Experts disagree about whether LeBron James would earn greater endorsement money if he played in New York.

David Falk doesn't think James needs a big market.

"Players at that level are going to make money anywhere. We live in a digital age," Falk said.

But one anonymous, "levelheaded NBA agent" estimated that James would net an additional $20 million per year if he called New York home.

Steve Stoute had a role in setting up James' recent marketing deal with McDonald's and, like Falk, believes the superstar can make money from anywhere.  

But Stoute acknowledged that "access to money is driven by proximity" and New York's private-equity investors might fund any venture bearing the LeBron label, such as restaurants, nightclubs or a line of fashion.

Vince Gennaro, who worked in marketing for Pepsi and is now a sports-revenue consultant, said the prospect of James as "the centerpiece of the resuscitation of one of the marquee franchises in sport" is dizzying.

According to Gennaro, "the income opportunities would be boundless" if James can win a championship in New York.  "It would be staggering."  James' sales of Nike products, he said, would "spike enormously" after a title with the Knicks.