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So when a reporter talks to an agent, it usually means they are getting some 
“scoop,” but more often than not it’s just flat propaganda especially when the talk is free agency.
Mark Bartelstein, the agent of David Lee, has been dropping hints to both 1050 ESPN as well as espn.com about the interest in his client. Big story right? Um, well, let’s call it attempted leverage. Seriously, we’re supposed to take the word of an agent, someone who’s commission is hanging in the balance, seriously as a legitimate source?
Yet, so many legitimate publications, or journalists, refuse to take bloggers’ reports seriously? Sure, we make edit mistakes sometimes and all, but…
Here’s Lee’s agent with espn.com’s Chris Sheridan:
“…Joe Dumars and I had a long talk, and he really liked David a lot. David would have been a major target for them but he said ‘Mark, if the Knicks match, I’ve lost Ben Gordon and everybody else I’m trying to get.’
Wait a minute…you mean target Charlie V? A guy who took slightly less money and plays the same position? You mean to tell me that Lee is worth 3 or 4 million dollars more per year than V, or has Detroit made a sound decision by not offering anything to the Knicks FA at all? Now the quote from Dumars saying that they really wanted David is coming from Lee’s agent? Come on…
I don’t doubt interest, but I’m sure Dumars is sitting back right now, watching fireworks, pleased that he got his work done.
:…So this is a very difficult situation to operate under,” Bartelstein said. “Even Toronto, they would have had to renounce all their players to get David — and then they’re not even sure they could get him…”
Renounce their players? Sure, they just did, but not for Lee- for Hedo.
“…Lee averaged 16.0 points and 11.4 rebounds for New York last season and has been a fan favorite in New York despite the Knicks having had four straight dismal seasons.
And something the Blazers will have to consider: After losing Turkoglu because he preferred the more international flavor of Toronto, do they want to take a similar risk on a player who has been open about his desire to remain in New York long term?..”
Good, sound point.
Finally.
“Our first goal has always been to get a deal done with the Knicks — a fair-market deal based upon who David is in this league among his peers, to get a deal that’s fair,” Bartelstein said before the Turkoglu fiasco unraveled and Portland entered the picture.
In the end,let’s stop all this agent nonsense. Donnie, see what you can get for Lee in a sign and trade and if it’s nothing big, bring him back so we’re all happy. We all want Lee here under the right number, but we’ve heard that before.
It is the same story it’s been since the beginning.I just wished people would stop fooling for leverage and disguising it as scoop.
Lastly, how the heck does this guy spell his name? I’ve seen Marc and Mark and Bartlestein and Bartelstein.
Either way you know who I mean…
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Saw this on ESPN a while ago and found it hilarious. Seems like Lee’s agent is trying to save face since he probably promised Lee a big payday this summer. He’s making excuses for it not happening. All the GM’s know that there’s only two ways to get Lee: Over pay him (anything over 8 mil per) or work a sign and trade with the Knicks which means you’ll have to either give up young talent or take Jared Jeffries or Eddy Curry of our hands. No one seems willing to do that yet, someone probably will.
Lee for Bayless is ideal and Outlaw since his contract is expiring im not sure of the numbers but Donnie has to bring back Bayless.
Honestly I dont see why every one wants Bayless soo much he is like a 6′3 2 guard. But If we can get him off Lee Im OK.
I agree, come on, Bayless is not the future PG. We could have had him last year but we passed on him. And for good reason too. Obviously the Blazers weren’t happy with him.
To me hes a more explosive Gilbert Arenas not so much of a pure point but you put him there and hes one of the best in the league. I think Bayless has alot of potential that he wont live up to in Portland playing with B Roy. We also passed on Anthony Randolph, Eric Gordon, Brook Lopez so that doesn’t mean anything Bayless isnt getting the mins. in Portland he would thrive under Mike D.
And Remember I think Gilbert was drafted by the Warriors and didn’t become Agent Zero until he was traded.
You think Bayless shoots better than Gil? I haven’t seen enough of Jerryd to disagree with you but thats a bold statement because I have seen Gil play.
WOW mistake scratch that comment…its late
Tommy … do you still expect Walsh to try to make a splash in the coming weeks because I know hed like to get a final roster in before the season this time and he still holds so many valuable pieces/contracts in Al Harrington Hughes Mobley and a lot of the other Eastern Conference teams are only getting better… Would hate to see the Knicks give a top 5 pick to the Jazz
BTW …. whens the next live chat?
If I’m Donnie I only trade with Portland for Rudy Fernandez, let the convo begin there….
Point blank period… None of this Bayless Bull, he isnt the type of point we need…
There’s alot of posters here who think they are the point guard scouting geniuses that know something that all of the paid scouts and coaches in the NBA don’t….so far this week people have posted how, Ramone Sessions is gonna be an all-star, CJ Watson is gonna be an all-star, Bayless is gonna be an all star,…blah, blah, blah.
