They play eight miles from each other, separated by a river, but an ocean might as well stand between the Knicks and Nets. They're that far apart, in every which way: history, reputation, following, you name it.
Come this summer, though, they'll stand on common ground and share a common goal. Both want the same big name free agents and will have the money, more than most teams, to buy one if not two.
This could become a turf war for basketball supremacy in New York City, given that the move to Brooklyn within three years is looking more likely for the Nets. Of course, that's what gives the Knicks an early edge. Any free agent who considers the Nets must deal with spending most likely his entire initial contract living in transition and limbo on the other side of the Hudson River. You can see the Nets' recruiting pitch now: Sign with us, rent in East Rutherford. Or Newark.
There are other teams in other places with money next July, too. The big city and all the trappings are quite intoxicating for a lot of players, though. If you win in New York, the reward is tremendous. Ask Derek Jeter. That's enough to make a star roll the dice and possibly deal with the flip side: losing in the big city. Ask the Mets.
Here's the tale of the tape between the Knicks and Nets in the free agent game next summer:
Local support. This isn't a fair fight. Madison Square Garden draws big crowds even when the Knicks are lousy because, if nothing else, fans want to at least show up to boo. The Garden, after all, is "The World's Greatest Arena" located in "The World's Greatest City" and home to "The World's Smartest Basketball Fans" who pay thousands of dollars to watch Eddy Curry. The glitter doesn't get any brighter than on celebrity row, where star-struck stars see their heroes up close and personal. In terms of importance to the city and coverage from the local media, the Knicks are No. 2, after the Yankees, if they're winning. If they're losing, the Knicks will still command attention, although not the type they actually want.
The Nets, meanwhile, play on the side of the Jersey Turnpike next to the swamps. They rarely sold out when Jason Kidd was throwing no-look passes and leading the franchise to back-to-back trips to the NBA Finals. They pled guilty once to piping manufactured cheers through the loudspeakers in an effort to liven up the joint. Jay-Z, who owns a small piece of the team, often shows up but everyone suspects he's a closet Knicks fan. Every now and then, the Nets will attract a big-name celebrity like Joe Piscopo. The team would be better off temporarily in Newark until moving to the new Brooklyn arena. If/when they move, they'll quickly discover Brooklyn is home to Knicks fans.
Advantage, Knicks.
Supporting cast. The Knicks will have Curry, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Jordan Hill and Jared Jeffries under contract for next season, with a shot to retain David Lee and Nate Robinson. Meaning, the roster isn't exactly stocked with championship-ready material. Other than Lee and Robinson, is there a starter in the bunch? There's no pass-first point guard, or a shot-blocker, or a proven small forward, but the big issue is at center. A reliable big man would make the Knicks a much easier sell.
The Nets counter with a good young developing center and a former All-Star point guard, perhaps the two hardest-to-fill positions on the floor. Brook Lopez is good for double-doubles most nights while Devin Harris is just entering his prime. Add Chris Douglas-Roberts and Courtney Lee, two guards with futures, and it's a wonder why the Nets are having so much trouble winning games. Maybe they're saving it for the savior.
Advantage, Nets.
Stability. Say what you will about the Knicks, especially over the last decade, when losing combined with controversy made for a lethal mix, but this is one of the healthier franchises in basketball. Jim Dolan has more resources at his disposal than most if not every team in the league. Other teams are allergic to the luxury tax; the Knicks will gladly pay it if it makes sense to them. The Garden is also undergoing a massive makeover that will only generate more cash in the future. Get this: The Knicks lose games but don't lose money. That only happens in New York, home to many wealthy people with large disposable incomes. Any free agent who signs with the Knicks will never hurt for money, either now or in the future.
The financial outlook of the Nets is at the mercy of a Russian with plenty of money but no proven track record of being willing to spend it. Whether Mikhail Prokhorov becomes the Mark Cuban or the Donald Sterling of the East Coast or something in between remains to be seen. Very likely, he'll want to make an opening statement by spending whatever it takes to get his investment off the ground. But if the Nets begin to hemorrhage money in their new building, we'll find out if the basketball fan inside Prokhorov is more intense than the businessman.
Advantage, Knicks.
Summary: The Knicks identify with the New York experience far more than the Nets, and that's true whether the Nets stay in Jersey or move to Brooklyn. There's just something about playing in the Garden, and the prospect of bringing a long-awaited championship to the Knicks carries more commercial and personal appeal.
Overall advantage, Knicks.
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