New York Knicks crave LeBron James in 2010

What ill wind was it that blew the Cleveland Cavaliers into New York four days after the Knicks unloaded enough salary to sign LeBron James and any other star he designates in 2010?

New York being New York, the result was the first . . . LeBronstock!)

Knicks fans cheered James as if he were already theirs. The media went gaga. Nike marked the occasion, launching a LeBron sneaker with a battalion of employees in red "Witness" T-shirts descending upon Madison Square Garden.

Cleveland's Ben Wallace, asked what he thought about the reaction, replied, "I think it's tampering."

"You think the city of New York was tampering?" asked the reporter.

For all it was worth. Celebrities poured forth, among them New Jersey Nets co-owner Jay-Z with his wife, Beyonce, protecting his interests with his team also in the running.

A few seats away, Knicks fan Spike Lee conferred with Knicks President Donnie Walsh, who had just dumped Zach Randolph and Jamal Crawford, creating $46 million worth of cap room in 2010.

"If you guys want to sleep now and don't wake up until July 1, 2010, then go ahead," a merry LeBron told reporters after the Cavaliers buried the Knicks.

"It's going to be a big day."

How about if they just do stories about it every day between now and then?

Not only will James become a free agent that day, so will Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Yao Ming, Joe Johnson, Manu Ginobili, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Tyson Chandler, Tracy McGrady, Michael Redd and Ray Allen.

General managers have eyed this class for two years -- since James opted to sign a four-year extension instead of the maximum five, and Wade followed suit.

Speculation about James' leaving is excruciating for Cleveland, which has a special place in its oft-broken heart for local stars who don't big-time it out of there.

The Cavaliers have long tried to make the story go away.

With the cat, now the size of a tiger, clawing its way out of the bag, owner Dan Gilbert recently called the notion James might leave "an insult" to Cleveland and the entire Midwest.

If he thinks it was bad, what lies ahead will be like U.S. troops putting loudspeakers around the embassy in which Panama strongman Manuel Noriega took refuge in 1989 and blasting it around the clock with heavy metal rock 'n' roll.