This is a pretty awesome story by Harvey Araton that will be featured in tomorrow’s New York Times. Obviously from a basketball perspective, the Knicks did what they had to do.
But every fan respects the effort David Lee brought night in and night out, and more importantly, he embraced what the organization had to offer, which at the time that he arrived in New York was very little.
Good stuff D-Lee, good luck in Oak-Town.
But the final name David Stern announced before ceding the night’s emcee duties to Russ Granik was not Taft, it was Lee: a four-year senior who had averaged a workmanlike 11 and 7 in his time with the Gators and who projected to offer similarly steady but unspectacular production in a bench role for the Knicks. For a team with absolutely nothing to get excited about, this seemed like a classic example of Isiah buying a nice new set of snow tires when he couldn’t afford a car (to say nothing of the fact that, in Kurt Thomas, the Knicks already possessed a set of the same model of snow tires, and a more broken-in set at that). The pick was illogical, miscalculated, and hubristic. And it was just about the only thing Isiah got right in his time at the helm.*
*I’ll spare you the effort of looking it up: Taft eventually went 42nd overall, somewhat coincidentally to the same Golden State Warriors that now employ Lee. He played in 17 games, averaged 3 points and 2 rebounds, underwent back surgery and hasn’t played basketball professionally since 2006. Again, remind me I wanted this guy the next time I criticize a personnel decision. more.
I dismiss Lee’s stats to a fault. I think people who believe that his offense is a fluke are being misguided. Defensively, he was overmatched and underwhelming guarding 4s and 5s. What it always came down to was space and at the 4 position, Lee just didn’t have the mid range game. I think he will in Golden State and have the chance to shoot it a ton. He’ll be effective.
The real point here is the importance of hitting the jackpot late in any draft. It’s not easy. I can name 10 people I know who wanted Taft, the local product from Xaverian. Isiah truly got Lee right, and that could be looked at as an important moment in franchise history if the Knicks can spin Anthony Randolph in a package for a star player of if he becomes one himself
Ironically, I liked Turiaf very much at 30.
Even without knowing all of that backstory, SCHOENE still slightly favors Stoudemire over the next three years. Now, as to whether I’d rather have Stoudemire at $100 million over five years or Lee at $80 million over six years, that’s a different question and one that is much more favorable to Lee. Strictly on performance terms, though, Stoudemire makes the Knicks somewhat better.
It’s hard to compare one for one when you consider roster changes. Amar’e with Felton obviously > Lee with Duhon. Lee with Felton doesn’t have the same impact for me. Amar’e in transition setting screens can turn into dunk after dunk. I think Amar’e at the end of his contract will be fine based on how his mid range game has developed. If he doesn’t get injured, it’s hard to say that Amar’e isn’t worth the contract he signed. At 27 he’s a centerpiece. Amar’e paired with a player like Turiaf makes for a better defensive pairing than Lee and Turiaf because Amar’e can protect the rim.
I can confirm that David Lee has in fact been traded to Golden State. Sounds like it’s Randolph, Turiaf and Azubuike.
There’s been a lot of talk, mostly from fans, surrounding the fact that the Knicks can use David Lee in a sign and trade. There was also recently an article on the subject.
But a source with knowledge of the situation says don’t expect Lee to be involved in any sign and trade deals. Chris Broussard said yesterday on ESPN that the Knicks may explore a deal for Golden State’s Monta Ellis.
“Golden State is not in play at the moment,” the source says. “Right now it’s looking like Chicago or New Jersey, depending what the big 3 do.”
Bottom line is that Lee isn’t doing the Knicks any favors, since apparently he’s not happy with the way he’s been treated by the Knicks this off season and the word that I keep hearing when talking about Lee and the Knicks is that next year they will be “adversaries.”But if the most money comes via sign and trade, I would imagine Lee’s camp would reconsider.
Other teams in play are Denver, .Miami, Boston and Minnesota, but it appears the Nets and Bulls are where Lee is targeting at this point.
Free-agent forward David Lee(notes) is visiting with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, and the Wolves won’t have much time to try to impress him.
