Throughout his 21-year NBA career, anytime James enters free agency, he becomes the center of attention. In 2010, the Knicks, along with the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, and New Jersey Nets, were among the five organizations James was considering leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers for during his highly publicized free agency season.
Ultimately, James chose to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on the Heat over Amar’e Stoudemire on the Knicks.
With the way James has changed player movement in the NBA, he’s likely to begin a new chapter of his career somewhere else, which might very well be Broadway, given his provocative remark.
James, 39, is averaging 24.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game while shooting 52 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from three, the latter being his career’s second-best connect percentage.
James will command a hefty salary when the time comes, and if the Knicks can move Evan Fournier and the almost $19 million he owes next season, as well as make other moves to clear financial space, they may be able to make a play for the future Hall of Famer.
James’ agent, Rich Paul, recently buried the hatchet with Knicks president Leon Rose, hinting that both parties may be willing to do business again. This affects not just the Knicks’ trade interest in Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray, but also James.
Though Paul has explicitly indicated that James does not want to be dealt, anything can happen in today’s NBA. As is customary, everyone in the front office, including the Knicks, will be keeping an eye on James’ situation with the Lakers as it develops.
Austin Reaves, a Los Angeles Lakers guard, has been in a good offensive groove lately, and it continued on Saturday night against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Despite a poor start, Reaves went off in the fourth quarter, finishing with 22 points, six rebounds, and seven assists on 6-for-13 shooting from the field and 3-for-6 from deep.
It was actually Reaves’ first time playing at Madison Square Garden, and the atmosphere was definitely manageable. He discussed how much he loved it, particularly coming away with the victory, via Spectrum SportsNet:
Reaves played with Brunson on Team USA this summer, and the two are quite close, so it had to feel good for the Lakers guard to walk away with a victory, especially given how much his team needed it.
Reaves has experienced ups and downs after signing a large contract to stay with the Lakers this summer. He appears to be coming into his own in recent weeks, which will be important if the Lakers are to make another postseason push.
