Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James listens to a question during...

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James listens to a question during a news conference after losing 94-85 to the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series, Thursday, May 13, 2010, in Boston. With no title again for Cleveland this year, James will have to decide if it's time to go look for it elsewhere. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Credit: AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Chris Bosh is getting anxious. He was on vacation in Saint Tropez and even on the French Riviera, he can't avoid the free agency question.

He tells us on Twitter:

Someone just asked me where I'm going for 2010. I can't even escape the madness outside the country.

Yes, Chris, even Tony Parker wants to know if you're going to join him in New York.

But Bosh has only one person to talk to before July 1 - that would be LeBron James. And if you stay awake through the scattered interview between two obvious strangers that will be packaged Friday on CNN as LeBron James' appearance on Larry King Live, you'll catch one of the few noteworthy lines from LeBron:

"It will be fun to get all the free agents together and, you know, figure out a way how we can make the league better."

Maybe you can suggest they follow your lead and, you know, don't have a Twitter account. Seriously, is there anything more lame than Bosh's regular complaints about being bothered with questions about his free agency, especially when he has used Twitter to ask followers what they think he should do?

Bosh's disdain is about as genuine as Steve Nash's interest in having Amar'e Stoudemire back with the Suns at the full maximum.

But let's stay on topic. Whether or not Dwyane Wade's "basketball summit" idea has been overstated in overzealous reports -- picture the Great Eight gathered in a suite at the Bellagio like Ocean's Eleven -- there is no doubt these fellas will be in touch with each other if not for anything more than selfish reasons. Wade wants to max out his earning potential by staying in Miami, but will make sure Mickey Arison has to also shell out a max committment to bring in a running mate. If the Suns won't ante-up a fifth year for Amar'e Stoudemire, Wade will make sure the Heat will, whether that's a smart move or not.

And Carlos Boozer, who already started selling himself to the South Beach media this week, is waiting on deck as Wade's second choice.

Bosh's dream may be to nestle himself in Hollywood and on the already-established roster of Kobe's Lakers, but if LeBron puts any thought at all into the Knicks, Bosh is the key. James doesn't come without Bosh and Bosh likely doesn't come without James.

So they'll talk, for sure. And that's all the Knicks can ask for at this point, because they can wheel out all the celebrities and provide all the perks that New York City can offer, but they can't promise to build him a championship-caliber team without the immediate ability to add that second all-star player.

Cue Sinatra:

It's up to you, Chris Bosh. Chris Bosh.

Meanwhile, expect to see this stuff all around the city in the coming weeks before July 1.

* * *

* - Remember Jonathan Bender? His comeback fizzled with the Knicks this season, but he's not ready to give up on his career. Bender is home in New Orleans working with yet another trainer, Mackie Shilstone, who has helped other athletes extend their careers. Shilstone's client list includes Serena Williams, Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones, Jr. and Ozzie Smith.

Bender previously worked with former Olympian Carl Austin to build the muscles around his damaged knees and allow him to return to the basketball court. Bender didn't experience a lot of pain in his knees, but he did deal with a lot of soreness and fatigue that are an expected result of the long depature he had from the game after he initially retired in Nov. 2005.

Mike D'Antoni gave Bender plenty of opportunities to work through his issues until finally his minutes started to diminish. His season ended in late March when he required surgery to repair a broken finger.

* - The Knicks didn't get an opportunity to see Alabama guard Mikhail Torrence last week when he was invited in for a pre-draft workout. Torrence was unable to make the trip. But they'll get to see him next Tuesday, when he's scheduled to come in for a workout with the Nets.

About a dozen players have been in at the MSG Training Center for pre-draft workouts thus far and, as expected of a group of second-round targets, no one has stood out as a must-have. Most second-rounders have issues, which is why they are second-rounders and the challenge for the Knicks is to find the ones with the least amount of issues or the most potential.

 

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