Lee has already visited with the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls, and once Chris Bosh(notes), Amar’e Stoudemire(notes) and Carlos Boozer(notes) commit, Lee figures to be the top available power forward on the market.
I’d have to believe that the Nets are still very much in play as well…
“…If the Raptors are just interested in cash, draft picks, or a trade exception, teams with cap space will be their preferred partner. But in a bidding war, even these teams could have to come with the hard assets Colangelo likely covets.
New York may have the edge with the possibility of returning their UFA David Lee by way of a sign-and-trade, and if New York lands Bosh, can James be far behind? Don’t think for minute that this isn’t precisely what Cleveland fears and New York dreams.
Miami may in the toughest spot having little more than Michael Beasley and draft picks to offer. New Jersey is in the similar position of having limited assets to offer in a sign-and-trade deal except for the very enticing third overall pick in this year’s draft!
Chicago has assets Toronto may want, but are they willing to part with them? Easier targets for Chicago may include Joe Johnson and Amare Stoudemire.
The Houston Rockets have some desirable assets and a good package could be put together, but the Lakers just won their second consecutive championship and trading one of their key players seems unlikely.
The possibility of obtaining David Lee has probably set the floor for opening bids; the Raptors will have little incentive to seriously consider offers that are not equal or better. Even if Lee isn’t willing to come to Toronto, the mere possibility gives Colangelo significant leverage during negotiations. Teams hoping to get a deal done with a trade exception are probably going to be lining up third teams to get involved…”
“…A bit more bad news: If the Knicks can’t convince David Lee to return next season, your best supporting castmate will be 6-11 Danilo Gallinari, who shoots threes like Steve Nash – and rebounds like him, too. And the next clutch shot this roster hits will be its first.
If you couldn’t win it all with a sharpshooting point guard (Mo Williams), a Hall of Fame center at the end of his career (Shaq) and a fill-it-up veteran small forward (Antawn Jamison), will this cast of characters serve your Highness any better?..”
Relatively fair, except for the Gallinari rebounds like Steve Nash/clutch shot thing. He had 10 or more rebounds 6 times this season. Not overly impressive, but you don’t get credit for rebounding a made shot. Clearly this piece is a counter to this. I guess in the tabloids there has to be some…wait for it…attempts at “balance.” Sadly, you just wished members of the NY media actually watched the Knicks every night. It’s so transparent those who don’t. I mean his “next clutch shot will be his first” is the writer’s way of saying, “I gotta be honest, I only saw him play, like, twice.”
Via Big C.
Also, check out my boy Matt from Slam’s interview with DLee (via Posting and Toasting)
I’ve been checking out his blog lately and it continues to impress. BT insists that no one knows where they are going as of yet. But here are his 
predictions for the upcoming summer, followed by mine.
“…Since everyone else is secondary, grab a dart, and fire away!
Lebron James: 3 year extension with the Cavs, followed by a similar deal with the Knicks–or Nets
Dwayne Wade: staying put
Chris Bosh: Miami
Amare Stoudamire: Knicks or Nets
Carlos Boozer: Nets (Knicks could be in play as well, depending upon Amare)
Joe Johnson: Knicks (4-year deal, nowhere near max-money)
David Lee: No clue…might very well be among the last FA’s standing. So much depends on what transpires with the elite players, but I think the Knicks and Nets are in play
Dirk Nowitski: Mavs
Rudy Gay: (restricted FA) stays in Memphis but T Wolves will pursue aggressively…”
I don’t see James signing a 3 year deal with the Cavs. If he stays, i hope he stays forever. That said, I think he’ll be in NY and I don’t think it’s a given it’s with either Bosh or Amar’e. But odds are that each of the bigs will join James in NY and Wade in Miami. I keep hearing that Miami is a play for the big 3, but I simply can’t see that happening. (more…)
A few weeks back, David Lee‘s agent Mark Bartlestein was on the radio with Brandon Tierney and he mentioned that D-Lee was working on his three point game and stretching to the perimeter. Why isn’t he working on his defense you ask?
He is.
