Two words define an entire franchise: July 1st

It has become common knowledge in most NBA circles. Come July 1st, some of the league's most elite players can put themselves on the open market. That's right, Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, among many other All-Stars will have the opportunity to become unrestricted free agents, and earn max-contracts, in what is being called the greatest free agent class in NBA history.

Thanks to the recent trade deadline deals by our guru of a GM Donnie Walsh, my Knicks are in position to have the financial capabilities to sign two of the aforementioned FAs. For those hearing this for the first time, let me reiterate once you regain consciousness... The New York Knicks, who have been the laughing stock of the NBA for the last decade, are currently positioned to make a run at maybe the greatest player on the planet, in addition to either a NBA Finals Champion and MVP, 6-time All-Star, and All-Star Game MVP or a 5-time All-Star who is having a career year, averaging 24.4 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 1 bpg, and is shooting nearly 53% from the field. Any of these tandems would immediately turn the Knicks into a championship caliber team, along with the likes of our young phenoms Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler. Those guys are currently two of only four players on the roster who have guaranteed contracts going into next season. Toney Douglas, the rookie point guard from Florida State, who has gotten minimal floor time for much of the season, is the third and final player of the four who will ever matter on the court. The last of these four is Eddy Curry, who's player option will allow him to earn nearly $11 million next year, should he exercise it. While Curry will almost surely never actually play for the Knicks ever again, he may be a useful asset otherwise. But we've got options. If Donnie decides to buy out the remainder of Curry's contract, we could save close to $2 million this offeason to have a little extra spending money. Alternatively, with an expiring contract next year, the Knicks could keep him. Then, they could use him as a trading chip come Trade Deadline time and receive other valuable long-term assets such as young developing players and draft picks, much like the Rockets just did with Tracy McGrady in their deal with Knicks and Kings. It was this deal that cleared enough space for our potential super-duo as I like to call them.

The deal, which was in the works for weeks, eventually sent Tracy McGrady to the Knicks from the Rockets, along with Sergio Rodgriguez of the Kings. Houston received Jared Jeffries, 2009 8th overall pick Jordan Hill, the option to swap first round picks with the Knicks in the 2011 Draft, protected in the top 5, and our 2012 first round pick which is #1 pick protected, in addition to swingman Kevin Martin from the Kings. Knick Larry Hughes was sent to the Kings, along with young Rocket Carl Landry. Had we not been able to unload Jared Jeffries contract in that deal (who is owed nearly $7 million next year), we would have roughly $24 million of cap space to spend next summer, which is not enough to afford two max-contract players. Now that Jeffries is off next year's books, the Knicks will have anywhere from $31-35 million in cap space depending on the range of next year's salary cap and how they handle their own free-agents-to-be: including newly acquired players Tracy McGrady, Sergio Rodriguez (Restricted Free Agent), Eddie House, JR Giddens, Bill Walker (Team Option), along with veteran Knicks Chris Duhon, Al Harrington, Jonathan Bender, and newly minted All-Star David Lee. In order to acquire one of the super-duos, we would need to renounce the rights to all of them.

Obviously target number one is LeBron James, plain and simple. In the eyes of many, if the Knicks do not get LeBron, everything Donnie Walsh has worked towards will be considered a failure. LeBron or bust so to speak. But, once he's secured, aren't their other possibilities for his Scottie Pippen other than either Wade or Bosh? Those are definitely the ideal scenarios. But does it have to be only one guy to help the King? And would superstars such as Wade and Bosh be willing to act as second cog to the newly crowned God of basketball. Ok, I'm getting a little ahead of myself. But if such a scenario were to occur, there are still several favorable possibilities.

My personal favorite theory is that once LeBron is secured, the Knicks bring in Joe Johnson from the Atlanta Hawks at a price below that of LeBron's, leaving us enough room to re-sign David Lee as well. Again this is entirely theoretical, but with a core of Lebron, JJ, DLee, Gallo, Ill Will, and perhaps a new point guard, this could be an amazing team. And after two years of Chris Duhon, boy do we need a point guard. Speaking of point guards, among next year's free agents is this one guy who has been severely overlooked. He's getting up there in age, but somehow he's pulling the old aging wine technique and has somehow improved his numbers this year at the veteran age of 36. Who is this player you might ask? Well, he happens to be a 7-time NBA All-Star and a 2-time NBA MVP, who won the prestigious award twice under current Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni when he ran his run-and-gun 7 seconds of less offense in Phoenix. If you haven't guessed that I'm talking about Steve Nash yet, I'm pleasantly surprised that you've read this far in the first place. But yes, Steve Nash will also have the opportunity to be a free agent this summer. Bringing him to New York would pair him with the greatest teammate he could ever have, while running his old coach's offense which he thrived so greatly under. And with a rotation looking like this:
PG- Steve Nash
SG- Joe Johnson
SF- Danilo Gallinari
PF- LeBron James
C- David Lee
backups- Wilson Chandler, Toney Douglas, 2010 Draft 2nd Round pick
Title contenders? I think so. If the Knicks look anything like this going into next season...I'm sorry I just froze up at that thought. If the Knicks look anything like this going into next season, I'm gonna be one happy New Yorker.