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NFT: Bill Simmons: Lebron wanted to be a Knick, Dolan blew it

DanMetroMan : 6/29/2020 5:06 pm
"From everyone I've talked to in the know since then, it's clear that the Knicks were the first choice," Simmons explained. "It was basically the Knicks' to lose, and they just couldn't stay out of their own way. The stories are legendary."

According to Simmons, before opting to sign with the Miami Heat and form a big three with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, James wouldn't even grant the Knicks a second meeting after a first meeting that Simmons called a "disaster."

"Dolan was Dolan," Simmons said about Knicks owner James Dolan. "They didn't have anything prepared. It just couldn't have gone worse by all accounts. It was a disaster. I think at that point, combined with the decade the Knicks just had, I think those guys were just like 'f--k it.'"
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Knicks  
TyreeHelmet : 6/29/2020 5:19 pm : link
I totally believe the meeting was a disaster. I don’t believe the Knicks were the first choice. I think those 3 knew they were headed to Miami all along. But it’s a good story to tell.
there's been so many  
Enzo : 6/29/2020 5:21 pm : link
reports of how everything transpired in 2010. Windhorst had a column out today which made it seem like it was Miami or Chicago. Woj reported way back when that Walsh's physical condition at the time did not go over well with LeBron and his people. Then there were reports that the meeting went very well once Dantoni got his turn to talk. I think it was Hahn who said years ago that people in LeBron's camp (Rich Paul? Maverick?) wanted the Knicks but LeBron never loved the idea.
I think the business people in lebron's entourage wanted NY  
Torrag : 6/29/2020 5:24 pm : link
They understood what a marriage with madison avenue would mean. I don't think he believed in the basketball operation...and he was right.
I think Lebron and wade  
nygiants16 : 6/29/2020 5:30 pm : link
were going whereever they could get 3 guys..

Miami was the only place, if it was chicago they would of went there, if it was the knicks they would of went there..

Miami and riley played it right and get enough cap space for 3 guys
My bad, I forgot-- and can't open the article at work  
Leg of Theismann : 6/29/2020 5:41 pm : link
Wade was also a free agent the same offseason Lebron was? So they signed all 3 in the same offseason? I guess I always misremember it thinking Lebron and Bosh were FAs but Wade was already under contract.
RE: My bad, I forgot-- and can't open the article at work  
robbieballs2003 : 6/29/2020 5:46 pm : link
In comment 14926397 Leg of Theismann said:
Quote:
Wade was also a free agent the same offseason Lebron was? So they signed all 3 in the same offseason? I guess I always misremember it thinking Lebron and Bosh were FAs but Wade was already under contract.


I know they all took a little less to make it work.
All the 2010 Free Agency  
GGGGmen : 6/29/2020 6:06 pm : link
stuff being rehashed now brings up some painful memories. Foolishly I was convinced Lebron was coming to NYC to save the Knicks.

The Decision being filmed close by in Greenwich all but confirmed it in my head. He'd make his decision and take NYC by storm the next day.

What a kick in the dick.
Pfft  
Spider43 : 6/29/2020 6:07 pm : link
Frig Simmons. LeDiva was never going to come here. Most just use us as leverage.
I really got caught up in the Lebron-to-NY talk.  
bceagle05 : 6/29/2020 6:08 pm : link
At the time it didn't seem that crazy - it hadn't been THAT long since the Knicks had been good, and it was the first time in forever they had the money to be big players in free agency. It was a bitter pill. I handled this past summer much better - numb to it at this point.
RE: I really got caught up in the Lebron-to-NY talk.  
nygiants16 : 6/29/2020 6:19 pm : link
In comment 14926408 bceagle05 said:
Quote:
At the time it didn't seem that crazy - it hadn't been THAT long since the Knicks had been good, and it was the first time in forever they had the money to be big players in free agency. It was a bitter pill. I handled this past summer much better - numb to it at this point.


i wonder if it would of been different if melo was a free agent...

Would he have still come tk new york? or would he have gone to miami?

If Melo came would they have traded for paul?
RE: I think Lebron and wade  
Enzo : 6/29/2020 6:20 pm : link
In comment 14926395 nygiants16 said:
Quote:
were going whereever they could get 3 guys..

Miami was the only place, if it was chicago they would of went there, if it was the knicks they would of went there..

Miami and riley played it right and get enough cap space for 3 guys

they had the assets to attached to Curry to move his contract. It was possible.
RE: RE: I think Lebron and wade  
nygiants16 : 6/29/2020 6:45 pm : link
In comment 14926415 Enzo said:
Quote:
In comment 14926395 nygiants16 said:


Quote:


were going whereever they could get 3 guys..

Miami was the only place, if it was chicago they would of went there, if it was the knicks they would of went there..

Miami and riley played it right and get enough cap space for 3 guys


they had the assets to attached to Curry to move his contract. It was possible.


