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More on the Lee Situation

by Tommy Dee on June 25th, 2009 at 10:53 am

After reportedly blocking a trade at the last minute during last year’s draft that would have landed the Knicks the 5th pick from Memphis, the Grizzlies are once again interested in Lee and are planning to make a run at the Knick forward once the free agent signing period starts July 1st  according to a source familiar with the situation. Not only will Lee listen, apparently he has no issues playing in Memphis.

Jonathan Givoney of DX also had a note that should Rubio end up in Oklahoma City at 3,which he is calling a lock, expect the Knicks to use Lee in a sign and trade in an attempt to snag the Spaniard. This could very well be the reason that they’ve had Jordan Hill so high on their list. Oklahoma City may just have that option now that it appears the Grizzlies will stay at 2. You’d have to think that the Thunder would leverage Rubio and sell to the highest bidder.

“…Oklahoma City appears to have narrowed in on Ricky Rubio as their top choice with the #3 pick, at least according to what most NBA teams have on their board at the moment. For now, it seems like they will be keeping him. While we’re told that the Knicks will definitely explore a sign and trade with David Lee to acquire Rubio, it might take more to convince Oklahoma City to make that trade…”

Could the Thunder do any better than adding Lee to a lineup in desperate need of front court help? They could pay him 4 years at a healthy salary and the chance to play with a promising young core of players. Adding Lee  would make them instant playoff contenders in the West. Adding Darko and another big man like Camby or Jordan Hill would soften the blow of losing Lee.

Bottom line is if you really want Rubio, root for Thabeet to go to Memphis and Rubio third to the Thunder.

  • bigknicka

    how about making a trade for the 7th pick give them Q-rich and jeffries (or possibly harrington) that would give us 7 and 8

  • joetheknick

    Tommy are you saying the knicks want Rubio more than they want Lee? Or are you saying OKL will make an monetary offer that the Knicks are unwilling to meet? Given the fact that Curry, Jeffries and Nate are all expected to be jettisoned, where is our core?

  • joetheknick

    gws traded Harrington away. GSW have more spare parts then we do. They probably need Duhon at the point. What will the 7 get us?

  • KBT1615

    Ill Will and Gallo. Its sad I know and both play the same position well.
    I know Cheech shot down Charlie V but The Bucks aren’t extending the qualifying offer making him a free agent.

  • Aten

    Our core is Gallinari, Chandler, 8, and I guess whatever we get for Lee. Dumping Jeffries probably costs Nate and dumping Curry is probably impossible.

  • KBT1615

    Hold On A Core Of Rubio, Harden,Gallo, Ill Will, isnt that bad.

  • Mucha

    LMAO if David Lee signs with the Memphis Grizzlies.

    Everybody was like “We could’ve had OJ Mayo for David Lee but it’s OK because it’s David Lee and his heart is blue and orange – he’d take less to stay here”.

    LMAO.

    OJ Mayo guys, we were talking about OJ Mayo.

  • joetheknick

    trouble with talking FA is it is contrary to the plan to preserve cap space for next year. We need to trade for rookie contracts. Trading for expiring contracts will be a one year rental and do nothing for building up a core of player for “whoever” superstar will be surrounded with next season.

  • bigknicka

    it would keep them from getting jordan hill or one of the guards that we’re looking at because we know that either flynn or curry is gonna be there at 7 so we could pick one of them up and use the 8 on jordan hill because it seems Minn. is gonna go point guard and shooting guard since they just traded their starting backcourt

  • KBT1615

    I want Lee gone now. Not only did he keep us from getting OJ but now hes asking for 10 million.

  • joetheknick

    getting 7 with view of getting curry, flynn or hill makes sense. What would we have to give to GSW to get the 7 spot?

  • Aten

    And all that we need for that to happen is for Harden to fall to 8 and for Rubio to cost nothing of value besides Lee. Odds?

  • Tcarda44

    there is literally zero chance this scenario could EVER work out. Think about it

  • joetheknick

    he can ask for the man in the moon. That doesn’t mean he expect to get it. He is worth 8M a year for 5 years. At that price he is a keeper. If some time wants to overpay for him, then we will need to salvage whatever we can to do a sign and trade. That is the way I see it. Aren’t too many quality veterans out there that can be had on the cheap.

  • KBT1615

    Lee and Nate, Lee and Al.
    slim but not impossible

  • Tcarda44

    i would say let the situation play out before you get all over Lee. These are all reports and can either be false are just intended as leverage for him with the knicks. If he asks for 10 mill and gets it with Memphis or whoever, we will be gettting parts back in return. Maybe not a Mayo but who knows

  • Tcarda44

    doesnt seem likely…

  • Tcarda44

    I dont think its possible to trade Lee and Nate in the same sign and trade for various reasons. Could be wrong about that but i think thats the case. Anyone know?

  • bigknicka

    well if that turkoglu to portland doesnt work we could use lee in a sign and trade (and some parts) for possibly fernandez

  • bigknicka

    the problem is gallo and will both play the same position and that guy who plays in cleveland (i forget his name) also plays that very position, if we were to really go hard for him….one of them might have to go more than likely chandler because hes proven to be a well enough player to use as a bargaining chip

  • bigknicka

    probably jeffries and q-rich, but this works only if they see monta ellis as their point guard…this also gives golden state an expiring contract in q-rich and a pure defender in jeffries because word on the street is brandon wright aint lookin to good out there, and also jeffries could be used as a defensive mentor to anthony randolph

  • bigknicka

    if worse comes to worse use chandler and maybe get an extra pick form them as well

  • EQ1217

    Knicks had no chance at Mayo unless they packaged both the 5 and 6 pick.

    The only reason the Grizz got Mayo was because they took on Jaric & Buckner’s long contracts which the Knicks were never, ever going to take.

    If we had gotten the fifth pick, we probably would have drafted Gordon or Bayless

    So I think it’s correct to say, Lee cost of us Gordon or Bayless not Mayo

  • Aten

    Yeah, too many small forwards is the problem. Never mind that you’re now assuming LeBron into an already implausibly favorable scenario.

  • edhan

    Why would GS take back Jefferies in a trade? To get the 7, this is what I thought of which might work…thoughts?

    http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine

  • Aten

    Same reason we haven’t been able to use Lee to flip Curry. Money.

  • edhan

    Sorry…links to the draft machine don’t work but this is what I was thinking

    Knicks get:
    Kelenna Azubuike
    Ronny Turiaf
    7th Pick

    GS get:
    Cuttino Mobley

    …GS saves about 6 mili this year and 9 mil next year plus the salary of 7th pick

  • BiggieSmalls

    what we now know is that Lee’s agent is seeking MAX VALUE for his client in teh open market.

    The price Gigovny quoted was 11 million… WAYYY to rich for our blood.

    No idea what happened to Lee’s quotes of wanting to stay in NY for a discount. Seems to have gone out the window

  • Tcarda44

    this is the most ridiculous trade offer ive ever seen i think. They are going to give up 2 valuable rotation players and the 7 pick for an insured contract? yeah ok they save almost 20 mill over a few years, but are the warriors really in this bad of financial shape to give up 2 solid players and a lottery pick for nothing? am i missing something?

  • Mucha

    Yeah you are right but anyways, Love and Gordon were TERRIFIC prospects who’d have gone 2 and 3 in this draft.