gems capable of turning a dead franchise around."

*The potential 2010 starting lineup if they sign King James:
"A 2010-11 starting lineup of Nash and Wilson Chandler in the backcourt, with James, Danilo Gallinari and David Lee up front could make the Knicks title contenders."

*"Walsh is unwilling to take on contracts past 2010, unless the player is All-Star material."

*Walsh wants the team in playoff position next season to help entice a free agent.

*Trade possibilities? (slim chance... but out there):
"As for free-agency/trades, the Knicks' best hope at a big score is if a team with a marquee 2010 free agent feels it must deal now instead of losing him for nothing. That could happen with Toronto and Chris Bosh, maybe with Phoenix and Amare Stoudemire and Nash."

I can honestly say I trust and think Donnie really knows what he's doing there and how to get it done. Haven't been able to say that for years, it may continue to hurt next season, but I see light at the end of the tunnel, at the worst, I see the team as back on track in 2010

Oh... and did you see the show LeBron put on the other night?- he is going to carry that team on his back (again) through the playoffs