Knicks not serious about keeping David Lee

Is anyone else interested in David Lee? The thought of pulling off a sign and trade for him (maybe throw NY Tyrus and Tim... Tim for the expiring and Tyrus because they could evaluate him for a year and either sign to a long-term or not pick up his option next year) is really growing on me.

Lee is incredibly efficient, finishes well of pick and rolls with both hands, beast on the glass at both ends, runs the break really well, solid defensively, and is really starting to develop a more all-around offensive game. I think signing him to a 5yr-50m deal could be a smart move because, assuming he continues his offensive development, he could either team with Joakim to be our frontcourt of the future OR we can use him to get Bosh in a trade next year since Toronto will want something of value in return.

over 2 years ago kig 24 comments 0 recs |

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I'd rather have Tyrus.

by smash! on Jul 1, 2009 10:47 AM CDT reply actions

Lee's a better rebounder and plays better on the PnR (better screens, better hands and a better finisher around the rim)

there’s not much reason to like Tyrus, in his current incarnation, over David Lee, except for if you think his defense is THAT much better than Lee’s, which is certainly an arguable point because David Lee has never played defense — though he does hit the defensive glass way harder than Tyrus.

1. Cut a hole in a box
2. Put your Kirk in that box
3. Make some team open that box

by fundamentallysound on Jul 1, 2009 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions

I would not pay Lee 5/$50... no way, not now, not ever.

We have to go big or go home and I’m happy with Tyrus now, hoping he turns into Chris Bosh at some point in 2010. No more long-term deals for mediocre players!

by smash! on Jul 1, 2009 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions

The Bulls can't sign Lee anyway, so the point is moot. However, all things (i.e. contracts) being equal, I'd rather have Lee over Tyrus.

1. Cut a hole in a box
2. Put your Kirk in that box
3. Make some team open that box

by fundamentallysound on Jul 1, 2009 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions

Whether I was the Bulls or anyone else, I still wouldn't :P

by smash! on Jul 1, 2009 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions

haha good point...

It’s all really a pipe dream

by BooRad16 on Jul 1, 2009 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions

they could sign and trade...

Tim Thomas + Linton Johnson for Lee and 2 future 1st rounders.
Damn, Isiah isn’t there anymore.

by kingj41 on Jul 1, 2009 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions

Even if it's 5yr/50mil?

by PricanStar on Jul 1, 2009 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions

um, there's a reason I said "all things (i.e. contracts) being equal"

and yes, I’d rather pay Lee that kind of money than Tyrus. He’s better.

1. Cut a hole in a box
2. Put your Kirk in that box
3. Make some team open that box

by fundamentallysound on Jul 1, 2009 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions

I'd rather have...

65 double doubles

by BooRad16 on Jul 1, 2009 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

On a team that has no one who can score or rebound.

Mediocrity rules.

by smash! on Jul 1, 2009 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions

kinda like..

bosh? and our forwards cant do it on a mediocre team so I would want to take a chance on Lee. Just because he does it on a mediocre team doesn’t mean he won’t do it on a good team.

by BooRad16 on Jul 1, 2009 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions

You start your team with Lee, I'll start mine with Bosh.

I’m sure everyone will agree, that they’re completely equal.

by smash! on Jul 1, 2009 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions

I would much rather have Bosh..

that’s my point…you can’t just discount a player’s productivity because he played on a mediocre-to-bad team. Look at Pau Gasol, just off the top of my head is a great example of someone who always put up great stats for a bad team but that didn’t hinder him from doing the same on championship teams.

by BooRad16 on Jul 1, 2009 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions

You're still trying to compare legitmate stars on mediocre teams to an average player with little upside on a terrible team.

Forget the teams, shit forget it all… all I said was I’d rather have Tyrus:)

by smash! on Jul 1, 2009 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions

fair enough..

I would have been with you up until the end of this year i feel like. I Just feel that the rebounding between him and Noah would be amazing. Not to mention the pick and roll that tyrus doesn’t seem to get yet. All this being said we are going into this year with Tyrus and I am hoping he realizes some more potential and has a MONSTER year.

by BooRad16 on Jul 1, 2009 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions

I wonder what Lee would go for?

I think 5/50 is too much, but I’d offer Tyrus in a sign and trade if it brings Lee in at, say, 6yrs and $45M (That’s a $6M starting salary this year).

Lee would remain tradeable on the contract, constitute a really decent value, and not totally compromise our 2010 dream, I think.

BullsTwo

by Sports2 on Jul 1, 2009 11:46 AM CDT reply actions

Reports are saying NY is going to offer him 4/$32...

link

by smash! on Jul 1, 2009 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions

Meh... he's not horrible at that price, but I wouldn't go out of my way for him either.

I think at $7.7M in 2010, it’d start cutting into our FA space in ways we might not be able to compensate for. At that point an extra $M will start to maybe make a difference

BullsTwo

by Sports2 on Jul 1, 2009 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions

I really wish we could pull a sign and trade...

if thats really all its gonna take to get him. I was never a fan of him until this year when I watched him play a little bit more. I just feel that Tyrus (and our rookies now) are guys that we will have to wait on and hope their potential pans out and I would love a guy who is actually productive right now. I love how he finishes on the pick and roll too could be deadly to combine him and rose together.

by BooRad16 on Jul 1, 2009 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions

Example

Suppose the Bulls
1. Sign Ben for 5/$55M
2. Sign and trade Tyrus for Lee at 6/$45M
3. Manage to unlike and unload Kirk and ensure Salmons doesn’t opt in.

Then by my count they’d be looking at about $17M in cap space next year.
1- Rose
2- Gordon
3- Deng, Johnson
4- Lee, Taj
5- Noah

FAs: Miller, TiT, Asik, maybe Salmons

BullsTwo

by Sports2 on Jul 1, 2009 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions

I think the Knicks think they're getting Amare next year so I don't know what they'd commit to in terms of PF $.

by smash! on Jul 1, 2009 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah I like him

All things considered, he might be as valuable to us as Amare, at a lot less risk, and at a cheaper price. Maybe that seems ridiculous, but comparing them at the same age (25) in the same system (D’Antoni’s)…

.656 TS%, 8.2 ORB%, 21.1 DRB%, 7.5 AST%, 10.3 TOV%, 28.2 USG% for Amare 07-08
.590 TS%, 9.6 ORB%, 27.9 DRB%, 10.1 AST%, 12.0 TOV%, 19.2 USG% for Lee 08-09

Obviously Amare’s the better scorer, but he’s not necessarily better offensively. And we could really use Lee’s defensive rebounding.

by YaoPau on Jul 1, 2009 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions