Can Lee Get Max Money? Or Close To It?

Ive said it before, but i rather have lee at 10 mill then bosh or amare at 17 mill. thats just my opinion. if lee is seeking 15 mill, then its a whole other story… (dont get mad at me Has)

Given his constant improvement, Lee is at the top of my list for the Knicks to keep him. Boozer is a good comparison. He left Cleveland in 2004 for the Jazz for 5 years at 8m to 12m. Lee is certainly worth those numbers. Certainly another team is capable of overpaying. With all the Knicks hype and expectations of landing a Lebron or Dewayne or Stoudemire or Bosh, It will not be easy for DW to satisfy the fans and still keep Lee. My hope is that New Orleans decides to blow up its team and trades us Chris Paul, Okafor and Posey for Curry, Jeffries and whoever. Should that happen, we will be over the cap and can pay Lee whatever and maybe make a fair deal to keep Harrington and Duhon. Waiting until July 1st may not be the answer. Your thoughts

Lee is NOT going to be the second option on a championship team..

Paying him “max money” is just insanity..

The cap hold for Lee next year is 12 mil.. if we retain his Bord rights that puts us at 39 mil on a cap of 55 mil (the NBA just came out and said things may not be as dire as previously perceived)

With that cap hold 16 mil AINT getting you a max player..

so lets just move on from Lee.. trade him for something useful and go get Lebron..

If Lee goes U/F/A the Nets will be all out for him

If we get lebron , IF, then i think Lee would be a great piece. i think with lebron you need a pg that can shoot and is not a pure pg (mo williams). but i think gallo gives us something Clev doesnt have. and he could be that number 2 option on offense next year to Lebron.

again, this is a big IF. but if we rid ourselves of Jeffries, and free up some more room, i would rather us sign Lee and Ray Allen to go with Lebron, then just Bosh/Amare/Boozer to go with Lebron. i dont like to speculate, so i dont know why im even saying this. but i think Allen, Lebron, Danilo, and Dave would a pretty good foursome. and it would also fit into wat dantoni is looking for…

this is just my opinion…

I agree he snot worth max money. not at all. but if we move Jeffries then we would have enough to resign him. and i think we will eventually move jeffries..

10 mil is too much. Boozer’s contract sucks. Great comparison.

Let’s also remember, Lee is playing center for _’antoni. I’m not down with keeping Lee at any number if he’ going to continue to be the starting center. Period.

I do not buy that Lee cannot play the power forward spot for this team. I just do not buy it.

As good as David Lee is playing, I agree that he should not get Max money. When I think of Max money I think of top tier players and I really can’t put Lee in that category. I would get Lee a contract between the 8-9 Million area. If they can get Lee the same contract that Paul Milsap has I’d be more than happy with that.

Tell the coach that next time you see him.

I don’t buy that Hill, as the 8th pick in the lottery, can’t get 5-10 mins at least in the 1st half of games either.

I think the major difference is how Boozer gets his points. He’s a post presence and Lee is not. The Knicks don’t have a guy they can dump the ball to and have that person create a shot for himself down low or draw a double team. I know our system doesn’t really utilize many post ups but I’m never in favor of getting “system guys”. If the coach leaves then you have a team that doesn’t fit. You just get players…

Lee is the heart of the Knix and he does too many things well and DW must find a way to keep him and get a real center. LBJ is not stoopid. If he wants to be a Knick he will not come to a barren team. He might be smart enough to sign a short-term modestly priced contract so that the Knix can pay Lee what he’s worth, knowing that he (LBJ) will make mega millions thru endorsements etc. and his next contract. Surely, LBJ wants to be on a team stoked with talent because he has been busting his ass for years now and he wants a ring real bad and he ain’t gonna get one this season.

If LBJ is not coming to the Knix, then Lee should still be signed. He’s better than Boozer, Gay and Milsap. The only PF I’d trade him for is Josh Smith, if that helps the salary cap.

Just opinionating……

LeBron will sign a max deal. There is no way he would go for less so no D Lee can stay with the Knicks. Come on man. LeBron would be much better suited playing in Miami with Wade, in Boston or Orlando if he were not interested in signing a max deal. There is no denying Lee has improved his game. The main problem with Lee is he is not committed to improving defensively. He is consistently man handled in the paint. To say he is better than Boozer who has contributed on winning teams his entire career, college and pro, is a stretch.

