Last night's Celtics win over the Cavs was a beautiful sight to behold (this coming from someone who despises Boston sports). The Celts dominated the Cavs and certainly look like the better team, poised to take out the Cavs and subsequently cause Lebron to jump ship. Assuming the Cavs lose, Lebron has a built in excuse to bolt for the bright lights of New York City. The King is all about winning, yet how can he justify staying with an organization that is a) capped out for years to come and b) took a major step backwards after losing in the Eastern Finals the year before. 

If the Cavs make it to the finals, yes, he might have a tougher time convincing media and fans alike that NY offers him a better chance to win; however, with the opportunity to pick his side kick and play at MSG, the mecca of basketball, will prove to be too enticing after the Cavs get knocked out of the playoffs much earlier than expected...or so we hope. 

Howard Beck of the NY Times wrote an excellent piece today (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/sports/basketball/03knicks.html?src=tptw) about the state of the current Knicks and how it will probably have little bearing on the decision making of the 2010 free agent class. I have to say this argument is spot on. To view this current Knick team as anything but a temporary mess would be foolish. Of the 12-15 players on the current roster, it's conceivable that only 4 will be on the 2010-2011 roster (Gallinari, Douglas, Chandler, and Eddy Curry). If Curry is bought out, that leaves three players from this year's hose job on next year's roster. Of the three, only two figure to be a big part of the rotation next year. A player like Lebron would essentially be given the opportunity to be player/GM for one summer. He could work with Donnie Walsh and hand pick the players he's want running with him. This doesn't even include possible input on the 2011 FA class in which the Knicks will most likely have 10+ million to spend.

Fans need to endure this joke of a team for just 6 more weeks. Once the last game has been played, the fun begins. Gone will be such winners as Al Harrington, Chris Duhon, and Jonathan Bender. No matter what happens this summer, the Knicks WILL be vastly improved next year. 32+ million dollars provides a ton of flexibility and I personally can't wait to see what happens.

Until then...we can dream can't we?

Tracy McGrady's performance on Friday was nothing short of remarkable. After a near 2 year layoff, he looked spry, athletic, poised, and skilled. He is immediately the Knicks best player and brings excitement to the Garden for the first time in years. He was completely gassed towards the end of the game, but to me, the outcome was irrelevant. The electricity shown at the Garden that night for a 19-34 team shows what Knick fans have been craving for the past 10 years: a true, legit superstar. If the Garden was that electric for T-Mac's return on a 19-34 team, imagine how they will treat a Lebron James on championship contending team.

The Knicks today acquired Tracy McGrady for, among others, Jared Jeffries and Jordan Hill. A 2012 semi protected first round pick was included in addition to Houston having the right to swap 2011 first round picks. The deal frees up another 10 million dollars in cap room for the much anticipated 2010 free agent class. Did Walsh overpay...sure he did, but he had no choice. When you have the chance to sign a 2nd max free agent, you have to do it. Jordan Hill might develop into a nice player, and giving up first round picks always hurt, but if Walsh is successful in landing 2 max players, that pick won't mean jack. The Knicks haven't had two superstar level players since Frazier and Reed, yet with today's deal, the chances of this happening again is a stunning reality.

Kudos to Walsh...the countdown to 2010 just got much more exciting.