“…If statistics work out, they get the No. 1 pick,” Lee said, “They have a great center in Lopez, an All-Star point guard, Devin Harris, great athleticism with wings Chris Douglas-Roberts and Terrence Williams. They could have a big turnaround year next year if they get a good free agent and the No. 1 draft pick. It’s going to be interesting which direction they go.”
That direction could lead to Lee as one of the second-tier types the Nets could target with their $23.3 million cap space. Another is Gay who, like Lee, should do very well after the top shelf empties of the LeBron James, Dwyane Wade types.
The Nets see Gay tonight when they start a four-game road trip in Memphis, a trip where they will be without Yi Jianlian. He stayed behind with a sprained left ankle suffered in Saturday’s 113-93 rout of the Knicks.
As a restricted free agent, Lee signed a $7 million one-year deal last summer with the Knicks. The Nets currently start Yi at power forward. While he gets rebound numbers (7.0), he’s not the walking double-double Lee is and lacks his toughness.
“It would be great,” Lopez said of possibly teaming with Lee, “a guy who loves to crash the offensive glass for so many extra possessions. Then with Yi, if you had the three of us playing together, it would be a great situation…”
You’ve read in this space how the Nets feel about Lee. They are huge fans and by “they” i mean the current regime. Heard that months ago. Does that change when Prokhorov takes over? We’ll see.
I don’t see a Lee/Lopez frountcourt working too well hey but I could be wrong.
Biggie’s reaction will be priceless.
ha ha .. i put it on the other thread…and emailed Mr Dee personally..
I love that Lee is positioning himself to leave the Garden.. Love it!!
All those who bought into the Lee will stay here for a big discount need to rethink.. and readjust.. cause he is good as gone.
you could tell after the press called Mr Double Double out on 63 points in the paint the other night that his Days in the Garden are numbered.
Lee is a loser and a fraud and NJ deserves him. If one thing comes out of this collapse it is the unmasking of the stat padding fraud that is Lee.
good riddance.
It’s too bad we are probably going to lose Lee without any compensation.
Donnie really dropped the ball on this one
EQ unfortunately Dee Walsh has dropped many balls in this Knick fiasco!!!
If the Nets are smart they will spend some of their money on Boozer or Joe Johnson. Neither or true Max players but both are solid vets that could help that Nets team at least make the playoffs.
Bosh would be the best fit but no way I see him going to NJ.
Lee never said he would give us the hometown discount. If his girl wasn’t here, he probably would have approved a trade already. He is not a stupid kid, and he knows his limitations. He is not going to be a master one-on-one defender because it would lower his rebound and scoring numbers and make him… average. Rodman was a decent scorer early in his career and was considered average. Then he began focusing on rebounds and defense, and became exceptional. He just had to play on teams with proven scorers. Lee has picked his style, and now he needs to play on a team with a proven low post defender. It may sound like b*tch*n’, but Lee is tired of being asked to be something he’s not. He can play team defense every night, but not lockdown D. He will never be Tim Duncan, and we won’t allow him to not be, so he is out of here. I like him, and I’ll miss him. I wish he would have had a chance to play pf here, but we’ll see how good his is or isn’t next year where ever he goes.
Good post. I agree completely. Don’t understand why some fans are never happy with what they have and are always wanting their players to be somebody else. Lee is good at what he does. That should be enough. To many holes in the Knicks lineup to try to find a defender to compliment Lee.
You never really know what you have until they are gone. It could be that we wonder why he was ever popular here or we could ponder the days of watching him put up his double double.
I know he won’t be a Knick next season, I just hope we don’t say, “I wish we still had DLee here.”
I’m happy with D Lee and I give him credit when he deserves it.
But he’ll command more than $10 million and I don’t think a player who doesn’t play defense is worth more 10 mill! If he was still in his rookie contract, or if he was actually willing to play a LITTLE BIT of defense I wouldn’t be complaining.
Biggie, I’m not to clear on this, but has DW lost any chances of using Lee in a S&T or just to get picks, or anything? My details are a bit hazy.
he could retain Lee’s rights and try to work a sign and trade with whatever team lee chooses..
But Lee is UFA.. we have no real leverage with him unless we want to throw money at him hand over fist.
with Bird rights we can offer larger raises and an extra year BUT we have to take that back in salary assuming the team is at or over the cap..
A team like NJ can do a sign and trade and send us back a trade exception.. because they have the space.
