ESPN

LeBron James visits the Knicks Friday night in a game that is perhaps not as important as people who spend too much time in close proximity to the I-95 corridor think it is. Madison Square Garden has some solid history, sure, but as a majority of SportsNation would attest, we're not talking about the Coliseum in Rome (more like Kennedy Arena in Rome, N.Y.).

Nevertheless, with the Cavaliers off to a 3-3 start and looking like a team little better than the versions that came up short in recent seasons, a visit to the Big Apple will rev up the engines of speculation when it comes to LeBron's future plans. NBA.com blogger Sam Smith made a bold prediction this week, suggesting LeBron will end up playing alongside Kobe Bryant with the Lakers. To which we say, it's about time Phil Jackson gets some talent to work with. But could the game's two biggest stars really coexist?

• Vote: Is Shaq to blame in Cleveland, and where will LeBron play next season?
• Your Rankings: Where are the Cavaliers and Knicks in your NBA Power Rankings?
• Week's chat wraps: Chad Ford | David Thorpe | ESPN Dallas on Mavericks

Would you rather own a house in a neighborhood with potential or rent in the swanky part of town? We should probably mention the former comes with an average of 49.9 inches of snow each year, while the latter comes with a beach and 49.9 fewer inches of snow. And Kobe Bryant. We're not sure how that fits in the analogy.

It's not clear that choice confronts Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis just yet, but if reports are true that he's the leading candidate for the Timberwolves' vacancy, it may.

So what would you do? On the Minnesota side, you get some good young players like Al Jefferson, Kevin Love, Jonny Flynn and Corey Brewer, even if voters aren't sure that's a winning foundation with or without Ricky Rubio. On the Los Angeles side, well, you get another year with Phil Jackson and Bryant, but you also get another year older hoping the Buss family isn't going to turn out like Hank Steinbrenner minus all the cash.

• Still some confidence in SportsNation that Rubio eventually plays for Wolves.
• Vote: Are the Timberwolves building a winning team?
• Groups: Minnesota Sports Fans | Lakers | Real Laker haters

Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd climb the mountains and chase down the breakaways to bring you "SportsNation" TV.

Discuss the hot topics, vote on the biggest stories of the day and chat during the show on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. ET. And if you miss that, there's a second helping of "SportsNation" on ESPN at 5 p.m. ET.

Do you still want to see the tape of LeBron getting dunked on?
Has time dulled your desire to see the footage that Nike confiscated of Jordan Crawford dunking on LeBron?

Is Kobe playing for Team USA in 2010 and 2012 a good idea?
Kobe has a gold medal and NBA title in the same year, and he isn't getting any younger. He can help the U.S. maintain supremacy, but what about the Lakers?

Do you prefer youth or experience at running back?
Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson is now the wily veteran, but the NFL is notorious for using up backs by the time they reach their 30s.

Whom would you rather have replace your quarterback?
Michael Vick brings fresh legs but the rust of an NFL layoff. Brett Favre has years of success but an aging body and shoulder.

Which is a better option for Stephen Strasburg right now?
Scott Boras isn't afraid to hold players out if they don't get the deal he says they deserve. But what if a big-name prospect gets injured playing this game?

And our final question ...
A recent theory in the running world proposes that running without shoes is better for you. Would you consider running barefoot?

What is "SportsNation" TV and how do you make your voice heard on the broadcast? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.

• Rankings: Would you put Kevin Love in your top 12 for Team USA?

As far as Twitter goes, it's certainly less memorable than breaking the news of your coach's departure, but Kevin Love is once again proving wily in his use of new technology and living up to his nickname as "The Big Twitter." If he figures out how to get himself a raise in 140 characters or less, we'll be even more impressed.

ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan wrote about the chance Mike Krzyzewski is taking by staying on with USA Basketball through the 2010 World Championship and 2012 Olympics, rather than riding comfortably into the sunset after winning gold last year. Once done reading all about it, SportsNation had a chance to put together the Team USA it would take through the next three years.

One of the options was, you guessed it, Kevin Love, a big man with passing and rebounding skills ideal for the international game. And once Love caught wind of his virtual candidacy, he took to the tweet to rally supporters to the cause (granted, a cause that doesn't include an actual seat on the flights to Turkey and England, respectively).

We're sorry to say the outcome isn't looking good for Love, despite a surge of late support for the former UCLA star with a penchant for long-distance shots. As consolation for the Love faithful who heeded his call, we invite you to listen to his podcast visit with Bill Simmons, left.

For everyone else, here are SportsNation's top 12 for Team USA.

G: LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Brandon Roy
F: Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Kevin Garnett
C: Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire

• Voters wouldn't even trade Coach K for Phil Jackson on Team USA.
• Check out who SportsNation wanted for the Redeem Team last year.
• SportsNation Groups: Team USA!!! | Minnesota Sports Fans | UCLA Bruins

It's a time for optimism in the NBA, where Anthony Randolph can get hearts fluttering in the Bay Area after tying a Las Vegas Summer League record with 42 points in a game (all right, not every heart). Heck, it's a time when even Knicks fans can shelve the cynicism for a few seconds, as SportsNation blogger allikskat does in making a case for a Big Apple revival.

And then there are the Lakers, who ought to be in the best mood of all.

Colin Cowherd and Kobe Bryant began their conversation on "The Herd" (click on the link on the left to hear the whole thing) by discussing the simple pleasures of parenthood. Then they moved on to Lamar Odom. At least, we think there's a separation between talking offspring and talking about a guy who sustains himself on candy.

After seeing Trevor Ariza and Hedo Turkoglu cash in on stellar postseason performances, it's no surprise Odom wants to cash in on his. But soon after the NBA Finals, SportsNation placed him a distant third to those two when it came to enhanced reputations. And when it came to Ariza or Odom remaining alongside Kobe, Odom was the consolation prize.

