New York Knicks rumors now include a LeBron James signing. These rumors fall squarely at the feet of Enes Kanter, who laid out a challenge to James on social media. It all happened Monday (May 7), as Kanter joked about a statement James had made earlier in the season. Following a Cleveland Cavaliers victory over the Knicks, James called himself the “king of New York.”

There are certainly some interesting scenarios that could pop up from this situation. At the top of the list, is that LeBron James could make these New York Knicks rumors come true.

If he opts out of his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers at the end of the current season, he would then become a free agent. That would allow him to join a new team, with prior NBA rumors indicating he might be interested in joining the Los Angeles Lakers or the Philadelphia 76ers. Those rumors sound more plausible than James teaming up with Kanter.

James in Madison Square Garden?

Can LeBron James sign with the New York Knicks? Yes, he could, provided the team made some moves to clear enough space for a max contract. Will James sign with the Knicks? It’s not a very likely scenario, especially as the franchise tries to rebuild. Its best player, Kristaps Porzingis, could miss most of the 2018-19 NBA season recovering from surgery.

Signing James might be out of the question at that point. It could also be difficult to lure anyone to the team under Porzingis is back on the court. That will make it a difficult situation for the new coach, who has to step into a situation where the Knicks undergo a heavy rebuilding process.

Enes Kanter’s challenge to King James

As quoted by ESPN, Enes Kanter stated “People keep debating about who is the king of New York. ... Hey LeBron, yes, you really want to be king of New York? Come and prove it. I'll see you July 1st, brother. Good luck.” It’s a straightforward challenge to the best player on the planet, right in the middle of his dominating performance against the Toronto Raptors.

If he succeeds in leading the Cavs to another NBA title, then he might not even want to leave Cleveland.

Enes Kanter knows how badly the New York Knicks could use an infusion of talent, making this joke in order to put the idea out in the universe. It’s highly unlikely that LeBron James would want to play for the Knicks next year, especially as the roster is in flux. At least it gives Knicks fans something interesting to ponder, as making it back to the postseason has been a difficult endeavor lately.
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