sebstar wrote:

TMS wrote:anyone still think Lee's gonna give us a hometown discount to keep him?

http://www.newsok.com/article/3431429

Thunder notebook: David Lee in OKC?
BY MIKE BALDWIN, Staff Writer, mbaldwin@opubco.com The Oklahoman
Published: January 12, 2010

Knicks forward David Lee sometimes is mentioned as a possible piece to add to Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook. Does Lee, a free agent in the ballyhooed 2010 class, feel he would fit in Oklahoma City?

"Any team that has cap space, you have to give thought to,” Lee said. "I got to spend time with all of three of them last summer at the Olympic camp in (Las) Vegas. They’re all good guys. I’ve known Jeff a couple of years. Anytime you have exciting young players, it would be a fun place to play.”

Even though Oklahoma City will be $14 million under the salary cap, Lee, who led the NBA in double-doubles last season and is averaging 19.1 points and 10.9 rebounds, realizes Thunder general manager Sam Presti’s long-term plan.

"They’re probably saving the Brinks truck for those three guys,” Lee said. "At this point there’s so much still to be seen. I’m just concentrating on helping this team, which can do some good things, then see how everything pans out this summer.”

face it guys, D Lee's gonna have plenty of great options this summer, he's playing himself into a big contract & he can still catch on w/a very talented team like the Thunder & still collect the big bucks... that midwest fanbase will absolutely love David Lee & he'd be a perfect fit next to Westbrook, Green & Durant... if the Knicks aren't prepared to pay market value for his services, they better be prepared to lose him.

Even here, Lee copped to the fact that they are probably going to save their money to re-sign their core guys as opposed to breaking the bank for Lee. Face it, I dont see to many teams out there tripping over themselves for Lee. He has more value here...

my argument is that if a team w/cap space out there offers him a lucrative contract, i don't think he'd accept significantly less to stay in NY... i have no idea what NJ or OKC's plans are going forward, all i know is they're not likely going to attract any of the top names in free agency & for the money D Lee would be a very nice alternative target for them... if you're D Lee & u see guys like Boris Diaw pulling down $9 mil per year, are u settling for just a million more when you've put up the stats he has over the past couple seasons?

I just dont see anybody giving Lee that kind of jack. Just me personally.

TMS wrote:

martin wrote:

TMS wrote:

martin wrote:

djsunyc wrote:i thought jersey sales go to the team and not the player...

who cares, it's about the exposure. If Lee was selling jerseys last year, image what other types of products he could push. No way that same type of opportunity happens in OKC.

yeah, he's pushing so many products i can't even remember the last commercial i ever saw him in.

excellent. Explain the jersey sales. And convince me that OKC is a better/same city for marketability over NYC.

jersey sales accounts for the popularity of the Knicks' franchise... what does this have to do w/D Lee's marketability as an individual player tho? do u see him in any commercials hocking Big Macs, American Express, Gatorade or the latest Air Jordans? where is he reaping the benefits of this enormous exposure that he's getting playing in NYC exactly? jersey sales is the best you can come up with? does he even see any of that money? how about you convince me that he's going to leave $20 million dollars on the table just so he can stay in NY while he barely gets any recognition from the national press as it is if he has a chance to go play in OKC instead & be on a damn good talented young team on the rise that just handed us our asses last nite.

no idea where you came up with the $20M DLee is gonna leave on the table - especially when you consider that Lee has Bird Rights with the Knicks and can tack on that extra year and get the extra % raise in year 2 and on... .

Extra jersey sales leaves no indication that marketability in NY is better than OKC. Gonna flip that back to my MBA profs. Good times. f'ing waste of tuition.

Why else would a player have that kind of sales? Cause he is in NY? This is a guy who was on a crap team and still got recognition. LOL.

martin wrote:no idea where you came up with the $20M DLee is gonna leave on the table

martin wrote:what's the differenct between $14M in OCK and $10.5M in NYC with all of the other avenues of money and exposure?

that was from you... over a 5 year contract the difference you're talking about is close to $20 million dollars, unless my math is off... i don't happen to think OKC would offer Lee $14 mil per, i'm looking at him to sign for somewhere around 5 years at $60 mil, like i already mentioned... that's still a pretty big difference in dollars, $10 million dollars isn't chump change, & i don't see him making up the difference with these endorsements you seem to think he's going to get playing in NYC... where are they?

Andrew wrote:TMS, don't you think that the Knicks sucking has led to less endorsement opportunities? Just because you don't see national ads does it really mean that they are not making money from endorsements?

not really, no... it has everything to do with mass market appeal... there are a select few guys in professional sports that have that to offer to corporations that are looking for a spokesman for their goods & services... guys like Derek Jeter get endorsements because they have mass market appeal, while guys like Mariano Rivera really don't... Reggie Jackson had that mass appeal, Thurmon Munson didn't... just because you're a great player playing in NY doesn't mean you have the IT factor that companies are looking for when dealing w/marketability... guys like Shaq & Lebron had that IT factor before they ever touched foot on the NBA hardwood because of all the hype surrounding them & their gregarious personalities.

if David Lee were to lead us to a championship & be the main face of this franchise going forward, then i can see his marketability factor going up... otherwise i just don't see it... he's always going to play second or third fiddle to whatever star player the Knicks bring in, & he doesn't have the charisma to catch the average consumer's eye... right now Nate Robinson has a ton more marketability than he does just because of the hype created from his dunk contest wins & his personality, but he could have been a Detroit Piston & it wouldn't have made much of a difference... Nate's marketing value lies in his circus sideshow appeal... being on a good team doesn't necessarily help your marketability...

David Lee maybe making some money from local small scale endorsements, who knows, but you're kidding yourself if you think those dollars amount to 7 figure dollar amounts unless we're talking about national campaign ads... making appearances at Modell's & doing autograph signings will not make up the difference that he'd be turning down on a potential deal to sign at such a drastic discount.

AnubisADL wrote:UPDATE: 4/1/10

ESPN VIDEO: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5042730

May try to exploit our Lebron hunt.

- A strong offer will give the Nets a nice front court
- If we match an offer we wont have enough space for Lebron and say Joe Johnson/Bosh

if the Nets come out strong for D Lee i say we let them have him or try & work out a sign & trade that will benefit both parties, maybe for Devin Harris? (assuming they land the top pick for John Wall)... there's no way we should scrap all our summer plans just because some team comes out aggressively after David Lee... if he decides he doesn't want to wait around until we figure out our options, then u say goodbye & move forward... there are other options to consider other than David Lee this summer that can fill the PF role next season.