I hope you're right but there is a majority out there that say the Knicks suck despite having Gallo and Chandler. If the Knicks truly are the 3rd worst team in the NBA and nobody offers Lebron a TV channel then he ain't coming. He's a unique player that doesn't need to be in a major market to get all the endorsement deals, commercials and publicity he wants.
This is true, and my gut feeling that he's coming to NY means nothing.... Still, you can just sense that Lebron wants NY. Sure, he can get the money-titles-endorsements ANYWHERE.... but there's only one place he wants to win in- NYC.
NOW, imagine what his buddy CC is saying about being in NY. If he watches CC win it all and he sees CC riding down the canyon of heroes.... that's just more incentive.
Lebron wants it all- and he wants to own NY. He wants to come here and rescue this franchise and become beloved by this city. He's a NY-o-phile.
This is what I believe. The money is equal anywhere he signs, but winning in CLE wont be the same to winning in NY. AND, if he delivers a championship to CLE, he'll definitely leave b/c he would have given them their title.
As for the talent level. This is basketball. That changes year-2-year. You need 1 star player to compete, 2 to be really good, and 3 to be championship caliber.
The Knicks are set. Trust me. Gallinari is legit. Wait and see. Chandler, Harrington, Lee, Hill, Douglas are just as good (their future and potential) as anything CLE offers. Not to mention, Leborn will get help: Bosh or Amare or even Paul in 2011.