Will he get a max deal ? Don’t know

Should he ? No Way at least not from the Knicks

Bosh is out there Amare, Wade, theres no way I give Lee max dollars or close to it. The Goal is to build a championship team with these signings Lee is not a number two on a CT. You can compare Boozer and Lee only in numbers Boozer is dominate in the post a beast.

I agree with the sentiment that Lee is not worth the max money. Its a shame too because I think someone will especially when you consider how many teams are going to be under the cap this offseason hoping to grab one of the big free agents, so there will be a few teams left out and they will have to sign someone and therefore you get the panic signing of Lee to a max contract.

Nova: prove to us that Lee is not committed to improving his D. Have you talked with him and watched him practice? Have you watched him the last 10 games? He focuses on keeping his man in front of him, his feet and eyes are always moving and he boxes out and grabs rebounds. The team practices O and D and he must me committed to improving his D. He is not lazy, he just needs to learn technique and bang some bodies once in a while. He’s improving, but will probably never be a shot blocker. That’s obvious. Lee is better than Boozer, IMO. Boozer surely has some games which are better than Lee, but Boozer seems to never be content where he is. Lee is a better team player to build with now, IMO.

Also, recent reports said that LBJ and Wade would be a terrible combo because they both need the ball too much. I tend to agree.

I think I would resign Lee for anywhere in that 8-10 mill range. Anything more would be too much. On this team, Im not really sure he would need to be the 2nd option if they got Lebron. Hopefully Gallo and Chandler could really step up, and Douglas and Hill turn into solid players and I think that team with Lebron is definitely good enough to be a perrenial playoff contender at the least, and probably could get at least a few shots at winning the championship.

There is no way in this or any other planet that Lee gets max money – from the Knicks or any other team.

The shrinking cap and most teams’ desire to minimize new salaries combined with the expected solid crop of big men available ahead of Lee (Boozer, Bosh, Amare) will relegate Lee to second tier status.

He’ll be lucky (and I’ll be happy for him) if he gets a deal averaging $10M, but I doubt it.

there is alot of players that don’t deserve max money
but they get it.

boozer has a more consistent jumper than lee
thats his only advantage over lee..

i would keep lee at 8 9 10 tops..

an i won’t touch loozer..

Here you go…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z8qoZV3yaE

Btw, I agree with your last sentence. However, you are missing the point. LeBron can go to a team that gives him a better chance to win over the Knicks IF he decided to take less than the max.

Not to tangent too harshly, but adding one (hopefully two) FA in 2010 still leaves us with another big summer when Curry and Jeffries are off our books and Melo comes free.

If we’re “building” for the future, the future doesn’t end next July, right?

Solid comparison to Boozer as they both are PFs (despite Lee’s current assignment), both are FAs this summer and both fit pretty well into our current system (but not ideally…the ideal being Amare).

If NOLA blows up, it ain’t gonna be for our crap bucket of 2011-expiring deals, but rather what can NOLA save on their luxury tax this year and avoid it next year, i.e. Hughes, Harrington, Mobley et al…

Your typing, to God’s ears…

How does the “cap-hold” work? Do teams need to completely renounce FAs before they can sign/trade for other FAs, or can they do it as a way to sign a new player? Is there a deadline to renounce FAs similar to MLB’s arbitration deadline?

Knowledge is power…

I guess we as Knicks fans all owe some gratitude to Boozer. If it wasn’t for his ridiculous need to constantly move from team to team, then he probably wouldn’t have screwed over Lebron and the Cavs like he did. Because of that, the Cavs have yet to win a title and don’t seem like they have much of a chance this year. Making it slightly more likely that Lebron leaves. So thanks Boozer, who even though you are a good player, if anyone is paying you max money to be their number one player then they are not going to be very good.

Ideal framework for Lee, although I think Lee is a bit more valuable overall, but that may be a case of KFB (Knick Fan Bias).

I really want us to keep Lee…

There’s no way either him or boozer get max money.

Lee is dating a hot model, and him and his gal are really good friends with David Wright and his girlfriend. Lee is a little bit cocky (not a bad thing for a professional athlete), maybe somewhat classy, and he loves NY. I really don’t think he wants to just chase the biggest contract. he loves NY

I think he will stay in NY for a discount. The question is how much is that discount, and what are we discounting from? It would be a shame to lose him. He is our best player, and despite the dumb _’Antoni remarks (we are winning because of our team defense), he actually is not as terrible a defender as people make him out to be. he talks more than anyone on defense as of late, and i think the communication is what’s making us play so well on that end.

