Stern envisions positive future for Knicks, Nets

Ask NBA commissioner David Stern if it matters where LeBron James goes when he becomes a free agent on July 1, and his answer is: "Not to me.'' But as a resident of New York City, he certainly understands how much the answer to that question matters to Knicks fans.

Describing his experience with fans in New York, Stern laughed Thursday and joked, "It's fun. Since I live here, you can walk down the street, and it's incredible to think I have the ability to control LeBron's destination.''

In reality, Stern said, "There are 29 other teams that are very happy with the way things are.''

In Stern's view, it's important to have good teams in New York only for the fan bases of the Knicks and Nets. Competitive balance with an equitable distribution of talent and revenue is what's important to the league as a whole.

But when Stern met with representatives of the Associated Press Sports Editors organization yesterday, he stressed the positive future he envisions for the Knicks and Nets.

The deal to build Atlantic Yards arena in Brooklyn should close next month, and the Nets will be there in two years.

"The Knicks haven't given all the details,'' Stern added, "but they'll be in a new building, in effect, at Madison Square Garden, which is going to be extraordinary . . . I would say the [new] Garden is three seasons away.''

The Nets won only 12 games this season, but they have the top seed in the NBA draft lottery, and Stern predicted that new Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov will be approved in time to represent the club at the lottery.

Stern also lauded Knicks management for hiring team president Donnie Walsh and giving him power to clear more salary-cap space than any other team in the league to go after James and other top free agents.

"I think the Knicks are heading in a very good direction,'' Stern said. "With a new setting in Newark and looking forward to the move to Brooklyn, the Nets are going to be similarly upgraded. Fans in New York are going to be treated to a renewed rivalry.''

Anticipating a possible bid by Newark and the Prudential Center for a team to eventually replace the Nets, Stern was more cautious.

"I'm not sure that three teams in the market is a great idea,'' he said. Referencing the metropolitan area's NHL franchises, he added, "We have the Islanders, Devils, Rangers example, and there are always issues about TV.''