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.