By Nina Mandell
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Knicks owner James Dolan said he will join in the Knicks’ contingent meeting with LeBron James in Ohio on Thursday, the New York Post reported Monday.
Dolan, who will join coach Mike D’Antoni, former Knicks All-Star Allan Houston and General Manager Donnie Walsh, is expected to weigh in on his financial commitment to the team and, more importantly, to James, the Post said.
But Dolan's millions will have to compete with the billionaire swagger of new Nets’ owner Mikhail Prokhorov, who will reportedly get to give LeBron his pitch first on Thursday.
The Knicks contingent will meet with free agents Amare Stoudamire and Joe Johnson in California on Wednesday and then stop in Akron on Thursday to meet with James.
The Knicks squad is competing with the Chicago Bulls, who have been deemed the favorites in the free agent race for James after they cleared $9 million more in salary cap space on draft night. Like the Knicks, the Bulls can now sign two maximum contract free agents. The Miami Heat, the Dallas Mavericks, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Cleveland Cavaliers are also competing to ink James to a contract.
Meanwhile, the Knicks are banking that Houston’s connections to basketball power brokers around the league as well as his unique experience as a Knicks player during the team's success of the 1990's can help lure LeBron to the Big Apple.
"I came because I felt that going to New York would give me the best chance to win," Houston told the Daily News about signing a free agent contact with New York back in 1996. "I was more of a piece to the team as opposed to be the foundational player. It was a chance to play with Patrick Ewing and compete for a championship. I don't regret it for one minute."
Houston is reportedly old friends with William Wesley, who is considered an influential advisor to James, the News said.
Having a Wesley tie on the Knicks could have some influence on LeBron, although Houston has remained mum on the connection.
"I'm not going to comment on certain relationships," Houston told the News. "I'll say this, there are people out there trying to help a lot of the free agents. These free agents have all put good people around them and if someone from their group is able to tell them something about us and our organization I think it will help.
The Knicks, who have more than $30 million in salary cap space, have not signed a marquee free agent since inking Houston to a five-year deal in 1996.
