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LeBron James is New York Knicks only hope of winning Eastern Conference

By Sean Dyer

BOSTON, MA - MAY 27: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the second half against the Boston Celtics during Game Seven of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 27, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 27: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the second half against the Boston Celtics during Game Seven of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 27, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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If the New York Knicks want to win the Eastern Conference, they need to sign LeBron James this summer.

Whether you think LeBron James is better than Michael Jordan or not, you cannot deny that LeBron is the best player in the NBA today. He continues to put teams, cities, and communities on his back and carry them to NBA Finals. After bringing four straight Eastern Conference championships to Miami, LeBron has done the same for his hometown Cavaliers, clinching his eighth straight NBA Finals appearances on Sunday night.

You need LeBron to win the Eastern Conference. There’s really no argument. Jeff Green coming back from heart surgery to make an NBA Finals is a great story, but if he’s your second-best player in an Eastern Conference Finals Game 7, you really have no business winning. Unless, of course, your best player is the best player. LeBron put up 35 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists on Sunday. In this entire 2018 postseason, James is averaging 34.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game. Some of the shots he’s hitting just aren’t fair.

There have been many quality teams with championship aspirations who have had their spirits crushed by LeBron James. The “Big 3” Boston Celtics, Paul George’s upstart Indiana Pacers, Derrick Rose’s promising Chicago Bulls, and recently, the 59-win Toronto Raptors. All great teams, but none of them had LeBron.

Teams were avoiding building a contender until the Golden State Warriors dynasty was over, but what really should be happening is teams in the Eastern Conference should just be stockpiling draft picks until LeBron James retires.

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Or, if you really want to build a contender and your fans are starving for and demanding winning basketball, you could try to sign LeBron went he ultimately hits free agency this summer. That’s likely the only choice for the New York Knicks. Their fan base can’t sit through much more rebuilding. Especially with the New York Rangers entering a downswing, the Knicks need to start winning games.

New York could build around Kristaps Porzingis and Frank Ntilikina, add a talented youngster with the ninth overall pick in the NBA Draft, and sign a few talented veterans to fill out the roster. This could help them win 40-something games and make the playoffs, but they would ultimately lose to whatever team LeBron is playing for. New Yorkers want championships!

In order to win a championship, or even get out of the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks need to sign LeBron James this summer. He may not leave Cleveland if he brings them another championship this year, but if he settles for another second place finish, James could test the market.

Porzingis is an upgrade over Kevin Love and Ntilikina is a promising young guard that the Cavaliers don’t have. As for the rest of Cleveland’s roster, New York could add players similar to or better than Kyle Korver, J.R. Smith, and Jeff Green after signing LeBron. Everyone knows that once LeBron picks his destination, other free agents will follow in an attempt to win a ring.

Next: New York Knicks Mock Draft

The Knicks need to do everything they can to bring the King to the Big Apple this summer. The New York Knicks’ chances of signing LeBron James aren’t great. But their chances of winning the Eastern Conference without LeBron are even worse.

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