ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith believes the New York Knicks are the ideal next team for LeBron James because he could join them as a free agent, strengthen their title chances alongside stars like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, and further expand his business profile through the Knicks brand.
While the NBA waits for 41-year-old LeBron James to decide whether he will continue playing or retire after his 23rd season, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith believes the New York Knicks would be the best destination for LeBron next season if he chooses to keep playing.
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"Now, I understand that it's emotional. I know that. But what I'm thinking about when it comes to the New York Knicks is two things," A. Smith said on his show. "If you don't win the title this year, again, you don't have to give up anybody for LeBron James to join the squad. He can come there as a free agent.
"By the way, the money ain't going to matter to him because that's James Dolan he'd be playing for. That man is going to make him an additional billion dollars. LeBron is not Kyrie Irving and KD. He ain't passing up being associated with the Knick brand to be in Brooklyn, New York. He's gonna be with the Knicks. That's the brand that will easily enable LeBron to pocket an additional half a billion dollars.
"And the New York Knicks would be the favorites to come out the East their damn selves. And then you got LeBron, Brunson, OG, and Karl-Anthony Towns. You got them in a position to be four games away from the chip."
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Still, prying LeBron away from the Los Angeles Lakers would not be easy, even if he is on an expiring contract. According to The Athletic, both James and the Lakers remain interested in continuing their partnership.
"We probably haven't seen a player that has honored the game to the extent that he's honored the game. He's given so much to his teammates, to this organization. The thing we want to do more than anything else is to honor him back," Lakers GM Rob Pelinka said during Tuesday's exit interviews.
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