That may all be true but it doesn't mean we weren't generous. Lee just got 5.4 million dollars that we had no obligation to pay him AND that he could not have gotten anywhere else.

I have no problem with signing Lee and Nate for more than their QO's. It's Dolan's money and the team is over the cap this season no matter what they sign for. It lets players around the league know that the team takes care of it's own and that might help signing future free agents and certainly creates good will with those two players.

Posted by PresIke:

...he's not a house, he's a person, and a player who we may want to keep.

low-balling him entirely because we believe no one else is going to pay him that is not good for the organization's reputation with players, or ability to re-sign him next year if we want, amongst other related reasons...

...giving him a contract that is fair for his value is not a bad thing to do, because at least it allows for the team to move him if possible.

Word.

Now let's watch him step to the court and make his case for a long-term deal, from any team. If he improved his shooting touch and defensive footwork, he could be a much more valuable player. Since he's clearly smart, there's no reason to think he won't address his areas needing improvement, especially defensive intensity and rotations/team-D awareness.

I agree he could be a long-term keeper for us, so I am eager to see what he's got this year. It would suck to lose him for nothing, but I believe in him and so does DW. If Lee steps up, he's going to be a Knick for a long time.

So why would we now pay him less than he's worth? He's getting precisely the right amount for the situation, and his agent is very happy. Hell, we paid so much to get rid of our malcontents, can you imagine if we offered David less than $7mil?

Much respect to Donnie for working this deal, he's doing a bang-up job and I am so excited to see how it all plays out.




[Edited by - Moonangie on 09-24-2009 9:56 PM]

Knicks have a good reputation with players and agents.

Only player they ever screwed over was Marbury. And they were pretty cool about how they went about it. They did not sling poo in the papers to justify their position. IN time Marbury pretty much laid it out for all to see.

Im sure Dlees agent was not happy to not get a long term deal but in the End the team took care of these guys better than anyone else. No body stepped up to them. We might lose them, but thats by choice and both understood this all along.

Posted by knickfan:

Pretty fair deal for both sides. Walsh's sole purpose from here on out till next summer is to shed Curry and JJ's contracts.

If he does one he's really done an impressive job at GM imo. If he does both its better than anything anyone could have asked for.

Posted by Caseloads:

JJ1 should have been gone with Nate Rob last season.

Walsh has always been pretty honest about the inquiries he's gotten. When asked about that he said no way no how did he ever have any discussions with the Kings involving Nate or JJ. I see that trade quoted all the time but dont know why people think it was a done deal that DW just didnt pull the trigger on.

Posted by Caseloads:

Posted by fishmike:

Posted by Caseloads:

JJ1 should have been gone with Nate Rob last season.

Walsh has always been pretty honest about the inquiries he's gotten. When asked about that he said no way no how did he ever have any discussions with the Kings involving Nate or JJ. I see that trade quoted all the time but dont know why people think it was a done deal that DW just didnt pull the trigger on.

our collective mistake then...

...and yet the NBA granted the Kings and Knicks an extension past the 3PM trade deadline last February. So, yes, the trade talks were legit and were close, the question is was it Nate/JJ for Kenny or were one of the team attempting to do more causing the talks to collapse?


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As to David Lee I still see little reason to give him 7M+1M dollars when his only viable option was the QO on the table. Then again I also see no reason for NBA rookie deals to have the QO in the first place. It should just be a regular team or player option. The QO simply screws everything up and causes problems between the team and the player.