MSG to air special on first day of NBA free agency

It is not yet clear what Donnie Walsh and LeBron James will be doing (or where they will be doing it) at 12:01 a.m. July 1.

But whatever it is, MSG will be able to bring it to you - or at least talk about it - live.

In the latest example of LeBron-mania, the network is planning a half-hour special that morning to mark the start of the wildly anticipated NBA free-agency period.

Officially, the show is the premiere of a weekly summer series called "Knicks Night Live'' appearing at 8 p.m. Thursdays and hosted by Al Trautwig.

But the timing of the first episode is sure to attract the most attention.

"We thought it was a great way to market the show and call attention to the fact that at midnight the free-agency period begins,'' MSG executive vice president Dan Ronayne said.

Not that Knicks fans necessarily needed their attention brought to the fact July 1 is an important day on the offseason schedule.

But Ronayne said the show also will serve a purpose with its content. "It's a good opportunity to have the table set,'' he said.

Kelly Tripucka will be an analyst on the premiere. Others expected to participate during the summer include Walt Frazier and Malik Rose.

The show will have an interactive online component on MSG.com.

The network also plans to carry live news conferences during the summer if the Knicks sign a major free agent (or two).

"It's going to be a fun time to be a Knicks fan,'' Ronayne said, "and MSG Network, since we're the home of the Knicks, wants to provide fans with as much inside access as we can.''

The Dolan family owns controlling interests in the Knicks, MSG and Cablevision. Cablevision owns Newsday.