Knicks not resigning Lee

[=LarryLegend=]

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/55022/20081023/knicks_wont_give_lee_extension

We need a rebounder.....we all love this cat. no offense besides putbacks.....but he is a top tier rebounder.

 

[Prince_XY]

This guy could be a great power forward for the Kings. A potential double-double ( rebounds and points ) in every game he plays without the need to have the ball much in his hands.

The only problem is he's got no defense which the team also badly needs.

 

[=LarryLegend=]

The only problem is he's got no defense which the team also badly needs.

I agree. but we need rebounds also.

 

[Spike]

I agree. but we need rebounds also.

At this point, I'm content to see what our youth will bring. If we see that Thompson/Greene/Whomever is currently on our roster will not bring the rebounding we need, then I have no problem extending an offer to Lee.

 

[One and Done]

I like David Lee's game, but I don't know if I'd like him on the Kings.

I'd want a better scorer/defender as a starting PF. I see Hawes' upside as 12-16 ppg with 6-8 rpg, if we keep him, the starting PF would have to pick up the slack.

 

[Packt]

The article doesn't say they're not resigning him. It says they're not giving him the extension this year.

 

[FakeInjury]

David LEE for Thompson

 

[kf4l]

David LEE for Thompson

no way i would ever trade Thompson for Lee and especially right now. We don't even know what Thompson can really do yet except for some bright glimpses of his scoring ability and rebounds. I like Thompson. Let the kid play, develop, mature and than see what happens from there.

 

[Spike]

David LEE for Thompson

No way, no how, no chance. Right now, we don't know if Thompson is the cornerstone of this franchise, or at least a valuable contributor to it. To move him now for someone who is over-valued by many on this board would be silly.

Lee is a hustle guy, that's about it. Could we use him? Sure. But not at that price.

 

[Sac.1989]

yep i share those sentiments, id take lee hes a solid contributor and would help us on the glass but no way should we be considering giving up JT

 

[bajaden]

David LEE for Thompson

Terrible, terrible, terrible idea. We know what Lee is and what he's going to be. If you like him and think he contribute on our team ( and I do ), then try to acquire him. But don't give up our future to do it.

By not giving him an extension, there saying their not going to commit to a long term contract. Obviously, their trying to clear cap space for the future. My question is, did they make him a qualifying offer. If not he becomes an unrestricted free agent after this year. The only trade that would work would be trading Douby for him. Their salaries almost match, but I doubt they would do it.

 

[Packt]

Lee is in the same situation as Garcia prior to Geoff extending him.

They just don't want to pay him more than they have to. He'll be restricted next summer.

 

[bajaden]

Lee is in the same situation as Garcia prior to Geoff extending him.

They just don't want to pay him more than they have to. He'll be restricted next summer.

I do beleive that they have to make him a qualifying by june 30th of next summer, or he becomes a unrestricted free agent. I can't see any reason that they wouldn't other than it would put a hold on their cap until resolved.

 

[Bricklayer]

This is considerably surprising news. But I really doubt its because they don't want him. To the contrary he's looking like D'Antoni's new Marion PF. I'm thinking its simple finances. Lee camp maybe anticipating abig year wanted to get paid like he;s alreayd there, New York said let's wait. Prove it first. Reminscient of the Bynum lunacy.

 

[bajaden]

This is considerably surprising news. But I really doubt its because they don't want him. To the contrary he's looking like D'Antoni's new Marion PF. I'm thinking its simple finances. Lee camp maybe anticipating abig year wanted to get paid like he;s alreayd there, New York said let's wait. Prove it first. Reminscient of the Bynum lunacy.

D'Antoni likes to play a certain style of baskeball. Could be he wants to see if Lee can adapt to that style before commiting big money to him. He certainly has value either way. I'm probably just saying the same thing your saying, but in a different way. Anyway I agree with you.

