New York Knicks Ask Celebrities to Help Recruit Lebron James
Helping hand or desperate decision? NBA franchise hoping to use big names to attract free-agent talent to join D'Antoni's 'revolution'
The New York Knicks are hoping that 'star power' can be used to help them attract the likes of Lebron James and Dwayne Wade to play their basketball at Madison Square Garden .
Ahead of what would seem to be the best crop of unrestricted free agents in NBA history, the Knicks are using a panel of 'big names' from the city to convince the sports top free agents to come and join the New York basketball club.
The 'recruiting committee includes Knicks resident fan Spike Lee, Chris Rock, Donald Trump, Alec Baldwin and Tracy Morgan. At a meeting on 15th June, 2010 the Knicks decided their latest move in the battle with several other NBA franchises to secure the top available talent ahead of the coming season.
Billionaire Donald Trump told the New York Post he was 'happy to be involved'. He said: "New York would be a great thing for Lebron. He would take over the city... I can tell you, Lebron, there is only one New York.
NBA free agency does not begin until July but with team GM's already preparing offers, there is going to be a competitive market to sign up the best available options. The Knicks have been saving up cap space for some years to 'make a run' at Lebron James, and General Manager Donnie Walsh is hoping that signing a big name free agent can halt their run of nine consecutive losing seasons.
Their plan to use celebrities and well known figures will no doubt entice the likes of James, Bosh Johnson but it remains to be seen whether a proposed meeting between several NBA free agents draws the conclusion that New York is the best place for them to win a championship.
Comedian Chris Rock told the New York Times that he will use the attraction of the city to help secure the signature of the two-time reigning MVP. Rock said: (I'll ask) You really want to live in Cleveland? That's what I would tell him. Where do you want to live?"
The Knicks finished 29-53 eleventh in the Eastern Conference and 22nd overall in the NBA. They haven't made the post-season since New Jersey swept them in the first round of the 2003/04 playoffs but for the last two seasons New Yorkers has been less concerned with what is going on with their current team, than what might happen if they make the right moves this summer.
The future of their long-term target Lebron James has been as much of a talking point as the 2009-10 NBA Finals themselves, especially since his Cavelliers were ousted by Boston in the Conference semi-finals.
Lebron has publically refused to comment on his situation or where he will be playing next season, but has reportedly backed Cleveland's decision to try and hire Michigan State's Tom Izzo as coach. It is unclear whether Lebron has backed Izzo because he feels he is the best man for the job, or whether he'd stay in Cleveland if the Spartans coach were to be hired.
There is an increasingly strong feeling around the league that Lebron will be leaving his home city of Cleveland, but any team who he choses to sign for should have the potential to win him a first NBA title after two conference finals losses and a Finals sweep since he came into the league in 2003.
Knicks spokesman Barry Watkins confirmed to ESPN that the club 'had a desire to have some celebrities meet with interested free agents and take them out on the town.' In the New York Post he said: "We are in the process of assembling a committee of friends of the Knicks who are many of the city's most successful winners and leaders, and who have thrived in the world's greatest city."
New York has long been linked as a possible destination for a pair of available free agents and the use of such high profile names suggests that they are hoping to compete with the likes of the New Jersey Nets, LA Clippers and Chicago Bulls, all of whom have been linked with one or more of the players who will become available on 1 July, 2010.
Other celebrities linked to Knicks efforts in 'pitching' the city to NBA talent are Whoopi Goldberg, John McEnroe, Charlie Roe, Mark Messier, Phil Simms and various retired former Knicks players.
Source: ESPN and New York Post
The New York Knicks are hoping that 'star power' can be used to help them attract the likes of Lebron James and Dwayne Wade to play their basketball at Madison Square Garden .
Ahead of what would seem to be the best crop of unrestricted free agents in NBA history, the Knicks are using a panel of 'big names' from the city to convince the sports top free agents to come and join the New York basketball club.
The 'recruiting committee includes Knicks resident fan Spike Lee, Chris Rock, Donald Trump, Alec Baldwin and Tracy Morgan. At a meeting on 15th June, 2010 the Knicks decided their latest move in the battle with several other NBA franchises to secure the top available talent ahead of the coming season.
Billionaire Donald Trump told the New York Post he was 'happy to be involved'. He said: "New York would be a great thing for Lebron. He would take over the city... I can tell you, Lebron, there is only one New York.
NBA free agency does not begin until July but with team GM's already preparing offers, there is going to be a competitive market to sign up the best available options. The Knicks have been saving up cap space for some years to 'make a run' at Lebron James, and General Manager Donnie Walsh is hoping that signing a big name free agent can halt their run of nine consecutive losing seasons.
Their plan to use celebrities and well known figures will no doubt entice the likes of James, Bosh Johnson but it remains to be seen whether a proposed meeting between several NBA free agents draws the conclusion that New York is the best place for them to win a championship.
Comedian Chris Rock told the New York Times that he will use the attraction of the city to help secure the signature of the two-time reigning MVP. Rock said: (I'll ask) You really want to live in Cleveland? That's what I would tell him. Where do you want to live?"
The Knicks finished 29-53 eleventh in the Eastern Conference and 22nd overall in the NBA. They haven't made the post-season since New Jersey swept them in the first round of the 2003/04 playoffs but for the last two seasons New Yorkers has been less concerned with what is going on with their current team, than what might happen if they make the right moves this summer.
The future of their long-term target Lebron James has been as much of a talking point as the 2009-10 NBA Finals themselves, especially since his Cavelliers were ousted by Boston in the Conference semi-finals.
Lebron has publically refused to comment on his situation or where he will be playing next season, but has reportedly backed Cleveland's decision to try and hire Michigan State's Tom Izzo as coach. It is unclear whether Lebron has backed Izzo because he feels he is the best man for the job, or whether he'd stay in Cleveland if the Spartans coach were to be hired.
There is an increasingly strong feeling around the league that Lebron will be leaving his home city of Cleveland, but any team who he choses to sign for should have the potential to win him a first NBA title after two conference finals losses and a Finals sweep since he came into the league in 2003.
Knicks spokesman Barry Watkins confirmed to ESPN that the club 'had a desire to have some celebrities meet with interested free agents and take them out on the town.' In the New York Post he said: "We are in the process of assembling a committee of friends of the Knicks who are many of the city's most successful winners and leaders, and who have thrived in the world's greatest city."
New York has long been linked as a possible destination for a pair of available free agents and the use of such high profile names suggests that they are hoping to compete with the likes of the New Jersey Nets, LA Clippers and Chicago Bulls, all of whom have been linked with one or more of the players who will become available on 1 July, 2010.
Other celebrities linked to Knicks efforts in 'pitching' the city to NBA talent are Whoopi Goldberg, John McEnroe, Charlie Roe, Mark Messier, Phil Simms and various retired former Knicks players.
Source: ESPN and New York Post