The New York Knicks are focused on the Eastern Conference Finals after officially learning their opponent will be the Cleveland Cavaliers. While the focus continues to be on an attempt to make the NBA Finals, there are already rumors swirling about New York once again being an appealing landing spot for free agents.
Throughout his career, LeBron James has been linked to the Knicks. So far, the Knicks have been unable to land King James, but the star is once again a free agent this summer.
NBA insider Marc Stein revealed the top potential landing spots for James if the legend bolts the Los Angeles Lakers. Among the top teams is the Knicks, per Stein.
“James’ deep fondness for Madison Square Garden has been known for years, but the Knicks — suddenly favorites to win the East and go to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 — could certainly opt to stay on their current path,” Stein wrote in a May 16, 2026, story titled, “What’s next for LeBron James?”
Here’s what you need to know about the latest Knicks rumors.
Knicks Rumors: Will New York Make a Run to Poach LeBron James From the Lakers?
It remains to be seen if the Knicks are interested in making a run at James. The Knicks are already a potential title contender with the team’s current roster.
In addition to the Knicks, Stein labels the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers as additional teams who could be in the market for James. This is assuming James passes on re-signing with the Lakers.
Stein labels continuing his career with the Lakers as the top option for James, but it remains unclear if Los Angeles will look to use the star’s money elsewhere.
“Staying in Los Angeles, by all accounts, is his runaway A scenario preference,” Stein noted. “His son Bronny, of course, remains under contract to the Lakers for one more guaranteed season before a team option in 2027-28.
“Yet it’s also an open secret that the Lakers want to remake their roster around Luka Dončić this offseason and have been pointing to the summer of 2026 to do so for some time … with cap space they’ll only have by letting James’ $52.6 million salary in 2025-26 dribble off the books on June 30.”
LeBron James Says Playing at Madison Square Garden Has Meant ‘Everything’ During NBA Career
Throughout James’ career, the star has gushed about playing at Madison Square Garden. Time will tell if there will be a mutual interest between James and the Knicks during free agency.
“(Playing at Madison Square Garden means) everything. I mean, it’s the Mecca of basketball here in New York City,” James told reporters on February 1. “Obviously, it’s the Big Apple, being here at MSG, playing here. So many guys have walked this court, either from basketball to entertainment, to actors and musicians, I mean, everything.
“It’s been a wide range of importance of people to be able to grace this floor. And I hope I have a little small snippet of somebody that came through here and was able to make a little small dent from a business perspective. So it’s cool, it’s always electric in here. They find a way to make sure that I’m here on weekends (the NBA schedule), pretty much.”
Cavaliers vs. Knicks: New York Is a Heavy Favorite to Beat Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals
James’ potential flirtation with the Knicks could depend on how the rest of the postseason plays out. If New York is able to win an NBA championship, adding James would appear less likely.
The Knicks are listed at -265 as the favorite to win the Eastern Conference Finals, while the Cavs are a sizable underdog at +215, per DraftKings. New York is a 7.5-point favorite over Cleveland in Game 1.
Like HEAVY’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on HEAVY
The post Knicks Dealt Good News Before Eastern Conference Finals vs. Cavaliers appeared first on HEAVY.