Eastern Conference Insider: 2010: A Cap Space Odyssey

In 1984, Hollywood released one of the most forgettable follow-ups to one of the greatest movies of all-time, 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Does anyone remember 2001's sequel, 2010?

Are those crickets I hear?

The NBA's version of 2010 promises to be much more memorable and dramatic as it is being set up as a summer possibly filled with blockbuster moves.

With two trades last Friday, Knicks president Donnie Walsh undid all that Isiah Thomas had done to clog New York's salary cap space. Early Friday afternoon, Walsh sent tongues a-waggin', keyboards a-tapping and Twitters, um, a-twittering by sending Jamal Crawford to Golden State for Al Harrington. Walsh followed later that evening by shipping Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins to the Clippers for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas.

Walsh's deft moves left the Knicks with only four potential players under contract earning a relatively measly $18 million for the 2010-11 season. Eddy Curry and Jared Jeffries have player options while the team holds options on Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler. Walsh told reporters the Knicks are walking a tightrope, trying to balance winning now and planning for the future. In the NBA, those two approaches are often mutually exclusive.

"You gotta go out and we've got to play well," Walsh said. "And then there has to be hope that we can make this team better. I think that opening up cap space down the road for us is a big plus for our side and I hope our fans understand that it can give us the opportunity to make the team better, according to the plan that I've outlined.

"I'm trying to be true to what I said from Day One, and that's what I'm doing."

Of course the biggest fish in the 2010 free agent pond is one LeBron James, the NBA's leading scorer. In case you didn't know, he's currently employed by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Other superstars in the NBA firmament who will be free agents that summer are Dwyane Wade, the league's second leading scorer, Chris Bosh, the fourth-leading scorer and Amar'e Stoudemire, No. 11 on the list.

So, you can see why some teams have an eye on clearing cap space now to land those players down the road.

Last week, James and the Cavs visited New Jersey and he was peppered with questions about 2010. Tuesday, James and the Cavs will be in New York for what can be termed as "LeBronapalooza!" You can expect the New York media will act like tween-age Twilight fans reacting to getting a glimpse of heartthrob Robert Pattinson.

After nearly a decade of covering cast-offs and highly paid pedestrian players, which New York area reporter worth his or her salt wouldn't want to see a guy put up 30-8-7 a night for 82 games a year?

Also, would it be so hard to see the limelight-loving LeBron showcasing his considerable skills in New York? One doesn't need to stretch his or her imagination to envision such a scene.

Heck, the LBJ to MSG speculation has even spilled over into baseball. ESPN.com's Buster Olney wondered aloud if CC Sabathia and James, who developed a friendship in Cleveland, wouldn't mind continuing said camaraderie in the Big Apple.

We just need to work in an NFL angle (Is LeBron an Eli Manning fan?) and we'll be set.

All of the above underlines two important questions about 2010: Speculation may be fun, but essentially, isn't it silly to even speculate? That, and do you really need to be in New York to make it there?

We may be getting ahead of ourselves a bit with all this 2010 talk. It's kind of like talking about the 2012 presidential election before president-elect Barack Obama even takes the oath of office. It's a ways off. Still, as Walsh noted, you have to plan, and when you plan, you have your eyes on a goal. It's admirable to do everything you can to reach that goal.

Still, even some players think it's silly. Steve Nash will also be a free agent in 2010. Guess who coaches the Knicks? Yes, Nash's old boss, Mike D'Antoni. Where does Nash have an apartment? Well, well, well. Right here in Manhattan. Is Nash destined for a different orange and blue uni?

"It's fun for fans and media," Nash told the Arizona Republic's Paul Coro. "As players, it's the most idiotic thing in the world to think about two years from now."

OK, idiotic may be a little stronger than I would have used, yet I can't help but think we sometimes focus more on what players may do off the court than what the players do on it and therefore take away from the game itself. After all, the reason we speculate about certain players is because of what they do between the lines, right?

As far as playing in New York (and playing for a decent team in New York), the lure can't be understated. It's the media capital of the world with a close proximity to Madison Avenue and a fan base that would die for a title. Win a championship with the Knicks, and you could have eight million people at your beck and call.

But is LeBron James any less of a celebrity because he plays in Cleveland? You know who he is. (And if you don't, how did you get this far in an NBA.com story?) Kevin Garnett wasn't exactly anonymous because he played 12 years in Minnesota. Tim Duncan plays excellent ball in one of the league's smallest markets. You've heard of him, am I not correct?

In a world where nearly one-third of NBA.com's traffic comes from China, it's tough to say someone needs to play in New York or Los Angeles or Chicago to fulfill their dream of becoming a world-renowned hoops celeb. If you're a superstar, you're a superstar, no matter where you play. Fans, and fame, will find you.

• On Monday, change came to Washington about two months earlier than anyone expected as the Wizards dismissed coach Eddie Jordan after a 1-10 start. As NBA.com's David Aldridge noted on the site Monday, Saturday's loss to the short-handed Knicks was probably the final nail in Jordan's coaching coffin. That, and Gilbert Arenas' comments that being at the bottom of the Eastern Conference dog pile might not be a bad place to be.

"We have not performed up to our abilities," President Ernie Grunfeld said at a press conference. "We have two All-Stars on this team and we have some very talented young players and some savvy veterans and we have to get them to play at a high level. Therefore, I felt a change needed to be made."

Jordan was in his sixth season as the Wizards head coach, making him the longest tenured coach in the East. That mantle has been passed to the Nets' Lawrence Frank, who took over 42 games into the 2003-04 season. Toronto's Sam Mitchell, Boston's Doc Rivers and Atlanta's Mike Woodson are next on the longevity list as each man is in his fifth season at the helm of their respective teams.

• When I exchanged e-mail with Pistons president Joe Dumars last week, our last question to him was as follows:

NBA.com: Can you publicly comment on Antonio McDyess? If so, do you expect him back with the Pistons in December after the one month moratorium ends?

Dumars: We would love to have McDyess back.

On Dec. 7, it should be love at second sight, as McDyess' agent said the forward plans to re-join the Pistons as soon as he legally can after being waived and bought out by the Nuggets on Nov. 10 after heading west in the Allen Iverson-Chauncey Billups swap. ESPN.com reports McDyess was a popular man as 18 teams inquired about his services. McDyess, however, still held the Pistons close to his heart.

On Monday, Pistons.com's Keith Langlois reported the team had a little zing at practice because of the news. They needed it after losing at home by 26 to the Timberwolves on Sunday. And, as Langlois notes in his excellent article, the Pistons need McDyess back to shore up the once formidable second unit.

• Last week we noted the Bulls hadn't had much success, going 6-52 on their annual "Circus Trip" since one Michael Jordan retired a second time in Chicago. How are they doing this season? They're 2-3, including a rousing 101-100 win in Utah in Monday.