I dont know why he didnt do it
RE: RE: RE: I think Lebron and wade  
robbieballs2003 : 6/29/2020 6:48 pm : link
In comment 14926426 nygiants16 said:
Quote:
In comment 14926415 Enzo said:


Quote:


In comment 14926395 nygiants16 said:


Quote:


were going whereever they could get 3 guys..

Miami was the only place, if it was chicago they would of went there, if it was the knicks they would of went there..

Miami and riley played it right and get enough cap space for 3 guys


they had the assets to attached to Curry to move his contract. It was possible.



I dont know why he didnt do it


Because it is the Knicks. And Rose leading the way makes be feel even more uneasy about this franchise.
Yeah  
djm : 6/29/2020 6:50 pm : link
I’m gonna go with my gut and say that Simmons is full of shit. Simmons was one of the jerkoffs that just knew Lebron was gojng to the Knicks. And then the real world said nope, sorry there Bill, you have no real sources and your made up rumor was bullshit.

What better way to validate your rumors by saying Lebron really did want to go to msg.... sure he did.
I do remember  
nygiants16 : 6/29/2020 6:50 pm : link
rumors of the knicks trying to have joe johnson has the 3rd guy
RE: RE: RE: RE: I think Lebron and wade  
nygiants16 : 6/29/2020 6:52 pm : link
In comment 14926429 robbieballs2003 said:
Quote:
In comment 14926426 nygiants16 said:


Quote:


In comment 14926415 Enzo said:


Quote:


In comment 14926395 nygiants16 said:


Quote:


were going whereever they could get 3 guys..

Miami was the only place, if it was chicago they would of went there, if it was the knicks they would of went there..

Miami and riley played it right and get enough cap space for 3 guys


they had the assets to attached to Curry to move his contract. It was possible.



I dont know why he didnt do it



Because it is the Knicks. And Rose leading the way makes be feel even more uneasy about this franchise.


The front office on paper is a really good one
With that said  
djm : 6/29/2020 6:52 pm : link
It’s probable that Lebron didn’t want to come here because Knicks and because Dolan, but I don’t think it was some last second realization.

Fuck Simmons. Loves tweaking nyc sports. Eli and tyree say hello.
i just read that Rose was the one getting  
robbieballs2003 : 6/29/2020 6:57 pm : link
us Curry, Melo, and Bargnani. Sounds fantastic. I am getting flashbacks of the 90s/00s Knicks teams killing their cap space by trading for names instead of players. We'll see what happens but forgive me if I am not jumping for joy with what has been rumored so far.
Yeah. I believe it.  
SFGFNCGiantsFan : 6/29/2020 7:32 pm : link
Walsh in a wheelchair. Dolan being Dolan.

Oy vey.
not only did they then screw  
Enzo : 6/29/2020 7:57 pm : link
up by giving Amare five guaranteed years, Walsh then put together a horrendous sign-and-trade to GS with Lee. Hindsight is 20/20, but they had the beginnings of a decent roster with Z-Bo, Crawford, Lee, etc.
RE: I do remember  
Enzo : 6/29/2020 7:59 pm : link
In comment 14926432 nygiants16 said:
Quote:
rumors of the knicks trying to have joe johnson has the 3rd guy

Walsh 100% wanted Joe Johnson but once the Hawks offered the full 6 year max it was going to be tough to get him
RE: i just read that Rose was the one getting  
Enzo : 6/29/2020 8:02 pm : link
In comment 14926438 robbieballs2003 said:
Quote:
us Curry, Melo, and Bargnani. Sounds fantastic. I am getting flashbacks of the 90s/00s Knicks teams killing their cap space by trading for names instead of players. We'll see what happens but forgive me if I am not jumping for joy with what has been rumored so far.

Leon may have pushed to get Eddy Curry and Bargs to NY, but it wasn't Leon that didn't protect the picks in the Curry trade or gave up a first rounder for Bargs.
Simmons  
FearTheHippo : 6/29/2020 8:03 pm : link
Simmons is just trolling Knick fans out of boredom. I mean why rehash something from 2010? Who gives a shit at this point.

Yeah, Dolan sucks. Wow, big scoop there Bill.
Who cares?  
Greg from LI : 6/29/2020 8:08 pm : link
It didn't happen, probably was never going to happen. The Knicks sucked then, they suck now, and they likely will always suck so long as Dolan is the owner. I didn't need Bill fucking Simmons to tell me that.
walsh could never do it and dantoni probably wouldnt be happy  
nygiants16 : 6/29/2020 8:13 pm : link
but hindsight, should of kept all the assets resigned lee, signed felton and played next season with the youth...
RE: Knicks  
UConn4523 : 6/29/2020 8:14 pm : link
In comment 14926387 TyreeHelmet said:
Quote:
I totally believe the meeting was a disaster. I don’t believe the Knicks were the first choice. I think those 3 knew they were headed to Miami all along. But it’s a good story to tell.


