The Portland Situation

by Tommy Dee on August 30th, 2009 at 10:48 am


An earlier report noted that the Blazers were sure that the Knicks would match any offer to Lee, hence why GM Kevin Pritchard decided not to attempt to sign Lee to an offer sheet, yet from what I’m hearing out in P-Town, that wasn’t the case. That said, a source confirms relative interest between both the Knicks and Blazers regarding a David Lee sign and trade.

In the beginning of the summer, the Blazers target was Andre Miller, an upgrade and veteran leader the team desperately lacked at the point guard position. That was  until it appeared that Hedo Turkoglu could be had. My source tells me that the team felt Turkoglu, coming off an impressive playoff, became attractive because of his “perimeter length,” which has become a trend in the NBA these days.

Regarding Lee, the team was and is interested in a sign and trade, but was never interested in an offer sheet because, after Turkoglu headed north to Toronto, the team knew it could get Miller at a reasonable price. In fact, as much as Donnie Walsh is lauded for his patience, the Blazers feel that waiting out Miller was equally savvy business, feel they played their cards right and significantly upgraded at the point.

Which is to say the Blazers were never in a position to offer Lee and if they did, one would really have to wonder if the Knicks would have matched knowing what we know about 2010. 

And yes, Travis Outlaw would certainly be involved in any deal, along with Steve Blake. Like Hahn said, Walsh would be wise to hold out for Rudy Fernandez, who was incensed that the team was courting Turkoglu, but now seems to be okay. Rudy is an absolute fan favorite, and the Blazers are unwilling to move him because of that and especially if they are primed to offer LaMarcus Aldridge a contract extension. But where does Rudy fit? With Miller there now and Brandon Roy there long term, the starting back court seems set. Plus the team has plenty invested in Martell Webster and I’m hearing second-year man Jerryd Bayless “is not available.”

It will be interesting to see what happens as Portland is a fit for a sign and trade, but unless the Blazers are willing to move a 2010 draft pick along with Blake and Outlaw, or include Fernandez, who would thrive under Mike D’Antoni and fit the bill at the two position, a sign and trade involving Lee seems unlikely.
  • parkerstrong

    Where does Lee fit in Portland? Oden/Vanilla Gorilla at center….so Lee backs-up Aldridge for 9 milion a year?

    Miller/Bayless/Blake
    Roy/Rudy
    Webster/Outlaw/Batum
    Aldridge
    Oden/Vanilla Gorilla

    Do they want to pay Lee 9 million to be a back-up? If they give Lee 9 million, how much do they pay Aldridge? I dont see it….it would make sense for Blazers to trade some of the young talent for a star, but Lee isnt that star.

  • KBT1615

    They wanted to pay Milsap that as a back up.

  • KBT1615

    Lee for Rudy straight up…Ill do it.

  • nyknicksfan

    after watching that vid i dont think i would do the trade unless it starts with Rudy he is the perfect player for the system and would def help our team with the 3pt and his ball handling and passing is what the knicks really need. I think i would do rudy and draft pick or Rudy,Travis Outlaw,Steve Blake

  • nyknicksfan

    i wouldn’t i would do rudy and something else (draft pick, Steve Blake,or outlaw

  • nyknicksfan

    i would do this trade in a heart beat http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=lkxbtq (THE BLAZERS WOULD ALSO GET LEE BUT CANT PUT HIM DOWN)

  • Earl The Pearl

    I don’t mean to be a smartypants, but ….. so????? What’s the upshot of all this?

    We don’t need Travis Outlaw who, by the way, I like. We already have Dano and Wilson at the SF position. So, why to we need “TO”?

    I say sign Lee to a one year deal, if not a reasonable mulit-year deal, and go from there. We’ll need rebounding no matter who we target in 2010. And David Lee can certainly do that … and more, IMHO.

  • thebossandbenji76

    If the Knicks ever did get Rudy Fernandez in a sign-n-trade for Lee the guy that would be the most giddy about it is Ricky Rubio because he and Fernandez are best of friends and Rubio would demand a trade to NY on the spot and would not come to the states until he got his wish, ala Eli Manning with the chargers and forcing a trade to the Giants.

  • Magik_Trick

    We should keep David Lee, 1-year deal…
    No matter what his value will decrease dramatically with the additions of Darko, Hill, and the fat guy that we want out of here

    So we could pay him significantly less next season, while hopefully adding a free agent that we desire

    If we could get Fernadez and a 1st rounder, then u make that trade
    But we dont need Outlaw, and i’d rather play Douglas than Blake

  • barnaby8787

    That’s great except it can’t be done b/c their contracts don’t align…it would need to be something like outlaw, rudy, and blake for lee and some d-leaguers probably; which portland will never do. With that said, at this point, I might just do lee for blake and outlaw straight up. Granted, they won’t be here next year most likely, but they will make our team better this year…

  • DinnerDog

    No way Portland does any of those deals. They would never give up Rudy, Outlaw, and Blake for a backup power forward. That would be mighty stupid on their part, and they are not a particularly stupid team. According to Hahn’s article there are two deals being discussed. My guess is that the other deal makes more sense.

    I’ve heard the Bulls mentioned before. That team makes way more sense. They have several big expiring contracts and young bigs like Ty Thomas and Noah. I wrote this in a previous post, but what about D Lee (Signed at 9 per) and Jared Jeffries for Ty Thomas and Brad Miller? Seems reasonable on both sides.

  • JeffFinance123

    I like David Lee, but am I the only one that kinda wants him gone at this point? He has an opportunity to play in New York long term, possibly play with Lebron, live in a city he loves, get a reasonable contract…..but he so is trying to maximize his earning potential, seems he could really care less where he plays…..he’ll play in Guam if it comes up with a few extra bucks.

