It's been a frustrating offseason for the Knicks as free agents have treated their advances with the same excitement that cheerleaders show chess club members. That, plus the news that the NBA salary cap is getting smaller, has understandably led to some anxiety about whether or not the long awaited 2010 free agent shopping spree will come to fruition.
It has also led to a baffling level of scrutiny of potential targets for clues about their intentions. LeBron James wore a Yankee hat! Dwyane Wade made six calls to a number with a 212 area code! Amar'e Stoudemire likes bagels! And now, we can add Chris Bosh laughing during a phone call to the list.
Marc Berman of the New York Post brings us this video, made by Bosh while calling Ismail Humet, a Hofstra University student, to tell him he won a contest. Humet asks Bosh to come play for the Knicks, and the response is not what he was expecting. Bosh laughs, someone offscreen laughs and, clearly, there's no chance that he'll be signing with the Knicks.
Now come the caveats. Berman writes that Bosh was laughing off the suggestion, and quotes Humet as if he's got some kind of insight into what Bosh really thinks about his impending free agency and plans for the future. He doesn't, and laughing in response to a question that catches you off guard, especially when said question comes at 3 a.m. Berman's probably starved for something to write since it is July, but this is some anorexic stuff to use as an indication of anything but what Bosh sounds like when he's laughing.
Like it or not, the 2009-2010 season is going to be a struggle for the Knicks and their fans because of how much is riding on the next offseason. And, like it or not, there are going to be all kinds of things said by all kinds of players, coaches and pundits that will make it sound like the Knicks are coming up empty. It'll make for a lot of fodder, but nothing matters until ink is dry on contracts.
Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City and is a contributor to FanHouse.com and ProFootballTalk.com in addition to his duties for NBCNewYork.com.