I recently spoke to a source with knowledge who assured me Lee is working to become a better defender.
“David is continuing to work on improving aspects to his offensive game including extending his range to the perimeter, he’s committed to working hard and focusing on becoming a better defender,” the source said. “He’s a student of the game. He’s working on strength, footwork and paying attention to the playoffs in terms of sound defensive situations.”
Defense, to me, is about team. It’s also about effort and some skill, but as we like to say for the most part defense takes pretty much zero talent. At the NBA level, there is skill and talent. Lee has been pretty poor defensively, but the common denominator is that every team he’s been on has been brutal as well.
Brandon Tierney has done a lot for this blog and while I don’t always agree with him, I think he’s a tremendous sports mind and perfect for the airwaves in NY. He’s that 
good.
He’s started his own blog and it’s a great read. Similar to the thoughts he brings on both SNY and ESPN 1050. He wrote a piece on David Lee.
“…In many ways, David Lee is a victim of terrible timing, and possibly in every way, David Lee picked the worst time to blow up…even if it means getting paid.
You see, the one guy who did everything right from Day 1, might not even have a chance to stay, even if he’s fair to the Knicks and gives them a hometown discount.
How incredibly unfair is that?
How is it that Eddy Curry, a complete zero with no professional pride or instincts, how the heck is he still here, while David Lee, the crowd favorite, an All-Star, gets shoved out the door? After watching a stream of mid level busts and failed draft picks disrespect the orange and blue uniform for nearly a decade, is there no other answer but to let David Lee walk?
My gut?
He’s a goner, and depending upon what happens this summer, it’s probably the right move…”
BT does a great job also treading the fine line yet making a clear point about David’s skin color. He’s obviously much more than just a pretty good white guy. Frankly, I like Lee a lot. No one can tell me he can’t improve defensively based on the points BT made in the post. It has to be under the right circumstances and it can be if James comes to NY and Lee takes less money, the team can bring in a few more key pieces. Lee was not the leader in the locker room this season and it impacted the team in my opinion.
Will he get the chance is the real question.
Lee’s agent Mark Bartlestein did such a putrid job in judging the market last year, he may have lost Lee a ton of credibility in this year’s marketplace. Lee got no offers last year. Zero. I mean, he may have done the worst job by an agent in NBA history.
Why do I think that? Because the entire NBA knew Donnie Walsh wouldn’t match any offers because of 2010 and yet no one put him in the position to make the tough decision regardling Lee. No offer sheets.Why? Because Bartlestein was greedy, and terribly mismanaged negotiations. Yet Lee kept him.
I know David Lee wants to be here and a ton of fans, in an ideal world, would want him too. If his agent is willing to be reasonable, the Knicks may move him up the list in terms of priortities.
I know this. It’s easy to turn your nose up at a player because a team isn’t winning, but if you let Lee’s lack of defense, which can get better, overshadow his obvious offensive talents, you’re making a big mistake. The numbers may be inflated, but when you see him live you know how good he is.
Now, how much is that worth is the ultimate question.
“…This is where I want to be,” Lee told The Post during an appearance at the Empire State Building, where he volunteered his efforts for a non-profit organization. “I enjoy it here. I love the city. I have a lot of friends in the franchise. I do have ties here.
“They say the two hardest things to deal with [in New York] are the media and the fans, but I’ve found that to be the exact opposite. Having a following here is gonna make the Knicks want to sign me more and makes me want to be in New York.”
Coming off his best season and first All-Star appearance, Lee may have priced himself out of town. And if the Knicks sign two maximum salary free agents, as they hope to do, it doesn’t look like Lee will be giving up the green for the blue and orange.
“We’re gonna have to see what happens,” Lee said. “If they get two or three of those guys, there won’t be 50 cents to give to me. Winning is a huge priority. . . . Just finding a situation that fits, a situation that makes sense, quality of life factor, then also the financial side of it because this is a business…”
From what I know Lee is a big community guy and is involved in plenty of non-proft situations like this one. I think if he stays he’d be a tremendous asset to the community, as John Starks and Adam Graves are right now and have been particularly Graves, one of the most generous and beloved athletes this city has ever seen. It comes down to cost and options. Frankly, I think firing his agent would be a good place to start from a business standpoint.
