KNICK NOTES
CLEVELAND – Knicks coach Larry Brown was LeBron James’ boss in Athens during the 2004 Olympics and came close to being his superior again last spring.
During the 2004 Eastern Finals between the Pistons and Heat, Brown, his health then a major issue, held talks with the Cavaliers about becoming their president while still being able to live in Philadelphia. But when Brown and the Pistons moving on to the Finals, the Cavs couldn’t wait any longer and hired Danny Ferry. James even thinks Brown was being considered for the head coaching spot.
“There was an opportunity for him,” James told Ohio writers yesterday. “There was some talk about him being the GM or coach. I think we’re satisfied with the guy we got.”
James’ Olympic experience wasn’t terrific under Brown, who refused to start him as Team USA fell to a bronze medal.
“That’s over and done with,” said James, whose Cavs host the Knicks tonight. “He knows the situation. He knows that I wanted to play, as well as some of the other players.”
Might there be a reuniting of Brown and King James in New York? Knicks superfan Spike Lee, who’s close to James’ former agent Aaron Goodwin, told The Post last spring he has heard James’ top endorser, Nike, would love him to bolt for New York when he becomes a free agent in the summer of 2007.
The theory is James can make more in endorsements in New York to offset the lower salary the Knicks could offer with their mid-level exception. Of course, James can bluff and force the Cavs to make a sign-and-trade with the Knicks. James’ new agent is Leon Rose of Cherry Hill, N.J. Rose has a strong relationship with Thomas.
Asked what he learned from Brown, James said: “He tried to prepare us for the best way to win games. Sometimes he was able to do that, sometimes he wasn’t.”
But James sees the Knicks (10-21) rising. “Coach Brown probably tore them down at first and now he’s picking them up,” James said. “They are playing well. They are scoring a lot of points and getting out and running.”
*
Who will guard James (30.6 ppg, 6.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists) tonight?
New starting SF David Lee doesn’t have quick enough feet and Trevor Ariza was embarrassed last season. Quentin Richardson might be the best choice. Ariza is out of the doghouse, with two solid games since Brown called him “delusional.”
However, Ariza wants no part of another war of words with Brown. “I’m just here to play,” he said. “I’m not going to comment on that. I’ll leave that alone. I’ll stay away from that. [Playing well] is the only way to get back in his good graces.”
*
Cavs assistant Mike Malone was the lone Knicks staffer not retained by Brown, who helped him get Cleveland job … Jamal Crawford (sprained foot) may miss his third straight tonight.