Oh, and yea if you are still using _’Antoni than you are an irrational hater.

I agree as well. Lee can’t be a four in this system unless he can extend his shooting range out to the arc. Maybe he can, as he didn’t have any jumper when he was drafted, and he has really worked on it. I’d have to see him hit the trey consistently this season before I’d feel he’s worth the money.

Has he ever attempted a three?

I concur on Boozer’s talent upgrade, but I’ll defend the “system guy” approach with exhibits #1 (Curry, Eddy) and #2 (Robinson, Nate). Replacing those two worthless-to-us players with lesser-talented but better-fitting role players would make this team better.

Yeah jeff, I for one don’t understand the Antoni basketbawful thing. He is not a great defensive coach, but he isn’t a bad one either. Those Suns teams had awful defenders other than Bell and Marion, and if I remember correctly the year they should have won the title but got screwed by Robert Horry and David Stern, Dantoni had them at 6th in the league in defensive efficiency. Everyone points to how many points those teams gave up, which is ridiculous and wrong, because obviously when you are shooting in less than 7 seconds that means a lot more shots and possesions for the other team.

But he won’t…

That seems to be the way it is going. At least, with Curry. I can still see a strong play-off team wanting JJ at the deadline to come off the bench and do for them what he does for the Knicks.

He would be great insurance for the final push.

I think the days of panicked GMs splurging on lesser talents are over…for awhile, anyway.

More likely, GMs are panicked that they will be paying luxury taxes their owners can not afford and will low-ball or avoid altogether FAs who may fit, but are asking too much.

Player agents not representing LBJ, Wade or Bosh, will be earning their percentage next summer…

If Boozer or Amare get max money it’ll be a travesty.

If Lee makes the All Star team he deserves to get more money than 10 mill.

I’ll have no problem with Donnie signing him to 11 or 12 mill per.

That’s not a max contract and I guarantee Boozer will ask for and get more than Lee. Walsh should try to sign Lee before Boozer signs so Lee can’t use Boozers contract as an comparison.

Don’t give people to much credit ds.
A lot of people don’t realize that and your absolutely right.

The more possesions in a game…the more chances the other teams have to score the ball.

The system is great and it’ll prove itself AGAIN sooner rather than later.

I posted it earlier, but it bears repeating: max deals will be the exception, not the rule going forward. LBJ, Wade and Bosh each will get the maximum contracts they deserve, but the Boozer’s, Joe Johnson’s and probably, Amare’s will see slightly lower offers.

And then the rest of the next group of FAs, including our very own Lee, Robinson and Harrington, will be left with middle of the road offers (north of the MLE, but well south of max money/years).

Here’s to fiscal conservatism…

Its all about Lebron and who he wants to play with if he wants Nate to come back im all for it. I think LBJ wants Bosh or Wade not David Lee.

I thnk Lee can get $10M from a team but its not going to be NY. If Lee wants to stay in NY Donnie should give him $8M for 6 years and we can get Lebron.

Eddy and Jeffries being here might prevent the knicks from getting Lee. They want a max player with Lebron and unless those 2 come off the books i don’t see how they can keep Lee.

With only $25M knicks go after Lebron and maybe keep Lee or use him in a S&T.

If Eddy and Jeffries get dealt then Lebron & Bosh or Wade or Amare, then there might be some money for Lee.

I know i don’t want David Lee playing center for this team next year.

Yep, Nova, those 2 plays prove he is not committed. (sarcasm) I agree his D has sucked but lately it seems much better, but not good enough still. A FP must play great physical D and he is not close. But you can’t say he is not committed to improving unless you watch his practices and that is what you see.

Yes, LBJ can and probably will go where he has a better shot at a ring. I am not expecting him to be a Knick next year.

I tend to agree. Some teams would take him for $10 but no more, IMO.

He can’t shoot the 3. I think between the 4 and the 5, someone’s got to be able to…not enough spacing otherwise.

The dude is a terrible defender. Why do we need him back for 10-12 million a year?

The Knicks will not be able to resign David Lee. I hate it… but it is what it is.

Right now the Knicks will have enough capspace to offer a max contract plus $8 million. Obviously Lee will be asking for more.

The Knicks should trade D. Lee before the trade deadline. Unless they desperately want to make the playoffs – but we just can’t afford to lose him for nothing.