I came across this bit in the Post. According to Marc Berman, sources say that the Hornets are in love with free agent forward, David Lee. As
Berman points out and as we have all discussed extensively, the Knicks can trade for players without having to match salaries because they are under the salary cap. Also as we all have discussed, point guard Chris Paul just so happens to be a player that would be of major interest to the Knicks if he was ever put on the trading block.
I have a couple of things to say here. First of all, while the Hornets might love David Lee, I see the chances of his going there as being slim to none. The Hornets currently have both David West and Emeka Okafor under contract for at least one more season. I highly doubt that they would look to allocate their resources towards adding another PF making 11-12 million per season. It just does not make sense for that team. Of course, one of those two players can be involved in a sign & trade for Lee, but that might be getting a little too far ahead of myself.
As for Chris Paul, many of you know my take on him. If there was a Plan B this summer to LeBron, Chris Paul would be it. Even though this is the summer of LeBron, acquiring Chris Paul would be perhaps the best consolation prize possible. Better than Wade. Better than Bosh. Etc., etc. I think that highly of Chris Paul as a point guard and as a leader. But as I have noted on other occassions, I have to believe that there will a long line that the Knicks would have to wait on before having a chance to even enter the Paul discussions. There would be a huge market for Paul, and to be frank, the Knicks do not have the assets to get him. Unless the Knicks decided to deal away Gallo and Chandler, I think that another franchise would be able to offer a better package. The Nets, Grizzlies, Clippers, Warriors, and Wolves are five off the top of my head that could have interest and could offer better deals than the Knicks. I would not get my hopes up for Paul. I hope that I am wrong and as we all know, sometimes deals go down for business purposes, not necesarily basketball purposes.
Just to add to my Lee discussion above, if the Hornets are truly interested in him, then I would love to go after David West. While Lee is probably a better option at this point, West will be a bit cheaper and can step in and produce at an all-star caliber level. He fell under the radar a bit this year as many thought he underachieved relative to his 2008-2009 season, but this guy can ball. He is a gamer and is a winner. If the Hornets want Lee for the contract he will likely command, then perhaps West would be in play. According to HoopsHype.com, West is under contract for next season at under $9 million, and holds a player option for the following season.
Just a thought…
“…But Walsh acknowledged the $32 million of cap space doesn’t have to be used this summer or for a free agent. Trades can now be easily made without matching salaries. With the Knicks still desperate for a point guard, they figure to talk to New Orleans to see if it is looking for assets for point guard Chris Paul, who will be a free agent in 2012 and may bolt the Big Easy.
According to a source, the Hornets are in love with David Lee, a free agent who is not the Knicks’ first priority…”
“…But to answer your question about Haywood, somebody’s going to pay him, probably with a deal in the $8 million-per-year range, if not more. And it very well could be the Mavericks, although they will have some other options.
You want to dream big? How would David Lee look in a Mavs uniform? He’s unrestricted, and if the Knicks have to renounce his rights to sign LeBron James and/or another max player, Lee would be available. The Mavericks wouldn’t be able to offer as much as other teams, but you never know how creative Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson can get…”
The Hornets are apparently experiencing financial difficulty and the Knicks would have to bring back salary if they consider the Hornets would be open to signing Lee to a contract. It’s a conversation that will be had, I’m sure. As I’ve said numerous times before, the Knicks won’t know about Lebron for some time, probably, so it makes sense to see what the sign and trade market is for Lee first.
Of course, that could change if Lee decides that an offer from the Mavs, should he receive one, or the Nets is too good to wait on.
If the team brings back Okafor, then they won’t bring in Marcus Camby, who should get some attention from the Miami Heat. Again, like I said before, I have zero issue with a Camby, Lee combination as long as Lee is signed for a reasonable number. Camby and Lee combining for max dollars is better than any of the potential power forwards in my opinion to be paired with said star player.
Not sure where that ranks. Again, we’ll see.
