"At the end of the day, a max deal doesn't really matter. It is all about winning to me. When that day comes next summer, I want to win. If I feel like the team is capable of winning, then I will make my decision based on that." That's what Lebron James said after the Cavs beat the Knicks 100-91 last night in Madison Square Garden, amid a star-studded cast celebrities. You hear that Donnie Walsh? LeBron wants to "win."
To me, that is one of the best quotes to have ever come from a superstar free agent. It pretty much sums it up, no matter what sport you are talking about. Sure, there are many players who are looking for a payday. Running back Derrick Ward, the second-string back for the New York Giants bolted to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a $17 million dollar contract, only to wind up on an 0-7 team. Alex Rodriguez signed a 3 year deal with the Texas Rangers worth $252 million dollars, and ended up in last place in the American League West in both 2002 and 2003 before finally starting to turn it around in 2004. But LeBron just wants to win games. He is a pure competitor at heart, like Michael Jordan was in the 90's. You simply cannot see LeBron go to a terrible team just because he is offered a max contract.
Right now, New York is throwing a nauseating supply of celebrities at him. Jay-Z, Joba Chamberlain, C.C. Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez, and Mark Texiera were all on hand, courtside for last night's game. Oddly enough, Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason, and Larry Johnson, 3 Knicks players from the 90's, were there as well but didn't get too much notoriety. There is even an 8 story tall picture of him in Times Square posing for Air Jordan. All of this is nice, but LeBron is too mature and gracious to be swayed by such transparent flattery.
LeBron James just wants to win. And that is precisely why Donnie Walsh needs to do whatever is possible to get him. He has made it clear that he won't sign with anyone less than a contender, and that will not be the Knicks unless someone steps up to become a leader. David Lee is probably their best player, but you would never know it because he just doesn't speak up. He is a role player, and Donnie Walsh was right not to pay him top dollar. Wilson Chandler is probably the 2nd best player on the team, but he is far from a verbal general at this point in his young career. I believe Danilo Gallinari is the key. He seems passionate about winning, and he absolutely needs to step up and start commanding wins. He is already averaging 17.5 PPG, and is top 3 on the team in scoring. The team is wide open for the taking. Who is it going to be? Chris Duhon, is hardly an elite point guard. He is slow and prone to mistakes, but at least he spoke up recently to demand a little more effort and seriousness in the pregame warm ups. It was hardly a call to task, but it was a nudge. Unfortunately the criticism didn't work. Duhon is not the leader. It has to come from someone else.
If Gallinari has the guts to stand up and lead this team, perhaps along with Chandler or Lee, then LeBron James and other free agents in 2010 will take notice that the Knicks' building blocks have potential.
Someone on the Knicks needs to stand up and say, "this is my team." Who is it going to be? Gallinari, Lee, or Chandler?
Posts
