By Nina Mandell
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — The Knicks square off Monday night in Cleveland against the object of their desire: LeBron James.
The Knicks have spent the last two seasons clearing salary cap space to try to sign James, or another top-tier player, when he becomes a free agent on July 1. Monday's game is likely the last time this season James will get a look at the revamped Knicks.
“I’m just going to put a nice suit on,” Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni told North Jersey.com, when asked how he would impress James. That might be more impressive than the team's 20-38 record.
James, who leads the league with 30 points per game, headlines a 2010 free agent class that includes Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade. The Knicks have more than $30 million in salary cap room for next
The subject has dominated the Knicks storyline throughout this season. Last month, they traded away big contracts and future draft picks to land Tracy McGrady — a one-time superstar who's trying to bounce back from knee surgery. So far, he's showed flashes of former greatness, while nursing his sore knee.
In last month's battle between the Knicks and Cavs, James had 47 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and five steals in the 113-106 Cleveland win.
"I don't think too much or get too involved in teams trying to clear cap space," James said, according to the New York Post. "You see a lot of guys who you thought was key to their team move on. It all depends on what their plan is for that summer."
McGrady, who sat out the second half of the Knicks’ loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night, said he expects to play tonight. As for his thoughts on James, he said – as many have all season — it's impossible to predict what will happen come July 1.
"Nobody knows what LeBron James is going to do but LeBron James," said McGrady, according to the Daily News. "We have no control over that. The Knicks did what they had to do to make this franchise better and that's clearing cap space to bring some players in here to turn this franchise around."
