Unlike Ben Gordon, Lee and Robinson Won’t Accept Q offer
Knicks fans have constantly been wondering what the future holds for two of 
the team’s restricted free agents, David Lee and Nate Robinson. For most, the question has been whether the Knicks will offer either player a long-term contract, or what teams will pursue them. But what is rarely brought up is the possibility of either player staying in New York on a far shorter and cheaper deal.Both Lee and Robinson can invoke an option in their contract that will pay them a one-year salary based on a scale determined by where they were drafted. Lee, the 30th overall selection in 2005, has a player option of $2,682,049 for this season, while Robinson, the 21st overall pick in the same draft, is at a shade under $3 million.
For a while, it appeared that the option would be a moot point, as both were piling up numbers and seemed destined for big contracts. Yet as the season progressed and as the economy faltered, it seems that those numbers have been scaled back.
Lee, the Knicks’ double-double machine, seemed ready to sign long term with the Knicks early in the season. In fact, his agent and Knicks general manager Donnie Walsh had more than a few conversations about a contract. But Walsh, the savvy executive that he is, decided to wait, wanting to judge Lee’s 2009 performance before committing to 2010 and beyond. Although that decision looked like a mistake midyear when Lee’s stock was skyrocketing, Walsh’s patience seems to have paid off on the overall number as his power forward’s game has leveled off. It’s clear at this point that Lee will not be getting in excess of $10 million dollars per year, as most believed during the winter. more