They argue that we should sign these guys since waiting 1 more year for the chance to get a superstar or 2 isn’t a good plan since we can’t be sure a superstar will sign here. So we’re better of taking random “x” poster or bloggers opinion because they seen their dude play on TV and they have a good feeling about him. Some posters even post it in all caps like they are sreaming it cause they are so right and Donnie is stupid for passing on these guys.
Well, I’ll trust in Cap Space, I’ll trust in NYC as the Mecca to lure FA”s, I’ll trust in Vets willing to take less money to play with a likeable coach and superstars who offer a shot at a title. I will balk at the mediocre young players (we already have those), I will balk at players in the decline who are living off their name and just want to get paid (McGrady), I will balk at anyone who is going to eat up cap space and probably be untradeable in a year (Hill, Kidd) due to age and or injuries.
SESSIONS IS GONNA BE AN ALL-STAR LOL
aright bro.
you win. ur the genious. we arent….
sorry for stating our oppinions and having civilized discussions about point gaurds.
ur so dumb. hate people like you.
Wow, that was mature, thank you
Personally I hate terrorists, guys that hit women, people that mistreat kids, but I think it’s great that you reserve your hate for someone who just like you expresses their opinion about sports on a blog…
I shouldn’t even bother but just to respond directly to your post 4lyfe….
1) I don’t claim to be a genius or smarter than anyone (I have my opinions and they can be strong just like anyone else here)
2) Nothing that I posted in that last post was uncivilized
3) Maybe I am dumb but I do try to research my posts before I post them and I do try to point out what is simply my opinion.
4) It doesn’t matter to me what anyone posts except for those who make grandiose claims or post items that should be backed up. If I’m ignorant on something and you have the ability to explain it to me with facts or logical argument then please do so. If I can learn something from other posters than I’m happy. That’s why I’m here to become a more educated fan.
There are 3 ways in the NBA a team can try to improve:
1) Get lucky in the draft during a year that there is a Stud or Studs that have the ability to change a franchise around (Cleveland with Lebron, Miami with Wade, Orlando with Shaq, Spurs with Tim Duncan, even the Knicks with Patrick Ewing)
2) Create enough cap space to to sign or trade for established vets/superstars that can carry a team
3) One GM has a tight friendship with a GM from another team and they basically decide “who cares if I get fired…I’ll give you my best player for nothing” (Kevin Mchale giving Garnett to Danny Ainge, Jerry West giving Pau Gasol to the Lakers)
The last 2 times the Knicks went on a run of consistency and contention they used 2 of these methods.
a) Winning Ewing in the lottery made the team a perennial contender for a decade into the mid 90’s
b) When Ewing was beginning to decline the Knicks made enough cap space in 1996 to sign Allan Houston, Chris Childs and Larry Johnson.
Since then the team has used a 4th plan. The strategy of trading expiring contracts and draft picks for players with longer contracts and health issues, personal baggage, alcoholism, heart problems, weight problems….etc . The team also signed or traded for mediocre players or players past their primes looking to have someone cash their paycheck. This strategy has brought years of losing, produced no all-stars for the team, off court issues, sex scandals and general embarrasment for the franchise.
Well since Donnie doesn’t have any friends as close to him as Mchale or anyone as loyal to the Knicks as West is to the Lakers he has decided to pursue the only strategy he has control over…..Cap Space. I’m not a Donnie fanboy but he did accomplish his goal to date. I am suprised though that so many fans aren’t content with allowing the team to use the cap space to it’s fullest potential and maximum leverage. Everyone has an idea on how the team should re-sign/sign/trade for guys like Nate, Lee, T-Mac, Sessions, CJ Watson, Fernandez, Bayless, Kidd, Marvin Williams, Anthony Randolph, you can keep the list going with random unproven, mediocre, declining, injury risk player out there.
Yes it’s tough to wait, but if the plan Donnie is using worked the last time the team had cap space then why screw that up for the sake of doing something just to do something? New York is the one city players know for sure can make them larger than life, Madison Square Garden is the Mecca of basketball. The 2010 plan is not a risky plan as some have suggested. It is the most sound safe plan anyone has tried in Manhattan since 1996.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion and that one is mine.
WELL SAID. I too believe Donnie has much experience and has the right plan to get the job done. In the next weeks or months, he will move Curry, Jeffries and Robinson for expiring contracts. He will pick up that PG we didn’t have last year. Hopefully Milicic and Hill will work out as the in the paint defenders we did not have last year. Hopefully this team will have a season to work together at getting stops and closing out games. I do not really buy into the need for a veteran like Kidd to provide team leadership. We have had veterans over the past 4 years and it did not result in more wins. A leader will emerge from the players themselves as the team learns to play together. Should be another year of improvement.