They would do that if there was some kind of bidding war for Lee and the only way to get him was offer the 6th year and extra raises (10 vs 8%) ..
i would think DW would initially retain lee’s rights and see what happens with other teams.. He can always renounce.. but cant “UN renounce” under most circumstances.
its a long shot.. and the acquiring team doesnt have to play ball.. Think Rashard Lewis or Peja Stojakovic
If we get Lebron and Lee rather go to NJ then that’s his problem. David Lee is a bad guy now because he’s playing the free agent game like every player in the NBA does? LOL gotta love knick fans.
David Lee in 5 years has improved year after year but the media get at him because he isn’t charles oakley? It’s the dumbest thing ever. The guy shouldn’t be a center in this league. Lets put Gallo at PG and see how great he looks there. He’d get burned every single night.
Five Years on this team and he’s never been the starting PF on this team. He’s either been the backup or the starting center. How anyone can say he’d suck at PF even with a center is talking out of their ass because its never happened here.
NJ will probably offer him $12M or more but NY has one advantage and that’s the 6th year. I don’t pay more then $10M a year for Lee and that’s his max. I really would rather go $8.5M or 9M. Put a center next to him and see what he can do at PF for once.
Excellent post dogmanx23
I don’t even criticize David Lee but many fans believed that “The new Dave DeBusschere” bleeded blue and orange. The idea that David Lee is willing to stay here for a discount is ridiculously naive.
Lee did everything to be popular amongst Knicks fans to put pressure on Donnie Walsh. I still can’t believe the fact that he compared himself to Willis Reed because he was playing with a sore knee. He said he wanted to stay with the Knicks but he priced himself out of the free-agent market and out of Donnie Walsh’s plan. The fact that he complained about the Donnie Walsh’s lack of interest was scandalous in my opinion.
Considering that Donnie Walsh gift-wrapped his $7 million contract, David Lee better be willing to stay here for a discount. I hope the Knicks will find a way to sign-and-trade him though anyways, so whatever.
Lee isn’t a PF on this system, his range doesn’t allow him to be one. Three years agoo, yeah he could’ve been used, but then we got an innovator for a coach who didn’t see Lee as a 4. Hey, it ain’t my call. Just saying, is all.
Harris’ contract isn’t that awful, and we really need a PG, desperately.
I’m not sure if DW can use in any way Lee later on for a S&T
I don’t think Lee is the type of player/person to take a discount. BUT… is there any chance he and Walsh made an under-the-table agreement last summer when he gave Lee a large QO?
Well, if he is about the $, a sign and trade to NJ is still his best option.
If the Nets get Wall, for example given their number of lottery balls, how will that sit with Harris? I’d personally be happy to see Harris in a Knick uniform (If Harris’ contract is not a killer. Inform me on that guys). I’ve been a C Lee fan, and the Knick’s need a real two.
Of course, I can imagine Lopez’s reaction if D Lee gives him the “death stare” for pulling down an uncontested rebound that Lee believes is his and his right alone. As has been said, playing next to Lopez, D Lee could become very average.
Just my perceptions, of course.
I’d love to have Harris. His contract is not a killer– he’ll make 9 mil next season.
And whether you want Lee here or not, you gotta agree that the worst thing is to let him go without getting anything. I hope the Nets land Wall and they trade us Harris for Lee, but it can’t be that simple…
For about at least a year now, I’ve been saying David Lee is going to the Nets. And I believe it more now than ever.
They need a PF, Lee gets paid, gets to stay in NY area, Thorn type guy….too perfect in many ways.
Nice knowing you David.
This knick fans’ nihilist view:
Who cares. We can trade/cut the entire team and the coaching staff too at this point…no one is THAT good or worth MAX dollars. I have supported D’antoni but he is getting nothing from the lame group. He may be a great NBA coach but he hasn’t done a thing in the last 2 years to even suggest that IMO. This last couple of months are no different than last years swoon. No progress anywhere. Save D Lee’s jumpshot. I am huge fan but watching for the last decade has taken it’s toll…the constant rguing over Nate/Lee/Marbury/insert name here…the results are the same…Knicks=bottom feeders of the NBA.
Blow it all up…hopefully in the off-season we CLEAN HOUSE and start over.
LOL… if you check out the number of players under contract, Donnie already blew it up. The pieces are gonna land somewhere, but they won’t be here. What we’re witnessing for the rest of the season is the nuclear fallout.
