NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 9: LeBron James #23 and Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on April 9, 2018 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LeBron James; Kevin Love

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Knicks Rumors: New York would be wise to pursue LeBron James

Knicks Rumors: New York would be wise to pursue LeBron James by Maxwell Ogden

Rumors linking the New York Knicks to LeBron James should not prove to be a reality when the summer rolls around.

LeBron James could be a free agent this summer. Just like each time he’s reached that point in his contract status before, teams are jockeying for position to recruit him.

The New York Knicks are one of those teams. It has long been the wish of the team to lure him to their big market and reinvigorate the fans, as well as restore the luster of the woebegone franchise.

The timing for such a pursuit is all wrong, though.

New York hired David Fizdale as their head coach this week. That was a strong move; hiring a charismatic coach who could attract players and get the most out of the roster.

It’s no secret, however, that the road to contention will be a long one.

James doesn’t speed up the contention clock for New York. He provides a temporarily time jump towards the future; a mark the team will inevitably regress from.

Patience is undoubtedly the hardest part of a rebuild for everyone involved. Without the instant gratification of victories and playoff runs, the process feels like a failure.

A quick glance at the Philadelphia 76ers, however, demonstrates that taking the long road can pay major dividends.

James is still playing at an elite level, but this is the twilight of his career. He’s 33 years old, a time when most basketball players are out of the league, if not breaking down.

Is it worthwhile to jettison building blocks in order to create cap space for a rental—one that likely won’t be able to bring the team a title due to the other pieces on the roster?

For all the Knicks know, Kristaps Porzingis may miss a significant chunk of the 2018-19 season as he recuperates from a torn ACL. Maxing out the books so James can play alongside Tim Hardaway Jr. and Frank Ntilikina makes little sense.

New York would barely scratch the playoff surface with that core.

Seeing LeBron James in a New York Knicks uniform would be an exquisite experience. Sadly, there’s no logical reason to pursue that dream this offseason.