The Phil Jackson effect has started to resonate around the league. The tremors have been felt all over the league, even in the Kingdom of South Beach.

LeBron James is by far the biggest free agent target of the summer but most teams would not even bother. He is a pipe dream at best for most of the teams with the available cap room.

The New York Knicks is not one of them, which makes them all but disqualified. Even if they had the cap room, their resident star and James' high school rival Carmelo Anthony is contemplating the idea of ditching the franchise because of their dismal season.

But all that changes with the unlikeliest twist of the season. Phil Jackson, the most successful coach in NBA history (and US Professional Sports) has been appointed president of the New York Knicks' basketball operations.

The big hiring has turned a lot of heads..including LeBron James.

Frank Isola of the NY Daily News Reports:

"Heat executives, according to a source, are not convinced that James will stay, though in their heart of hearts they believe he will re-sign. But Jackson's arrival changes things."

The aura of certainty has fizzled, and the seeds of doubt have been sown. If LeBron does not opt out and instead takes another year with the Heat, then that means the Knicks are very much in play.

Jackson is called the 'Zen Master' and as a coach, he had many duels with Pat Riley, nicknamed 'Coach GQ' because of his slick suits and friendship with Giorgio Armani. The classic match-ups of the Jackson's Chicago Bulls and Riley's (ironically) New York Knicks always went Jackson's way. The bottomline: Michael Jordan was the best player on the court.

Thus, Riley used the same approach with the Heat and acquired the best player. The same player that Jackson wants to get.

Isola reinforces his claim with a statement from a LeBron James confidant: "There's no way LeBron would have gone to New York under the current climate. He had a falling-out with CAA (agency) and that was a problem as well. But with Phil there I think he will look at it."

And also from a current NBA GM (anonymous): "I think that's a little overblown.  LeBron wanted to go to a place where he could win. LeBron, (Dwyane) Wade and (Chris) Bosh hatched the plan.

Phil can help the Knicks because he gives them a face and credibility. But these big free agents are only going to a place where they feel they can win. Phil has to build something first."

At this writing, the Knicks are on a 5 game winning streak and Miami has lost 4 out of 5. Are these ominous signs?

We'll see what happens next. What is certain is that the pressure for Miami to win the championship has just mounted and the stakes have been raised.