The Knicks offered LeBron James two options during their meeting Thursday in Cleveland, according to SI.com.
One option was a max contract for five years and $95 million that would allow the Knicks to sign one other max-contract guy, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson or Amar’e Stoudemire.
The second option was a five-year deal starting at $11.5 million annually that would give the Knicks flexibility to sign two other big-time free agents, presumably Johnson and Stoudemire. Those players would have to agree to take $5 million less annually under such an agreement.
The Knicks contingent included Garden chairman Jim Dolan, president Donnie Walsh, head coach Mike D’Antoni and former star Allan Houston.
“We tried to put him in a New York state of mind,” D’Antoni, who has a relationship with James through USA Basketball, told reporters in Cleveland.
The Knicks met with Johnson first on Wednesday night in Los Angeles, but multiple reports indicate he is close to signing a six-year, $125 million to remain with the Atlanta Hawks.
If James doesn’t choose the Knicks, the franchise will hope to sign two other max guys and then pursue Carmelo Anthony in 2011, when Eddy Curry’s $11.3 million salary comes off the books.
The Knicks will also reportedly meet with Bosh and Dwyane Wade on Friday in Chicago and Stoudemire Monday in New York.
The Nets — led by owner Mikhail Prokhorov, minority owner Jay-Z, outgoing president Rod Thorn and head coach Avery Johnson — met with James and his advisors first.
“‘We told our story. Now we’ll wait to see what happens,” Thorn said via email.
James will meet with the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers Friday before hearing pitches from the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers Saturday.
(Photo courtesy AP)
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