Walsh's spin is clear. He wants to re-sign Lee and Robinson if he can get them at "reasonable" contracts. To that end, a source said Robinson would consider signing the Knicks' one-year qualifying offer, believing the economy will be stronger in 2010. That would delight Walsh.

Walsh's priority is protecting the 2010 salary cap to have a chance at LeBron James' free-agent class. That may not be possible with Lee.

Indications are Walsh's threshold for Lee is $7 million per year for six years. Teams under the salary cap have enough room to top that number, including Portland, Memphis, Atlanta, Detroit, Oklahoma City, Sacramento, Toronto and Minnesota.

Walsh thinks the recession may make teams less likely to overspend. And, privately, the Knicks hope franchises are saving for 2010. Walsh said if Lee rejects his initial bid, he will instruct Lee to talk to other teams and sign an offer sheet. Walsh then can either reject or match it or try to induce a sign-and-trade.

"He'll have to prove it," Walsh said, meaning prove he can get a contract larger than the Knicks' offer.

"There's lot of interest in David, obviously," Bartlestein said. "Who wouldn't be interested?"

Lee has motivation to stay in New York. His longtime girlfriend, Sabina, is a model in New York and sources say she fiercely wants him to remain a Knick.

Mike D'Antoni likes Lee's game but doesn't love it, according to sources. Lee's lack of a reliable deep jump shot is the problem.

thank God. He's doing with Nate what I suggested this winter (which was not met with a favorable response here) and is going just over the MLE for Lee... good strategy

Nate would have to agree. Agreeing means forfeiting his Bird rights.

85. When can't a player be traded? Can players be given "no-trade" clauses in their contracts?

Without the player's consent when the player is playing under a one-year contract (excluding any option year) and will have Larry Bird or Early Bird rights at the end of the season. This includes first round draft picks following their fourth (option) season, who accept their team's qualifying offer for their fifth season. When the player consents to such a trade, the team loses its Larry Bird/Early Bird rights, and the player is considered a Non-Bird free agent.

Portland, Memphis, Atlanta, Detroit, Oklahoma City, Sacramento, Toronto and Minnesota

1. You can cross off the Kings, they have a ton of fowards
2. Minnesota-Love/Jefferson Lee doesn't do anything for them
3. Portland-LarMarcus/Joel/Oden they need more help at the 1 and the 3
4. Who plays in Memphis and Toronto you go there to die
5. Atl-Horford/Josh smith they don't have cap room btw, Smith/Crawford/Johnson

Which leaves two teams Detriot and OKC

Dumars has become one of the worst GMs in basketball over the past three years, he can't find a coach, got nothing in return for Billups, reached on Johnson and Kwame, alienated Hamilton and hung onto Wallace for to long and didn't get the value he needed. Lee makes no sense because he is not putting them over the top.

Lee fits in niceley in OKC and they have money to spend and he is the type of player they want, but they are going to have to pay there big three and I don't see them going 8 or 9 million, they could, but money isn't out there to spend. Look at what happened after the Yankees and Mets this year......

What happened to the Yanks this year? I don't follow.

Walsh's priority is protecting the 2010 salary cap to have a chance at LeBron James' free-agent class. That may not be possible with Lee.

Indications are Walsh's threshold for Lee is $7 million per year for six years. Teams under the salary cap have enough room to top that number, including Portland, Memphis, Atlanta, Detroit, Oklahoma City, Sacramento, Toronto and Minnesota.

Walsh thinks the recession may make teams less likely to overspend. And, privately, the Knicks hope franchises are saving for 2010. Walsh said if Lee rejects his initial bid, he will instruct Lee to talk to other teams and sign an offer sheet. Walsh then can either reject or match it or try to induce a sign-and-trade.

"He'll have to prove it," Walsh said, meaning prove he can get a contract larger than the Knicks' offer.

"There's lot of interest in David, obviously," Bartlestein said. "Who wouldn't be interested?"

Lee has motivation to stay in New York. His longtime girlfriend, Sabina, is a model in New York and sources say she fiercely wants him to remain a Knick.

Mike D'Antoni likes Lee's game but doesn't love it, according to sources. Lee's lack of a reliable deep jump shot is the problem.

realistically if Lee rejects the Knicks' offer that will signal the end of his days as a Knick... i think Donnie's gonna talk with any team that gives him an offer to match to get a S&T done, & if he can't then he'll end up losing Lee for nothing... i highly doubt he's gonna match any offer over that $7 mil per figure (which is great value for a player like Lee)

[Edited by - TMS on 06-30-2009 07:44 AM]

I think the strategy is clear. You offer Lee a 6 yr deal starting at about $7.5 million. You tell Lee take it or go find a better offer. I think there is about a 50% chance Lee can't beat it. If he does beat it, you work the phones to see if you can do a sign and trade. Otherwise, you match (if it is less than $10 mill per) and try to trade Lee at the deadline. Ideally, you would like to get a younger prospect and a 1st round draft choice for Lee.

As for Nate, you get on the phone with Sac town, which still needs a pg because Evans is not one, and you see if you can work a sign and trade of Nate and Jeffries for an expiring contract. You then let Toney fill Nate's role. Toney probably cannot match Nate's scoring or athleticism, but he is bigger and will be a more consistent defensive force at the 1 position. Looking at the hightlights, Toney has a solid mid-range game, which is something most guards have to learn after they get to the NBA. Alot of people are saying Toney should have gone higher.

If Walsh can add a younger player, a 1st round pick, and get rid of Jeffries contract, by trading Lee and Nate, then I think you do that and Hope that Hill and Toney are competent replacements. Both at least are better than Lee and Nate defensively. The only question is can they work as well on offense.

i agree w/u on both points Anubis... this is why Donnie missed his chance to get full value for these guys in a trade at last year's deadline... now he's no longer in a position of strength when trying to deal either because teams know the Knicks aren't going to take on any big longterm contracts until 2010... our hands are tied & we could very well end up losing both these guys for nothing in return, which will be a mistake of epic proportions if u ask me.

if milsap gets 10 mil plus a yr, Lee is not settling for 7

Posted by TMS:

Posted by McK1:

if milsap gets 10 mil plus a yr, Lee is not settling for 7

he will if no other team offers him more.

his agent has already stated NY has got a hometown discount for 4 years. time to pay Lee

Home town discount? It's called a rookie contract.

Lee doesn't deserve $10 million a year and I don't care what Milsap gets. At least Milsap plays D and people can have an argument there. Lee's greatest strength is rebounding. He is an average scorer and terrible defender. Not worth $10 million a year. $7 million sounds about right.