 

[FakeInjury]

I tried to edit and remove that idea, totall oops. It was a split second idea. I then told myself that thompson is thompson, and he is close to the biggest kid out of this draft, and other. And he doesn't look dreadful. But you gotta admitt thompson is our David Lee, and thats one heck of a comparison for a rook. He has some big shoulders and high expectations, this guy is going to be one screwed up individual. The First big man ever drafted by petrie, he would need to be the second coming of baby webber if petrie is going to live up to his name. Huge kid, has anyone seen him snarl yet? its a fair question. Look at his face, he doesn't want it. Greene wants it, its all in the eyes. Thompson(4mil) maybe be getting more minutes, but thats because miller/moore/Hawes= 20 million in cap. He is 4/24 earner of the bigs playing in the rotation. Greene (2mil) is literally competing with Martin/Garcia/Salmons/(26mil). 2/28th pays and plays alot less, because they isn't being paid, and he aint getting no play.

 

[VF21]

The first big man ever drafted by Petrie? Um, you need look no further than last year's pick to refute that comment...

As far as the rest of your post goes, I must be missing something because I certainly can't tell by looking at Jason Thompson that "he doesn't want it" and that Greene does, because "it's all in the eyes."

 

[Arby's Roast Beef]

The irony was that after his second season, when he essentially averaged a double-double off the bench on top of 60% FGs, 80% FTs, Lee was untouchable. And then his numbers dip down only slightly from there, and now he's trade bait? Lee is one of the few players in New York who actually play up to their potential, but may be overachieving quite a bit given that he was a late 1st round draft pick. I think quite a few of us were calling for him last offseason as well, for good reason; as for today, he's still only 26 years old, has remarkable athletic skills for a big man, shoots free throws well, possesses elite level rebounding ability, makes an impact without scoring and is the ultimate glue guy--he really brings many unique things of value to the table that would be a great cog piece for any championship contender. As Brick said, this is more than likely a financial concern between the Knicks and Lee's agent, but it may also be that the Knicks are finally willing to make a daring move in which they are willing to sacrifice a high level talent with high value around the league for key pieces as opposed to inheriting the high value talent in the past that never fit (Q-Rich, Marbury, Francis, Curry, Randolph etc). I like Lee and think that the Knicks may be making a mistake by attempting to blatantly showcase him (it's almost a sin to trade a player with the combination of productivity and potential, unless you get back a top tier player), but apparently it seems that Curry's and Randolph's perceived values/huge salary combination make them virtually untradeable. It could be a change of approach for the Knicks brass which may actually serve them well for the future.

The reason why Lee won't fit the Kings well is because we're simply not contenders where his talents would truly be appreciated, and as others have noted it's not worth trading players of young age, who we've barely seen on the court, for older established players especially if we're a cellar-dwelling team. As much I am skeptical of how Jason Thompson's game (a fact that hasn't changed after watching several preseason games), we simply don't have the team dynamics and mindset to get a cog player who apparently is making huge contract demands.

 

[Packt]

He's not trade bait, not anymore than he ever was. It's easy to discern what's going on here. Lee probably wants more than the mid-level, and the Knicks don't want to pay him more than they have to. They'll wait until next summer and let the market dictate how much he is worth.

Expect them to match any sensible offer he gets.

 

[Prince_XY]

Look at his face, he doesn't want it. Greene wants it, its all in the eyes.

I think Thompson also wants it, but his approach to his pre-season game is different. He tends to abide by the traditional rule of slow and calculated development, which I think the coaching staff should stay away from doing. We need a big player with starter talent at #3 and/or #4 as soon as possible.

You are right that Greene wants it. Actually he so wanted it that he got too eager to show that he's got confidence in his shots in his first pre-season game. Unfortunately, he ended up looking just like the chucker that he is known which really is so bad. Nevertheless, I give Greene credit for showing he's got one of the important qualities of great players - TREMENDOUS CONFIDENCE ON THEMSELVES.

BTW, I also kinda feel Thompson will have the tendency to be passive and finesse - the nicey-nicey white player types who are so afraid to get their opponents get hurt by their defense causing them to be too soft to defend. I hope I am wrong, because we need some real "bad" defensive bigs in our team.