[Bryan88]

Walsh dream of the day LeBron can be a Knick - Sports Rumors - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

Donnie Walsh's long-range plan is to make a play for LeBron James when James becomes a free agent in two years. In the interim, the Knicks' president is trying to clear salary cap space and assemble a few pieces that would make New York more appealing to James according to the New York Daily News.

One such player is USC guard O.J. Mayo, who could go as high as third in Thursday's draft. The Minnesota Timberwolves own the pick and the club is open to trading it. The Knicks, who select sixth, are looking to move up and are intrigued by Mayo, who like coach Mike D'Antoni hails from West Virginia. The fact that Mayo, regarded as the top combo guard in the draft, is good friends with James doesn't hurt. There was a report yesterday that the Knicks and Grizzlies were working on a deal that would send David Lee and Malik Rose to Memphis for the fifth overall pick plus the two years and $13 million remaining on Brian Cardinal's contract.

Having the fifth and sixth picks in the first round would improve the Knicks' chances of landing Mayo if he somehow falls past Minnesota and Seattle. If Mayo is gone, the Knicks will be in position to draft a point guard (Jerryd Bayless, D.J. Augustin, Russell Westbrook) plus another player.