Agreed.
WTF does Donnie Walsh being in a wheelchair  
Chris684 : 6/29/2020 8:40 pm : link
have to do with basketball or the quality of team the Knicks could have possibly put together if LeBron had the balls to take a risk and play in New York?

Is LeBron James prejudiced against handicapped people?

In the last 10 years I've always felt that was glossed over like it's no big deal but it's fucked up if true.
I suspect this was a click-baity story on Simmon's part  
jnoble : 6/29/2020 8:42 pm : link
I don't think LeBron ever was serious about coming to NYK. But everyone loves to hate on Dolan and the Knicks still stink so while it's still a slow news time for the NBA, crap out an article like this
ESPN aired a show the other night  
bceagle05 : 6/29/2020 8:45 pm : link
about Lebron’s “Decision” show back in 2010, so it got people talking a bit. Bottom line: We desperately need new sports content.
.  
ghost718 : 6/29/2020 8:58 pm : link
RE: RE: i just read that Rose was the one getting  
djm : 6/29/2020 9:01 pm : link
In comment 14926466 Enzo said:
Quote:
In comment 14926438 robbieballs2003 said:


Quote:


us Curry, Melo, and Bargnani. Sounds fantastic. I am getting flashbacks of the 90s/00s Knicks teams killing their cap space by trading for names instead of players. We'll see what happens but forgive me if I am not jumping for joy with what has been rumored so far.


Leon may have pushed to get Eddy Curry and Bargs to NY, but it wasn't Leon that didn't protect the picks in the Curry trade or gave up a first rounder for Bargs.


Yeah plus that only proves rose’s abilities as an agent. Honestly I’m going to take this as a positive that the guy can make shit happen. Hopefully he can now help the Knicks take advantage of someone else. That would be a first...
RE: Pfft  
Sonic Youth : 6/29/2020 9:02 pm : link
In comment 14926407 Spider43 said:
Quote:
Frig Simmons. LeDiva was never going to come here. Most just use us as leverage.
You can see a lot of thought went into this brain hemorrhage of a post. LaDiva, lol! So witty bro.

Simmons is not the type of guy to bullshit, his podcast is not really the same as sports talk radio, and I've been chiming into the redraftable series and what not.

He's probably right on both accounts and probably has decent sources, and it sounds incredibly believable.

Not sure how someone could read this and blow it off like there isn't a morsel of truth in it.
RE: Yeah  
Sonic Youth : 6/29/2020 9:03 pm : link
In comment 14926431 djm said:
Quote:
I’m gonna go with my gut and say that Simmons is full of shit. Simmons was one of the jerkoffs that just knew Lebron was gojng to the Knicks. And then the real world said nope, sorry there Bill, you have no real sources and your made up rumor was bullshit.

What better way to validate your rumors by saying Lebron really did want to go to msg.... sure he did.
Yes, Bill Simmons is trying to cover his ass.... 10 years later....

Come the fuck on lol.
RE: i just read that Rose was the one getting  
mfsd : 6/29/2020 9:05 pm : link
In comment 14926438 robbieballs2003 said:
Quote:
us Curry, Melo, and Bargnani. Sounds fantastic. I am getting flashbacks of the 90s/00s Knicks teams killing their cap space by trading for names instead of players. We'll see what happens but forgive me if I am not jumping for joy with what has been rumored so far.


The Knicks were long the place agents and teams knew were suckers for bad contracts. One thing the Knicks have gotten right in recent years...no more stupid deals that eat up cap space.

Now that just have to hire a coach who’s not a putz and figure out how to develop guys into NBA players. 2 things they haven’t been able to do for 20 years.

As for this story, I’ve never believed the Lebron wanted NY story. Screw Bill Simmons.

A good friend was working for the Heat at the time, and she told me 2 days before the decision that LeBron was coming to Miami along with Bosh and Wade. I told her she was full of shit. Joke was on me
2 days before  
Sonic Youth : 6/29/2020 9:07 pm : link
means she was probably right. These meetings weren't 2 days before "The Decision" (ugh I hate using that term, I really do like Lebron but man, I did NOT like him for years after that bullshit media event)
*means she probably did have info...  
Sonic Youth : 6/29/2020 9:07 pm : link
...but I think that would be long after the events Simmons laid out would have happened. Should have phrased it that way
*means she probably did have info...  
Sonic Youth : 6/29/2020 9:08 pm : link
...but I think that would be long after the events Simmons laid out would have happened. Should have phrased it that way
I was duped into thinking LeBron  
section125 : 6/29/2020 9:09 pm : link
was coming...but he wanted his three amigos team....it was not happening. I don't think LeBron was ever coming.

