He was extremely overrated because he was by far the most likable player in those putrid knick teams in the mid to late 2000’s

No D-Lee. This Bud's for you, oh Mr. "run out of posterization camera frame move" guy!!!

Best memory I have of him as a Knick is him sitting on the bench making fun of Bargs(?) and that stupid hesitation move he had.
Who honestly GAF what he did with GS?

Next up, how really, truly good was Nazr Mohammed? And what's his net worth and how hot is his wife?

David Lee was a solid scorer/rebounder/playmaker - overall a really good all player. While his defense was suspect - lot of players of that era were not so good at it. Centers at the time were a premium.

If we could rewind this - the Knicks probably would have been better off giving their money to Lee than Amare. Both had their share of injury issues in the end, but if the Knicks were going to build the same case around them - getting Carmelo, Chandler, Jeffries... Lee would have been a better match alongside them than Amare - especially an Amare with no explosion. He would have gotten the defensive help around and could have complemented Carmelo with his better playmaking and no-nonsense approach.

In the annals of NBA history, I'd put David Lee, impactwise, along the lines of Carlos Boozer or Lamar Odom - very good player, borderline all-star, really solid NBA starter. Not as good overall as Amare (the Amare/Nash pairing was unbelievable) - his best years were when Steph Curry (and the GSW crew) were really young, and injuries had hobbled him to a reserve role. But, he did indeed play a solid role in the run that led that Warriors team to their 1st championship.

technomaster wrote:Well, in retrospect (and literally, within a year of letting him go and getting Amare) it was already looking like this was a lateral move at best.

David Lee was a solid scorer/rebounder/playmaker - overall a really good all player. While his defense was suspect - lot of players of that era were not so good at it. Centers at the time were a premium.

If we could rewind this - the Knicks probably would have been better off giving their money to Lee than Amare. Both had their share of injury issues in the end, but if the Knicks were going to build the same case around them - getting Carmelo, Chandler, Jeffries... Lee would have been a better match alongside them than Amare - especially an Amare with no explosion. He would have gotten the defensive help around and could have complemented Carmelo with his better playmaking and no-nonsense approach.

In the annals of NBA history, I'd put David Lee, impactwise, along the lines of Carlos Boozer or Lamar Odom - very good player, borderline all-star, really solid NBA starter. Not as good overall as Amare (the Amare/Nash pairing was unbelievable) - his best years were when Steph Curry (and the GSW crew) were really young, and injuries had hobbled him to a reserve role. But, he did indeed play a solid role in the run that led that Warriors team to their 1st championship.

Good take. AMare had the “it” factor that Dolan craved. Time line was Amare was here before Melo and perhaps melo don’t come without Amare?

I believe the Knicks owner Dolan was Pissed at the Knicks general-manager for trading David Lee to the Warriors, because the week after the trade, owner Dolan called his ex-GM Isiah Thomas for advice.

Nalod wrote:

technomaster wrote:Well, in retrospect (and literally, within a year of letting him go and getting Amare) it was already looking like this was a lateral move at best.

David Lee was a solid scorer/rebounder/playmaker - overall a really good all player. While his defense was suspect - lot of players of that era were not so good at it. Centers at the time were a premium.

If we could rewind this - the Knicks probably would have been better off giving their money to Lee than Amare. Both had their share of injury issues in the end, but if the Knicks were going to build the same case around them - getting Carmelo, Chandler, Jeffries... Lee would have been a better match alongside them than Amare - especially an Amare with no explosion. He would have gotten the defensive help around and could have complemented Carmelo with his better playmaking and no-nonsense approach.

In the annals of NBA history, I'd put David Lee, impactwise, along the lines of Carlos Boozer or Lamar Odom - very good player, borderline all-star, really solid NBA starter. Not as good overall as Amare (the Amare/Nash pairing was unbelievable) - his best years were when Steph Curry (and the GSW crew) were really young, and injuries had hobbled him to a reserve role. But, he did indeed play a solid role in the run that led that Warriors team to their 1st championship.

Good take. AMare had the “it” factor that Dolan craved. Time line was Amare was here before Melo and perhaps melo don’t come without Amare?

No way we ever get Melo without Amare. And then you don’t get Chandler and Kidd without Melo

Philc1 wrote:

Nalod wrote:

Philc1 wrote:David Lee was trash. Too slow to defend anyone. Couldn’t protect the rim Ok rebounder

He was extremely overrated because he was by far the most likable player in those putrid knick teams in the mid to late 2000’s

Right. 2x allstar on two different teams and 3rd team all NBA. Look up the monsters he as playing center agains in that era.
Who said at 6-9 he should be a rim defender. He was a 4 playing at times at the 5.

He made the all star team because he was a popular knick. There’s a reason why he got buried on the bench in Golden State

And he made the all star team in GSW and was 3rd team NBA in 2013. Not because he was a popular knick. Because he was good and was recognized by coaches and national media.
And yes, his parameter defense was not great.

How Good was David Lee? A two time all star on two different teams, 3rd team all NBA and was the corner by which GSW in 2010 signed him as a free agent by new ownership and by their words started what has become a top 5 dynasty of all time. Nobody said a peep that he was anything more. Nobody takes away a thing from Steph, Klay, Draymond, Jax, Kerr, and the dozens of players that came after him. His hip flexor took away his hops and Dray surged past him which was likely enevitable regardless. I’m sure every night he looks at the empty spot on his mantle for the lack of defensive honors that haunts him. I’m sure his hot tennis wife denies him nooky because of it.

nychamp wrote:Why does a thread about how good a player was drift off into how much money he has and how hot his wife is? We can all agree he's winning the game of life, is rich, gets laid, is happy etc. All of that is totally unresponsive to the question posed about his abilities and shortcomings on the court as a player.

It's to offset the nonsense that he was only an all star cause of his popularity with Knicks fans

martin wrote:

nychamp wrote:Why does a thread about how good a player was drift off into how much money he has and how hot his wife is? We can all agree he's winning the game of life, is rich, gets laid, is happy etc. All of that is totally unresponsive to the question posed about his abilities and shortcomings on the court as a player.

It's to offset the nonsense that he was only an all star cause of his popularity with Knicks fans

If anything him being an all star shows the lack of competition at the time. There is not a sliver of chance for him to make the all star team now. He didn't deserve an all star spot because of the deficiency in his game. Who cares about popularity with Knicks or his wife? Let's not change the topic
.