Mucha, since Lee is already on the team and has bird rights, couldn’t they sign him past their salary cap and go over the limit. Is that just wrong? Im just saying that based on the franchise mode in NBA 2K9, where you could do that with players. I dont actually know.

I think the Knicks would have to sacrifice $10.5 mill to retain his rights.

I’m not 100% sure but I think that’s what the deal is about.

Really Jeff?

Lee proved that he was not willing to stay in NY for a discount. Man he was asking for $12 mill. $12 million Jeff!

Maybe he’ll stay for a discount if the Knicks sign LeBron James but the Knicks don’t have enough money to retain his bird rights and offer LeBron a max contract anyways.

_’antoni’s short rotation makes it impossible to play tough defense. At the end of games players are begging the other player to just take a jumpshot and hope they miss so they can get the rebound (Lee does that even when he isn’t tired).

Why do you think the Bulls were able to come back from 20 down? Or Charlotte’s Felton was able to waltz into the paint so easily last week? Why did they launch 47 threes in a loss to Chicago? Jeffries fouling out of games exhausted from chasing guards around for 40 mins. They were playing 1 guard for the whole game, Douglas was getting 4-6 mins most of that stretch,

You guys kill me. Now I’M irrational?

Before the season started many people here envisioned the Knicks taking a step forward this year and winning 40+ games. Darko was a steal and Toney Douglas was going to be the point guard of the future, that quickly turned to “we just don’t have the horses” “I feel sorry for _’antoni, n one could win with this roster”.

You people were all over Chandler (I mean really) when he was playing badly, even though he was coming back from an injury. Duhon was getting lambasted by everyone (including myself, he hasn’t changed my mind) Hughes was thrown under the bus before the season even started, but now all those guys are great..

Now the Knicks have played well, or their schedule has been favorable, and now “we” may just make the playoffs and _’antoni is a great coach even after he got a little heat from some of the “greatest coach in the world” contingent.

You guys blow with the wind.

I said before the season, even when Hughes was struggling (too put it mildly), that he was their only option at the starting 2 (Nate is better coming off the bench, if he ever does that again). I never got down on Chandler, as much as I wanted to. I figured he was probably struggling to get his explosiveness back. When he was shooting to much from outside, I blamed the coach. When you guys were down on Duhon I said he’s a decent backup. That’s all. He’s playing too many minutes to be consistent on defense and he is made for managing the game/keeping it from getting out of hand. Perfect mentality for a backup.

At least I’m consistent.

Yeah, I’m irrational. The defense being better wouldn’t have anything to with trying not to launch 50 threes a night? Fewer quick shots? Slowing the game down?

“The system is great and it’ll prove itself AGAIN sooner rather than later.”

Oh, you mean by winning countless games and never making it out of the Conference Finals?

HaS, no way that should be used against the system. Is Jerry Sloan’s system flawed? How about Barkley, Malone, Ewing, Van Gundy. All those guys aren’t great and proven? Winning titles is the ultimate goal, but it doesn’t make winning any less impressive. 50+ wins per year, plus beating every team in the playoffs not named the Spurs is pretty impressive to me. They simply got overpowered by a guy named Tim Duncan, along with bad luck(Joe Johnson injury, Stoudemire suspension) and their cheap owners refusal to use draft picks to actually get players that could help, instead selling the rights to picks that could have been Rondo, Fernandez excetera. That doesn’t take anything away from the system IMO.

Sloan has been to the Finals.

Barkley, Malone and Ewing are not coaches, but they all have been to the Finals.

Both Van Gundys have been to the Finals.

_’antoni hasn’t.

et cetera > excetera

Yeah except there is one problem with that. The suns have consistently lost to the spurs, largely considered the best team of the decade or at least close to the Lakers dynasty from earlier with Shaq and Kobe. The spurs were a dynasty, and they were simply put better than the Suns in all ways. Thats not on the coach, that is simply running into a great team. The suns would have been to the finals if not for the bullsh*t Amare suspension, which to this day remains one of the greatest travesties of the NBA playoffs IMO (along with the DWade finals and the Lakers/Kings conference finals where the Lakers got every single call. Can you answer for that? They didn’t lose to everyone, they lost to the Spurs. They consistently beat Kobe and his Lakers.

Oh my bad with the grammar by the way. Thats on me. I don’t know why I used exc for that, just retarded. My bad. Sorry if I come across as combatative too, just enjoy these debates or whatever you could call them.