We should just trade Gallo, Chandler and Curry and have enough money to sign three max free agents.
Imagine the possibilities.
LOL. 3 max guys and 9 D-leagers. It’ll be like the Sandlot, except with 3 Rodriguez’.
Yeah and if nobody wants to play in NY we’ll have 0 young players and 0 draft picks to build around.
Thanks but no thanks.
That’s why it’s all or nothing during this summer.
Where Lee ends up will depend in everyway on how players like Boozer will be looking for. We don’t even know what Jermaine O’neal will be looking for. Lee will hope to be around Boozer’s league, but in the end I think team’s will be willing to overpay for Boozer, not Lee.
This is also another reason why I don’t like when people use the word “rebuilding” to what DW is doing, he basically cleared cap any way he could to get a shot a at the best of what’s around to hope for Boston style 180° turn around. If that doesn’t work, this team will be overpaying pretty much any 2nd tier players to become a perennial 6th or 7th seed.
If even that works.
I’d hate to become this year’s Pistons.
David Lee is a Nice player with Limitations…he plays hard. He’s NOT a FRAUD…he just IS what he IS!
He reminds me of Steve Nix from the 9 win Philadelphia team(a thousand years ago!). Nice Player…not a true star.
Lee can be a Starter or a Top Rotation Guy on a Top Team…not a lead dog
Lol maybe if this was Netball and he only had to play one side of the court.
Maybe, maybe not. But he’s an all-star regardless what anyone says. Therefore it’s not far-fetched to believe he can be a starter on a top team.
Not at center and if he plays the 4, he will have to play against faster or quicker players. Lee will have to play better defense for a top team because it won’t be top otherwise.
You can’t have your center fouling out trying to stop Lee’s man all game!
I think with good all-around TEAM defense, Lee’s defense won’t be exposed that much.
And yes, Lee is NOT a center.
It would be hilarious if David lands with the Nets and then they get a defensive minded coach like JVG or Avery Johnson.
LOL Lee will be riding the bench withing a minute of the game starting.
Yep, Lee is correct on the Nets plight however, Thorn is not gonna overpay for Lee unless he see’s it a aa great marketing ploy to attract NYers or fans to Newark the next 2 years.
But if the Nets get a real star and a good draft selection, having is less about b-ball!
Some keep talking about us getting 2 max players but we have to get a whole TEAM starting from the coach on down!……..Maybe GM too!
Lee is right. The nets will be much better next year with or without him. Unfortunately I couldn’t care less..
But to those of you who consistently bash Lee as soft and inflating his stats I have to say this: We better get a real good PF instead or we will look like morons. Bosh, Boozer, Stoudemire (yes, in that order in my book) are pretty much it. Don’t see Dirk going anywhere. Lee is the next in line and we will miss him if we don’t get one of the above mentioned guys..
did lee come out and say “I wanna play for the nets”?
or was that hypothesized because he flattered them?
If the nets sign Boozer and Gay, right there they would have
a hell of a team.
Sorry to go off topic guys but the game on sat did anyone noticed how gallo was aggressive and calling for the ball down low in the first 3 quarters? Then in the fourth he sat at the three point line? He was scoring at will when posting up and being aggressive. Why did he stop in the fourth? Tired? Coach told him to stop? Lee isn’t gonna give a discount I hope if he leaves we can sign and trade him I would take harris and C lee or CDR I wanted to buy a second and draft that kid. I would take lee back but at 8 or 9 mil max he won’t take that so I’ll let him go but we have to get something back in return
Everyone keeps saying Lee won’t be here next year, but I have yet to hear someone report that the knicks are looking for other options. Last I heard D’Antoni and Walsh liked Lee, and I think they would be bringing in Camby to play the 5 with Lee at the 4.
It gets annoying seeing everyone bash Lee constantly for his D regardless of what his offensive numbers are, I mean people say he just pads his stats with boards, but if he doesn’t get them, who will, Harrington?
I think if Lee was paired next year in a front court with Camby and Gallo(who btw is becoming a pretty darn good defender) nobody would point out his flaws because he would just need to hold his own. I keep seeing people say Lebron/Bosh or Lebron/whoever, but I think it makes more sense to do what I believe Isola said in his article a couple days back, go big for Lebron, and get 2 or 3 good not great players around him in FA. Hopefully Sign Lebron, Sign Camby, Re-Sign Lee, and figure out what your doing at PG, if Mcgrady is serious about taking the veteran minimum you go for him, I’ve heard rumors from SI writer Chris Mannix that if Amare leaves phoenix(which it looks like he will) Nash might want out/become available, and then you can offer Chandler and an expiring like Curry.