And yes Dolan was the one guy that could mess up a wet dream, so I'll give his story 2% chance of being true
While all of this could be (and likely is) completely true  
tbonfig : 6/29/2020 9:49 pm : link
this also screams of Bill Simmons trying to divert attention away from the heat he has been under recently for the way he builds his staff.
He's a great player  
Svengali : 6/29/2020 10:36 pm : link
But... I just hate him.. I'm sorry. I just can't stand to even look at him. I've been watching the Knicks lose for a long time so of course I want to win but him... ugh.
Please  
Dragon : 6/29/2020 11:18 pm : link
Do you guys really believe anything except what you see Lebron chose Miami it’s that simple let it go no great loss.
Yes...  
Chris L. : 6/30/2020 7:18 am : link
what Svengali said
RE: 2 days before  
mfsd : 6/30/2020 8:39 am : link
In comment 14926495 Sonic Youth said:
Quote:
means she was probably right. These meetings weren't 2 days before "The Decision" (ugh I hate using that term, I really do like Lebron but man, I did NOT like him for years after that bullshit media event)


Yup she told me she actually heard from someone from CAA, not from within the Heat. There was a extreme level of secrecy around it all.
It doesn't matter. Who the fuck cares?  
Heisenberg : 6/30/2020 8:42 am : link
.
who knows what to believe  
bigbluehoya : 6/30/2020 8:59 am : link
but I'm choosing to view this as just part of the long con of psychological terrorism that the world has been inflicting on Knicks fans for decades.
RE: Please  
TyreeHelmet : 6/30/2020 9:49 am : link
In comment 14926529 Dragon said:
Quote:
Do you guys really believe anything except what you see Lebron chose Miami it’s that simple let it go no great loss.


"No great loss" ????
RE: RE: i just read that Rose was the one getting  
TyreeHelmet : 6/30/2020 9:52 am : link
"The Knicks were long the place agents and teams knew were suckers for bad contracts. One thing the Knicks have gotten right in recent years...no more stupid deals that eat up cap space."

Did you not see what happened last off-season? Randle, Portis, Gibson, Ellington, Payton are about 60 million worth of stupid deals....
RE: RE: RE: i just read that Rose was the one getting  
bigbluehoya : 6/30/2020 10:06 am : link
In comment 14926633 TyreeHelmet said:
Quote:
Randle, Portis, Gibson, Ellington, Payton are about 60 million worth of stupid deals....


I don't think this is necessarily a fair take. These deals all involve team options and don't hamstring their ability to do things in the near or long term.

Closest one to a bad deal would be Randle, but hardly an immovable contract, and a cheap team opt-out after next season.

Those moves didn't get them anything, but trying to add some level of talent / veteran presence / toughness to the mix for 2019-2020 around RJ / Mitch / Frank was at least noble on paper.

Cap space doesn't roll over, and it ain't my money. I won't laud the front office for last season by any stretch, but it doesn't even hit the radar insofar as historical Knicks-level-stupidity is concerned, in my opinion.
RE: RE: RE: i just read that Rose was the one getting  
DanMetroMan : 6/30/2020 10:12 am : link
In comment 14926633 TyreeHelmet said:
Quote:
"The Knicks were long the place agents and teams knew were suckers for bad contracts. One thing the Knicks have gotten right in recent years...no more stupid deals that eat up cap space."

Did you not see what happened last off-season? Randle, Portis, Gibson, Ellington, Payton are about 60 million worth of stupid deals....


+5000. Last off-season was an absolute clusterfuck
RE: RE: RE: RE: i just read that Rose was the one getting  
DanMetroMan : 6/30/2020 10:23 am : link
In comment 14926639 bigbluehoya said:
Quote:
In comment 14926633 TyreeHelmet said:


Quote:


Randle, Portis, Gibson, Ellington, Payton are about 60 million worth of stupid deals....



I don't think this is necessarily a fair take. These deals all involve team options and don't hamstring their ability to do things in the near or long term.

Closest one to a bad deal would be Randle, but hardly an immovable contract, and a cheap team opt-out after next season.

Those moves didn't get them anything, but trying to add some level of talent / veteran presence / toughness to the mix for 2019-2020 around RJ / Mitch / Frank was at least noble on paper.

Cap space doesn't roll over, and it ain't my money. I won't laud the front office for last season by any stretch, but it doesn't even hit the radar insofar as historical Knicks-level-stupidity is concerned, in my opinion.


They were bad deals that proved they had no "plan" and filled the roster with very limited upside veterans to the detriment of the younger players. You don't need 5-6 of these guys. Taj Gibson? Sure. But you don't need to add Gibson, Ellington, Portis, Bullock AND Payton. Marcus Morris was fine because it was clear he'd have mid-season trade value but in addition to all of the other mediocrity = made no sense.
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