It is not the culmination of LeBron James’ free agency 13 summers ago that is lost to history, but the leadup.
Not just the year of hoping LeBron would be a Knick but the years, plural. As early as 2008, then-Knicks president Donnie Walsh was making moves designed to clear salary-cap space and lure James. Here was LeBron when asked in July 2008 — two full years before becoming a free agent — about the Knicks:
“For some reason when I get to the Garden, I always play well,” he said. “So they want me to do it for 41 games instead of two games a year.”
Here was what a league source told The Post’s Mike Vaccaro in late November 2008, after the Knicks made a series of moves, including trading Zach Randolph to the Clippers and Jamal Crawford to the Warriors: “There has never been any doubt in anyone’s mind that the Knicks wanted No. 23. I think we were all looking to see if they really have the fortitude to get in place to make it happen. And now we know.”