Nash/Mcgrady
Lebron
Gallo
Lee
Camby
That is pretty good both offensively and defensively…assuming gallo keeps developing that could be the best starting lineup in the east…
I don’t really know honestly. I would think Lee’s defensive deficiencies would be relatively covered up with a real center behind him to block shots….but he can kiss those 22-15-8 games goodbye for the rest of his career haha. As I have said many times, although I have come to kind of hate him because of his lack of defensive effort..I would be fine if he came back here as our 4 for 7 million a year or so. Anything else would be really overpaying him in my opinion. However, that would push Gallo back to the sf position. I wonder if Dantoni and DW have any read as to what position Gallo would be best suited for down the line..it doesn’t seem like they would because they seem to forget they even have him for long stretches of games.
The thing that makes Lee valuable though isn’t the 20 points, it’s the high shooting %- he doesn’t take many shots to get that 20. Plus he can pass.
Now that’s a point that I definitely agree with. David Lee is a GREAT player offensively because he’s unselfish, he’s a good passer (conceited at times though), he’s extremely effective around the basket and he doesn’t to need many touches to be effective.
David Lee at 18ppg, 10 rpg + acceptable defense = ABSOLUTE keeper. Unfortunately he’s not willing to play D.
I think it’s the coach more not requiring D than anything, and of course having Buckets playing ‘power’ forward.
Watching videos of his style back in Europe, Gallo would be best as a SF. His game was about quickness and movement. He’d have to gain weight to play PF, and he already looks a little clumsy going to the basket sometimes. As for Lee, even if his numbers went to 18 -8-4, there are teams that would pay 10 mil for that if they thought they could get it every night. But they’ll be paying for potential, and he’s shown he can get close to a triple double on any given night. By the time he finishes auditioning during the World Games practices, he will get somebody to pay him.
The fact that Gallinari gained weight is a strong indication that he’ll be Mike D’Antoni’s power forward in the future in my opinion. I think he’d be a better player at the 3 spot in a lighter body – but maybe the organization knows that he did lose a lot of quickness with the back surgery.
Gallo is not atheletic enough to cionsistently play SF in the NBA, period…. His best bet will be at PF but he has to get stonger and learn post up moves … because he’ll never be able to jump. He was pathetic the last 2 games when he tried to get his shot off under the basket or tried to rebound in traffic. His body just does not have it … and may never have it …
I agree with you…I think David Lee playing with a guy like Brook Lopez would totally cover up any defensive deficiencies he has. Having a defensive center covers alot of guys that can’t play defense! Lee will probably go back to the numbers or a little bit better than what he had when Isiah Thomas was running the show in NY….I think he was like 10points 9 rebounds.
I don’t know if the Knicks will re-sign Lee, especially if him and his agent command a large salary. I’m sure some team that want’s a top free agent and that doesn’t get that free agent will over-pay a guy like David Lee.
Funny, alot of people on this site get annoyed by Lee’s lack of defense…but the thing that bothers me the most about him is how he complains to the ref’s so much. Granted that leads to not getting back on defense. =)
BIG : Can the Knicks renounce David Lee’s rights, sign two max FA’s (and fill the roster with minimum contracts) and then sign-and-trade David Lee for – say – a Devin Harris or Monta Ellis?
I really DON’T think it is possible but your confirmation would be appreciated.
No once they renounce him that includes his “bird rights”, so after they sign 2 max free agents (not going to happen) they won’t have enough money to offer Lee in a sign and trade to make it “worth his while”.
Maybe Big could explain with more clarity though.
You got it right
the only way to unrenounce is if the player you attempt to sign doesn’t
so if we renounce and offer lebron and bosh and they go elsewhere we cam unrenounce
Lemme maKe it more complicated .. You can’t un renounce if you are still under the cap including the attempted UFA signing..
So I we are 31 under and lebron says no to 16 then er can’t unrenounce
Just don’t even considr the unrenounce .. It’s not really in play.. Maybe 1 in 50 chance
Alright thank you.
“he’s not the walking double-double Lee is and lacks his toughness.”
HA!! Are they in for a surprise!