• Do the Lakers need Odom to repeat? The 'Nation is truly divided.
• More clear is Lamar Odom needs the Lakers more than they need him.
• Majority still thinks Odom ends up with the Lakers this season.
• Chat: Do the Lakers need Odom? Ask John Hollinger at 3 p.m. ET.

• Put together your own top 12 for Team USA's roster for the World Championship and Olympics

By the time the Lakers wrapped up their NBA title against the Magic, handing Phil Jackson championship No. 10 in his coaching career, we had all more or less agreed he was the greatest coach in the history of the known universe. Or something like that; we have been known to dabble in revisionist hyperbole.

But as it turns out, the best coach in the world isn't the coach SportsNation wants leading Team USA against the best the rest of the globe has to offer. Mike Krzyzewski is signing on for another run at international glory, including the 2010 World Championship in Turkey and the 2012 Olympics in London. Who should he take with him?

• More international titles for Coach K? Sure. More NCAA titles? Not so much.
• Kentucky thinks Coach K would be below-average NBA coach. Bitter much?

At the end of the "SportsNation" TV show on Monday, Colin Cowherd told co-host Michelle Beadle the debut took so much energy he didn't know if he could do it again.

Guess who's back?

Check out the big stories of the day, cast your votes and watch on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. ET!.

If you had $900 million to spend, would you buy the Cubs?
The family of TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts reportedly has a deal to buy the team and Wrigley from the Tribune Co. for $900 million.

Where will LeBron James play after 2009-10?
LeBron told Trevor Ariza he'd be in Cleveland after next season. Or he didn't. NBA free agency is a game of intrigue and rumors.

Awesome or weird?
What do you think of Ron Artest reportedly going to find Kobe Bryant in the shower to tell him he could help the Lakers?

Should the 76ers try to sign Allen Iverson?
A.I. averaged more than 30 points a game in four of his 10 full seasons in Philadelphia. His average has dropped, but he can still score.

Would you partake in the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona?
Thousands of people risk goring and trampling each year in Spain. Are you interested in a road trip?

And our final question ....
Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis carry a built-in rivalry to the lineup card that will be filled out by Joe Maddon, manager of the third AL East team of note.

What is "SportsNation" TV and how do you make your voice heard on the broadcast? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.

Just hours after the celebrated arrival of Shaquille O'Neal to Cleveland (where the big man proclaimed he'd "win a ring for the King"), Ron Artest one-upped the Big Aristotle and announced he would be signing a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.

If his word is golden, it means that Artest and Kobe Bryant will be amicably (we think) sharing the same court. What does this mean to SportsNation? Well, before today, you had LeShaq and the Cleveland Cavaliers as your favorite to win the 2010 NBA finals. But perhaps things have changed? Cast your vote below.

• Where did Ron Artest rank against the other 2009 free agents? Find out »


“

This is terrible. Ariza is a much better choice than Artest. Artest may be more skilled, but Ariza is a team player who can play well with Kobe (and not many can play well with Kobe). I really thought the Lakers had a chance to repeat, but with this move, I'm not sure at all anymore. Artest is actually a downgrade in many aspects.

” -- rfg56fd2



“

Brilliant move by the Lakers. I was hoping this would happen. Man, the Rockets have completely imploded.

” -- bwpbruce

• Vote: Who is the leader in Kobe and Shaq's race to hoops immortality?

Much like his favorite philosopher, Aristotle, Shaquille O'Neal hasn't had much need for winter outerwear while making a name for himself in warm climates. But to answer one of the key questions of human existence -- whether or not he's better than Kobe Bryant -- he'll have to break out the mittens and scarves. Winter in Cleveland; it's fantastic!

The trade that will send Shaq to the shores of Lake Erie for a second-round pick and nearly 14 feet of expiring contracts isn't finalized (presumably still checking for Ben Wallace's pulse ... Update: Good news for the Cavs and Wallace; the deal was finalized Thursday), but SportsNation likes the idea of Shaq adding LeBron to a trophy case of partners that includes Kobe and Dwyane Wade (and Penny Hardaway, but nobody's perfect).

• In the hours before details of the trade became clear, two out of three voters were already saying the big guy is a good fit for the Cavaliers.
• It's still early (especially on the left coast, where we pity those awake enough to vote), but Shaq's move is creating a Rocky Mountain schism when it comes to the defending champion Lakers or the new-look Cavaliers as the favorite next season.
• But when it comes to whether or not Shaq's relocation is a bigger deal than the United States beating Spain in soccer -- It's the (original) world's game all the way.

Sometimes we all need a little extra space to vent. ESPN profiles give fans space to post their own blog entries and go toe-to-toe with commenters.

• bwhite2006: An Angels fan gets it all out after the Dodgers beat up on their SoCal neighbor over the weekend, saying losing to them is worse than four-putting from 10 feet (Tiger Woods might argue).
• Mr. Almighty: If Josh McDaniels and Brandon Marshall can't make nice in Denver, one Ravens fan thinks he has the perfect landing spot for one of them (hint: not McDaniels).
• larssantini: In response to Bill Simmons' latest column pondering whether or not Kobe Bryant really changed that much this season, this blogger suggests change came at a more geologic pace.
• dfpsorts: Perhaps second only to the eternal quandary of how much wood a woodchuck would chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood is the one about how many games the Red Sox would win if they kept coming up with pitchers (hmm, not as fun to type).
• Robert Flores: The SportsCenter anchor links to an interesting take on the Daisuke Matsuzaka situation and an update on U.S. Soccer.