    That being said, if Portland offers Fernandez, I’d jump at the chance for that. He’s getting paid nothing next few years. No fernandez, no deal……..

    Sign him to one year deal and use him as trade bait if can’t get Rudy.

  • Magik_Trick

    I dont think its Lee as much as it his agent, and maybe even Donnie

  • J-Knick

    Given their bench I dont understand why R Fernandez would be available while Bayless is not. With Andre Miller running the show for the next three years and Blake as a solid back-up, why do they want to keep Bayless ?

    Either way, any deal built on Bayless or Fernandez + Outlaw or Blake for Lee is a no-brainer. Getting expring and cheap talent for Lee is exactly what we need.

  • BiggieSmalls

    Lee’s agent represents his desires.

    Bartelstein isnt some Svengali hypnotist and Lee has a mind of his own.

    Dont cop out by blaming the agent who LEE hired.

  • Bart

    We obviously don’t need Outlaw and Blake acquiring them would be only for contract reasons even then i think it would be a lot for Lee, I would offer:

    David Lee

    for

    Rudy Fernandez

    and

    Joel Pryzbilla

    That gives Lee a 8 mil deal more than what he will make if NY gives him a 1yr deal and it would increase annually. Joel at this point still a good player but hes long in the tooth and i can’t really see Portland hold up the deal for Joel, I think deal would make the most sense.

    I wonder if Donnie would trade Wilson straight up for Rudy.

  • thebossandbenji76

    The Bulls would never give up Noah for Lee, but that trade of Miller and Thomas for Lee and Jefferies I would do, I would question if the Bulls would though. Whatever way we can get Jefferies and curry’s contracts outta here no matter what the cost i am all for. I agree the bulls and blazers are the 2 teams in on Lee, not the Jazz, why would the jazz want to make us better when they have our pick for next year?

  • Jeff Cykiert

    I don’t know if wilson for rudy would happen. We look at him as one of the up-and-coming pieces to our future, as a primary young stud at the moment, and any trade involving him would have to be some sort of blockbuster either bringing in a star or getting rid of curry. I doubt they are willing to just trade away chandler for another young piece of the future. They have put their faith in him at this point.

  • Bart

    Knicks Top 10 Plays NBA 2008-2009 Season

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRh2MyzmQ2Q

    It’s the Gallinari Chandler show.

  • Chris Alvino

    No thanks on Joel Pryzbilla. We do not need another center on this team if we are trying to play Curry. Perhaps before the Darko trade that would have made more sense though.

  • KBT1615

    Because they are over the luxury cap and Boozer wants out.

  • DinnerDog

    Rudy Fernandez is a better player than Wilson Chandler. Now and definitely for the future. Also young, also really athletic, and a way way smarter player. Perfect for D’Antoni. The next Ginobli.

    However, there is no way we get him. Blazers aren’t giving him up. I actually think Bayless would be a good fit too.

  • KBT1615

    Yea but Chandler is more versatile, plays WAY better D and Rebounds better.

  • DinnerDog

    I think Chandler will end up being a Trevor Ariza type. Perfect 5th man for a really good team. I think Fernandez could be a top 3. Our team doesn’t have anyone save for Gallo who has top 3 on championship team potential.

  • Rene

    I would love to keep Lee at 7 per if that cannot be done I would love to get talented young players because their contracts are low which helps our plan.Fernandez is loved in Portland and Lee is loved here so while the trade would be hard on them it will hard on us too,I think he fits our plan the best and his salary is a perfect fit.Rudy would make losing Lee less of a sting because if we do get Rubio it would be a percect match ,Rudy is very fast and runs like a deer which translate well in this system.I would love Baylees but only as an add on with maybe N8 going back,a N8 and Lee for Rudy and Bayless might be a perfect fit for all parties,I’m saying this with those two being my favorite Knicks this is hard for me.I would love to keep both but if I can’t Bayless and Rudy would be perfect because the salaries and talent fit our plan to a tee.I would throw in millions and Mobleys contract to pull that off the exchange would be cap wise a steal.

  • Its The Kid

    I agree… And why is it, when we talk about adding somebody do people feel the need to mention Chandler like there is any reason to make a comparison… Chandler is a natural 3 who can play the 4 or the 2 in a pinch… But Rudy is a 2 so they wouldnt even step on each others toes… Furthermore Chandler had a very good year last year… For anyone to say they know what his ceiling is already is insanity… The dude put up better offensive numbers than Trevor Ariva already and Ariza has been in the league for 5years… Wilson is in his second year and has enough talent to be as good as he wants to be… And his work ethic is said to be stellar…

  • dino2008

    I agree Its the Kid… the skys the limit for Wilson Chandler.

  • DinnerDog

    Someone put it out there and made the comparison between the two players so its worth discussing. I can see your point about underselling Chandler, and the grass always being greener on the other side. I just personally think Fernandez is going to be star.

    Also, I really like Chandler but both him and Gallo are SF/PF and the knicks are pursuing the ultimate SF/PF in Lebron.

  • thebossandbenji76

    LOL, I hate to tell ya, the Utah jazz are not trading Boozer to the Knicks when the jazz have our upcoming first round pick which is not lottery protected. There not going to take a chance of making the Knicks better. If they didn’t have our 1st round pick this year, we may have had boozer already for Lee and Mobley’s contract. Boozer has a better chance of getting dealt to the Heat or Cavs.

  • paulempson

    S&T Lee , Duhon ( or Nate ) and cash

    for

    Fernandez,Outlaw & Blake