I wholeheartedly agree with the Knicks’ plan and also with the points made in your post. But there is 2009, which comes before 2010. There is more to the plan than just hoarding cap space for the 2010 FA class. 2009 is about trying to maintain cap space to bring in two “max” players, but its also about building a championship level roster. To this end, I don’t see a problem with anyone making an argument in favor of bringing in – as an example – a young athletic point guard to split time with Duhon (I favor Felton). Perhaps we can catch lightning in a bottle and have spent the year developing a reliable backup to whomever DW finally brings in to play PG for the Knicks. Plus, it’ll always fun to see young, fresh talent.
One other thing. Too many teams are hoarding cap space for 2010. Many will be disappointed, including the Knicks if James decides to stay in Cleveland. I love NYC and have lived my whole life here. But its not for everyone. Of the handful or so ‘game changing’ 2010 FAs some will sign with a team near there homes, some will sign in Florida or elsewhere to save taxes, one or two will sign to be with a friend, former teammate or a coach they like and some will be traded this year and sign bigger $$$ extensions. I expect that two will want to sign in NYC and play in the Garden for D’Antoni – the question then becomes: Which two? Except for Lebron or Wade the remaining potential FAs will need a very strong supporting cast if the Knicks are to be true title contenders. Also, a strong 2009 roster will be a major enticement to a potential FA, NYC, D’Antoni, or otherwise.
Jingo: I too like Felton. I have suggested trading Eddy Curry for Felton and Mohammed. Mohammed gets 6+M in 2010 while Curry gets 12+M. I would do the because Mohammed would get some minutes at C and PF and Felton would compete with Duhon and probably inherit the starting spot. The talk is that Larry Brown likes Curry and wants to move Okafor to PF. It works for all concerned. I really don’t want Curry on our team as he will be needing minutes to improve his tradeability. Enough work to do without Curry as a distraction. If Curry is moved I hope DW will be able to outbid the competition next year. IF we get a quality player I don’t care how the Dolan’s money is spent. Should be interesting.
Wow if this is true. I’m dying to see Curry off our roster already. If we get rid of him, we’ll have more leverage to get rid of Jeffries too and vice versa.
“2009 is about trying to maintain cap space to bring in two “max” players, but its also about building a championship level roster.”
Jingo I also agree with you. They key to your statement was maintaining cap space while building the roster. Some of the posts seem to be posts of impatience like Jeff Cykiert posted a few days ago. Posts that talk about signing or trading for players in 2009 that I personally believe are overrating those players talents in order to support the fact that they are tired of losing and really don;t want to wait another year. Which I can totally relate to. But I’m greedy I don’t want a good team, after everything Kicks fans have been thorugh they we deserve a championship caliber dynasty type team.
I’m sorry I meant to say “Jeff Cykiert” pointed out a few days ago. He had a similiar opinion and I pretty much agreed with him.
Good point Qaspec. You’re a smart fan. But answer me this – Is Quaspec French for Gas Pack?
Just my opinion.
or is it question and answer specialist?
And thats cool, I have no problem with ribbing and ball busting (men should be able to bust on each other if they post say something crazy) but I promise you would not see me personally disrespect or make personal insults to anyone on this board. I may try to add a little humor to my posts, giving a hard time to something someone posted or “BOB GO” for his creative use of Caps. But I respect his opinions and comments just like I respect everyone else here. We can disagree vehemently on this board but If I see you out I will more than likely shake you hand and offer you a beer. For people that hate and take things so personally I don’t know what to say.
I also know that many of my posts tend to be really long (hence Gas Pack…it was pretty funny) but unfortunately many times I’m up late in the middle of the night and posting helps me pass the time. I also love to write….so if my posts are too long and you don;t like them than please just skip them.
And I’m glad Coocoo is giving me some grief cause I did give him a hard time of his post about Miami trading us Michael Beasley for Wilson Chandler. As crazy as I thought his post was you could still tell it was well thought out and structured.
Donnie has to play had ball here.. Offer Lee 6.5 mil per year or let him play for the Qualifying offer.
No one is making big bucks offers for Lee. despite his agent’s public posturing. The Knicks have to be on board with a sign and trade to one of these 15 over the cap teams thatare beating down Bartlestein’s door for a S&T
Donnie wont throw 8 mil at Lee if he doesnt have to. that is boardering on too much money given some of the deals signed this offseason.
Ariza got the mid level, Artest go tthe md level, Hedo willg et some coin but that’s it. I dont expect milsap to get a big offer from anyone and that is Lee’s greatest competition int he market place.
Playing for the QO gives us room for next year and Lee gets to be UFA in the 2010 market where we will have more flexibility and Lee will be able to sign with us for Bird money.
Good point.