Let’s face it: the New York Knicks have sucked for a while now. In the City that prides itself on attracting the best and brightest, this can’t last.

When I worked at sports boutique investment bank Inner Circle Sports LLP, it was my idea to bring Jay-Z in as a part-owner when our client Forest City Ratner Companies (NYSE: FCE-A) wanted to buy the New Jersey Nets and take them to Brooklyn. Now, I have some less expensive advice for a few New York City companies which could use the same type of synergetic aid.

With Lebron James’ Cleveland Cavs making an early exit from the NBA Playoffs during a year they were expected to possibly win it all, now is the time for NYC to step up the lobbying efforts and take a page out of George Steinbrenner’s Yankee talent book.

Here are a list of companies who are salivating to get Lebron James in New York City:

6. New York Community Bancorp

Who? Exactly. New York Community Bancorp (NYSE: NYB) could greatly elevate their brand presence by wooing Lebron into an endorsement deal. Michael Jordan took an at-the-time much lesser known Nike (NYSE: NKE) to global star status. Lebron can do something similar for NYB.

5. Blackstone Group

Due to strength of positioning and connections in Washington DC, Blackstone (NYSE: BK) emerged from the financial crisis as a shinier powerhouse than many of their financial services peers. If they can find a way to get Lebron associated with company, they might finally put their brand ahead of Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS).

4. American Express

Although American Express (NYSE: AXP) has done well since the economic collapse, they are facing stronger pressure from Mastercard (NYSE: MA) and Visa (NYSE: V) now that these credit card companies have gone public. The last American Express campaign that sticks out in my head is the one where Wesley Snipes slid into home base as the star from the movie Major League (see above video for a blast from the past). It’s been 21 years. Time to freshen things up with King James.

3. Verizon

Verizon (NYSE: VZ) is the wireless carrier of choice in New York City. But AT&T (NYSE: T) has stolen some thunder as the sole provider for Apple’s (Nasdaq: AAPL) uber-popular iPhone. Time to clean the filthy Verizon building near the Brooklyn Bridge and grace it with the beloved image of Lebron … in a New York Knicks jersey!

2. New York Times

Wall St. Cheat Sheet is obviously not the size of the New York Times (yet). However, if I were running the Times (NYSE: NYT), I’d get the money out of the new and unnecessarily fancy building in order to pay Lebron to become the killer app for the newspaper. The return on investment of the latter seems to be more in line with saving the business as Rupert Murdoch wages war via the Wall Street Journal (NYSE: NWS). But that’s simply my 2 cents.

1. Citigroup

Citigroup (NYSE: C) went from Sandy Weill’s envied financial super market to bastard of banks. Even a bank based out of Charlotte, North Carolina — Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) — has stolen major thunder from Manhattan because banks such as Citi and JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) have rested too hard on their laurels.

More than any other company, Citigroup needs to get a mural of Lebron on the side of a building with the Citi logo. That’s some hot brand equity worth lobbying for.

What are some other companies that could desperately use Lebron’s help? Let us know in the comments below …

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