BIG APPLE – The New York Knicks opened their checkbook real wide and agreed to a deal that will ink free agent Amare Stoudemire a five-year, $99.7 million contract. The deal cannot be officially signed until Thursday.

Knick coach Mike D’Antoni must be ecstatic to be reunited with a big man he is familiar with from his days in Phoenix coaching the Suns when Stoudemire averaged more than 20 points a game every season the two were together.

Speculation is rising that the Knicks wanted to land Stoudemire to bait the NBA’s biggest free agent fish, LeBron James. James pushed hard for the Cavs to pick up Stoudemire last year during the trade deadline.

“I feel great, really, about being a pioneer,” said Stoudemire. I think [LeBron] feels great about [me signing]. It’s a situation where no one wanted to make that first move, and I felt confident enough to take that first step, and hopefully now we can bring in a few guys to join us.”

“I’m not sure where [LeBron’s] leaning. If he’s leaning more toward New York, that would be a great start for us.”

James and, or, his agent have had talks with the Cavaliers, Bulls, Nets, Clippers and Heat.

Stoudemire flew into New York on Saturday, broke bread with D’Antoni and agreed on the deal on Monday.

Madison Square Garden already has billboards and signs throughout the arena picturing Stoudemire in a Knicks jersey.

This is the first big move by the Knicks who have spent the last few seasons dumping overhead and salary cap anticipating making a serious bid for James. The team however, has enough cap space to add another maximum contract player but the question remains, who will that be?

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

CLEVELAND, OH. – Michigan State Spartans basketball coach Tom Izzo is one of the top basketball coaches in the country and his ability to make sound decisions is one of the reasons. That same attribute may keep him behind a bench surrounded by Spartan green instead of NBA Cleveland Cavaliers jerseys.

Michigan State AD Mark Hollis has announced that Dan Gilbert has expressed a strong interest in his coach, Izzo, although he has not been given an offer yet. But who is Gilbert? The main interest that will put a guy behind that Cavs bench may need to come from LeBron James but only IF he is in the land of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame next season.

Gilbert is a Michigan State alum and thinks Izzo walks on water but until James thinks the same AND has a contract signed, we may see Izzo left hanging in quasi-land.

In 15 years as an NCAA coach, Izzo has won a national championship and led his Spartans to 6 Final Fours but regardless of his ability to win and lead, many do not expect him to take the Cavs job unless James has signed on the dotted line. On the flip side of that, regardless of his resume, he may have to wait for LeBron’s approval anyways.

To wad up and throw away his current contract that has him locked in until 2016 for a total rebuilding scenario without LeBron in Cleveland would be like trading in a Bentley for a Yugo.

The Cavs have remained one of the top teams and contenders in the Eastern Conference with James on the court but have still failed to win a title even though they have opened their wallet and surrounded James with a variety of talent over the years.

That being said, if James leaves for a larger NBA market like New York or Chicago, then Izzo may prefer to stay put in Lansing where Spartans fans are pacing the floor, awaiting this decision.

The LeBron sweepstakes has taken center stage even to the Boston Celtics and L.A. Lakers NBA Playoff Finals and now Izzo’s name has been thrown into the fiasco.

Teams like his Cavs, the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls and New Jersey Nets are drooling over the image of seeing James suit up in their buildings, salivating over the idea of having him suit up in their uniform.

Knicks president Donnie Walsh has basically thrown away a few seasons creating enough cap space while it was earlier that rumored Derek Jeter and Jay Z would get involved in the recruiting mission.

In the Windy City, a billboard sits at Grand Ave. and La Salle St. that says “Chicago wants LeBron.” LeBron probably won’t even be driving in that area in Chicago but that’s how much hype surrounds his free agency.

Politicians are even getting in the mix with Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland leading a group of people singing a song entitled “Please Stay LeBron,” and President Obama suggesting where James should sign.

With this circus atmosphere surrounding LeBron and the Cavs, Izzo may have to wait for the official offer that may only come after James signs and APPROVES him as coach.

Izzo may not be used to players making coaching or organization decisions like that but welcome to the NBA . . . before even getting there, Mr. Izzo.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

Rumors will be flying in this NBA off-season about what jersey LeBron James may land in.

SLAP! Excuse me, I just hauled off and slapped myself.

There are still two rounds to go in these NBA playoffs and the media, including us, are already absorbed in the LeBron sweepstakes.

Last time I looked there were four NBA teams that earned some press time by advancing to their NBA Conference Finals. Boston, Orlando, Phoenix and the L.A. Lakers all deserve the attention since they . . .

Forget that, back to LeBron.

After the Cleveland Cavaliers were given a shocking quick exit courtesy of Kevin Garnett and the Celts last night, Celtics fans was throwing in their two cents and giving a national television audience their prediction raising the roof with a chant:

“New York Knicks. New York Knicks!”

James had a statistically good night throwing up a triple-double, 27 points, 19 boards and 10 assists.

‘Throwing up’ may not be the best description pertaining to LeBron’s scoring; it seems more suitable for describing the symptoms Cavs fans may be having after another early ouster from the playoffs and the realization James may have played his final game in Cleveland.

When asked, James did not lay out any detail as expected about slam-dunking in another NBA uniform but he also did not suggest he will stay in the home of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame either.

“It’s all about winning for me, and I think the Cavs are committed to doing that,” James said. “But at the same time I’ve given myself options to this point.”

If LeBron does pack his bags, his final game could not have been a worse going away party. He was actually booed off the court after the Celtics took it to the Cavs blowing them out 120-88.

So where does ‘King’ James land? And I use that name lightly after his failure in this year’s playoffs.

The Chicago Bulls make a lot of sense since they have a foundation in place and plenty of championship history with Michael Jordan’s No. 23 jersey hanging in the rafters. Derrick Rose is one of the top point guards and Joakim Noah is developing along at a nice pace.

The Bulls gave away John Salmons and their No. 1 pick to the Fear the Deer group in Milwaukee and many believe that was solely to free up a butt-load of cash to bid on LeBron.

Miami is a part of this buzz as well and the timing of Pat Riley going to the press and declaring he may be interested in coaching again may not be a coincidence. Besides, they have the hottest cheerleaders on the planet who make every game feel like a sexy Halloween night.

Finally, the Celtics fans’ prediction, the New York Knicks. James has come right out and said New York is his favorite city and Madison Square Garden is his favorite NBA arena to play in and the Knicks have been clearing cap room for quite some time preparing to make a maximum offer to James.

If James is serious about wanting to be the first billionaire athlete in the universe, then the Knicks would almost have to be the place.

For sympathy reasons we will mention the train-wreck New Jersey Nets and give honorable mention to the L.A. Clippers because we have a really smart writer on staff here who lives on the west coast and thinks they may be prepping for the auction.

This summer will be one of the most interesting NBA off-seasons for sure, oh and BTW, I almost forgot to mention, the NBA Conference Finals start this weekend.

Copyright © 2010 Sports Climax, LLC