LeBron James has agreed to a new deal with Nike and the contract won't have bonus clauses that could trigger if he plays in a specific city, according to a report from the Plain Dealer.

There has frequently been speculation about LeBron's contract, as well as others, that there could be added money from Nike if a player is in a big market such as New York or Los Angeles.

Danilo Gallinari expressed anger at himself and said he was to blame for the Knicks' loss in Utah on Monday.

In so doing, the Italian-born player demonstrated a comfort level with English profanity.

"If I play 42 minutes and I go 1 for 6 from 3, I definitely have to think about this game," Gallinari said. "I?m on the court and I?m a big part of the offense. So if I shoot the ball bad like that in these type of games ? tie games, at the end of the game, you look at the shots ? definitely got to blame myself."  

After exhaling and groaning, he added, "I cannot be like that."

Gallinari feels confident that his game is expanding beyond just the long-range jump shots he showed last season.

"But I knew that I?m not just a shooter, I can do a lot of stuff. And you know this, you know I can do a lot of stuff," Gallinari said.

Howard Beck of the New York Times believes that it bodes well for the development of a young player like Gallinari that he is taking so much responsibility this early in his career.

"Those are the skills that stand out on the court," Beck writes. "But becoming a star also requires pride and accountability. Gallinari angrily and profanely claimed his share on Monday, making perhaps his greatest leap yet."

Jazz forward Carlos Boozer didn't shoot down the possibility of signing with the Knicks as a free agent this summer.

Boozer, who appeared to be done in Utah heading into the season, has expressed his desire to re-sign with the Jazz as well.

"I love D'Antoni, he's the dope," Boozer said of New York's coach. "Spending time with him in the Olympics, his offensive mindset is unbelievable. He's got the best plays I've ever been around -- on a whim. It's like rappers when they come out on the top of the dome with quotes. He's got plays in the back of his head with plays for that moment."

Kevin O'Connor is in the enviable position of holding the Knicks' ticket to this year's draft lottery.

"I think the easiest way to say it is you?ve got an opportunity to have a high draft pick without the pain of going through a season to gain it," O'Connor said.

"Don?t make us out to be geniuses," O'Connor said about the shrewd move combined with good fortune that led to the Jazz getting a seat at this year's lottery dais. "We saw it as a possibility, because of the amount of protection that was on the picks."

For his part, Donnie Walsh made an interesting comment about the odds of a team improving by way of the draft versus free agency, where the Knicks will attempt to make a major splash this summer.

"I think you?ve got a better bet in free agency than how that pick will turn out," Walsh said. "I love to have high draft picks, but you?re never quite sure until the guy gets out there in an NBA game how good he is.  It?s not that I?m saying I don?t want the pick  ?  you always want the pick. But if you don?t have it, you move on."

Eddy Curry is officially done for the season with a torn myofascial band in his right calf.

The Knicks' center shed significant weight in the off-season but a series of injuries to his lower body led to yet another wasted season.

Curry has appeared in only 10 games over the last two years.

Wilson Chandler will see a team doctor tomorrow in Portland but will probably be shut down for the remainder of the season with an injured groin.

The Cavs' ability to win a championship is the decisive factor that will keep LeBron James in Cleveland, according to Carmelo Anthony.

Anthony does not believe that money and fame will lure James to sign with the Knicks.

"He's already got that. He's already got the money and the fame. I think the only thing weighing in right now is the championship."

Anthony elaborated on his answer a moment later.

"If he feels that he can win a championship in Cleveland, then he will stay. The team in Cleveland is that much better than the team in New York."

When asked if James had already made a decision, Anthony said, "No. Not at all, not at all, not even close."

Stephon Marbury isn't done taking shots at the Knicks and coach Mike D'Antoni.

"I was the person everyone wanted to blame," Marbury told The New York Post. "When I was there, it was always my fault. But it's not one person. It's a team, a coach, an organization."

Marbury was banished by D'Antoni at the start of last season.

"You can't trick Knick fans for too long," he said. "When things aren't put on the table from the beginning, it's difficult to go forward. Being a straight shooter is what it's about. If you can't be straight, people can't respect it. I have no more qualms with him but he's a BS artist."

Marbury says that D'Antoni indicated that he would be a key player in his system.

"D'Antoni told me in a phone conversation the second day he got the job, 'If [you] stay in great shape, in our offense you can average 30 points,' " Marbury said. "I was excited. But I was bamboozled."

Sergio Rodriguez wants to re-sign with the Knicks this summer, but he's also keeping open the possibility of returning to Spain.

Rodriguez had dinner with Alberto Herreros, Real Madrid's deputy director, after New York's game on Tuesday.

"We have good relationship, he came just to visit me and see how I was," Rodriguez said. "They haven't talked to my agent. It was friendly."

The Knicks have a $2.7 million option on Rodriguez's contract for the 2010-11 season.

"My first choice is to stay here to play for the Knicks," Rodriguez said. "I'm very happy I got traded to the Knicks. It was my wish for a long time. It's the first time I decide what I can do. It's going to be an important decision. I'm happy with the team. I wish I can play more."

Sources familiar with Donnie Walsh's thinking say the Knicks' president would hesitate to sign Chris Bosh to a maximum-salary contract, preferring to retain David Lee under a smaller deal.

Joe Johnson is presumed to be the Knicks' back-up plan if LeBron James stays in Cleveland.  But Kobe Bryant may still choose to jump in this summer's free-agent pool and some believe New York is the only destination Bryant would move to if he leaves Los Angeles.

"Don?t rule him out if LeBron says no to New York," one NBA GM said.

Suns forward Amar'e Stoudemire isn't a fan of Knicks swingman Tracy McGrady.

"I'm not a big fan of Tracy McGrady -- as a person or as a player," Stoudemire said.

The big man has held a grudge against McGrady for once blowing him off when Stoudemire was in high school.

He added that the grudge wouldn't be a deal-breaker if New York re-signed McGrady and courted Stoudemire this summer.

"I think he's messing with you," McGrady said in response.

When told about McGrady's reply, Stoudemire said: "He didn't remember? I'm not surprised he doesn't remember that."