New LeBron shoes leaked with New York Knicks' colors

[Guest]

Not a bad looking shoe:

http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-bl ... ith_n.html

[papacass]

He wore them during one of the '80s throwback nights the Cavs recently had, so for practicality's sake, it's also Cavs throwback colors.

Reportedly, there is also a question mark on the insole of the shoe. But according to the NY Post via Channel 8 this morning, I guess a Nike rep denied that there is an "I-heart-NY" icon on the heel or a question mark on the insole.

But if it's all true, it's more of LBJ trying to drive sales in the New York market by fanning the flames of speculation. Maybe he has an edition coming out in Nets colors with Jay-Z's autograph on the insole.

Still think the only way LBJ ends up in New York is if he and Wade/Bosh decided to both sign there for pennies (and I mean pennies) on the dollar of market value, enough to leave money on the table so the Knicks could sign a bunch of veteran role players on the cheap, like the Celtics did after acquiring Ray Allen and KG. Maybe Shaq would follow LBJ to NY and sign something like a one year, $4 million contract.

It would require many players to leave a ton of money on the table for a shot at a title and parade in the Canyon of Heroes, starting with LBJ and the superstar that would need to accompany him to NY.

I guess it's all possible, but it just seems so implausible. The Celtics did turn their team around in one summer, but they did it because they had a boatload of young talent and expiring contracts to trade. The Knicks would be trying to do the same thing strictly through free agency.

[Ea$t $ide]

Nike is saying it's a fake.

[Larvell Blanks]

This "news" created one HUGE melt over on RCF.

http://www.cleveland.com/lebron/index.ssf/2010/01/lebron_knick_shoes_reportedly.html

It was a hoax. Can't wait to see the back pedaling on the RCF boards now

[papacass]

When you think about it, if a shoe like that was real, it would almost certainly violate the NBA's tampering rules. The NBA would probably file a lawsuit against Nike for attempting to influence a player's free-agency decision, and you damn well better be sure Dan Gilbert would be talking to his legal counsel.

Bron could have gotten into some hot water, too. If he signs off on it, it's sort of making a mockery of the unrestricted free-agency process, which says that every interested team gets a fair shot at trying to lure a free agent.

Bron and Nike would essentially be trying to profit from the possibility that he might sign with the Knicks. As long as he's under contract with the Cavs, through June 30, that's a no-no.