Posted by martin:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/28/AR2006072801323.html

Knicks Sign Jeffries to Offer Sheet

By Ivan Carter
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 28, 2006; 6:06 PM

The New York Knicks signed restricted free agent guard/forward Jared Jeffries to an offer sheet this afternoon, according to NBA sources.

The Washington Wizards will have seven days to decide whether to match the offer. Team owner Abe Pollin, president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld and coach Eddie Jordan have all indicated a desire to retain Jeffries.


Terms of the offer sheet were not available. Jeffries has long been coveted by Isiah Thomas, New York president of basketball operations and head coach. Like Jeffries, Thomas starred at Indiana University.

The Wizards have 13 players under contract after the recent signing of free agent forward Darius Songaila to a five-year, $21 million contract, and have room under the NBA's luxury tax threshold to match the offer to Jeffries, according to sources.

Pollin has indicated that he is willing to spend up to, but not over, the luxury tax threshold $65.4 million. Teams with payrolls over the threshold pay a dollar-for-dollar penalty to the league on the amount of payroll that exceeds $65.4 million.

The most likely scenario, according to sources, is that the Wizards will use the full seven days before matching the offer sheet to retain Jeffries.

Jeffries was drafted by the Wizards with the 11th overall pick in 2002 and has posted averages of 6.1 points and 4.8 rebounds in four seasons while carving out a role as perhaps the team's best all-around defender.

Posted by purple012870:

This will be blasted in Renaldo Balkman like fashion on the media & on most fan web sites (of course, every move is blasted---last week, you might have thought we lost Moses Malone in his prime as opposed to Jackie Butler), but this is a good move. The guy Jefferies is a mobile 6'11", plays the 3 mostly, defends very well, passes, has a good handle. He's the diametric opposite of the primadonna mentality that brings this team down. He's smart, selfless & his length at the 3 is not quite that of Tayshaun Prince, is somewhat similar. He is not really a scorer but has a skill set to finish at times.

Posted by McK1:

best part about it - no quirky, conference rival cap-saving zany ass sign and trade proposal.

[Edited by - McK1 on 07-28-2006 10:14 PM]

Posted by Bonn1997:

Posted by franco12:

would all the folks who were criticizing our non-signing of Butler please step forward and give Isiah his due.

I'll step forward but I wont' give him his due on the butler issue. There's no good reason why we couldn't waive one of the six or seven useless veterans on the team to have room for Butler and Jeffries.

Posted by purple012870:

What I like about this is that he can defend. I'm not saying he's Ron Artest. But, he's at least above-avg on the defensive end. I gotta think that between Frye, Lee, Curry & Jeff....those guys would avg 5 blocks with the extended minutes they'll get.

Also, look around the league. You have Dirk, LeBron, Pierce, Redd, Wade, Kobe, TMac, Anthony....perhaps Barnani or Morrison in the future. If you don't have wing players like this & let's face it, prospects of landing one are remote....you better have a hope of defending them. Would I expect Balkman & Jefferies to be shut down defenders on these guys? Of course not. But I do like what they bring in terms of defensive ability. Its certainly a step in the right direction from some of the recent 3's (KVH, Tim Thomas, Woods, JRose etc.) the Knicks have had in terms of defensive ability, inclination & attitude.

The fact that Jefferies has a good relationship w/ IT, a good handle, can dish & a nice touch around the hoops is GRAVY.

To me, the addition (if offer not matched) improves the projection from 38 to 43 wins.

Posted by Bonn1997:

Posted by Nalod:

This is alot of money given our tax. Given our payroll, it seems like Isiah is trying like hell t save his ass.

Here is my problem, like panicking and signing JJ last year with no regard to Butlers upside, is Isiah also being short sighted and not giving regard to DLee and QDogs upside? Jeffries looks like one of those "grass is greener" kind of player.

I just can't see paying bigtime for a player at the premium SF spot that is not a good shooter? His Defense really that great? Not good, but its great?

Is Dlees feet that much slower on the perimeter? Is Qdog really that much worse then Jeffries? Is isiah vindictive to rid himself of Larry favorite Butler and Larrys suggestive Qdog because they are not worthy or they reek of Larry?

Its stupid, but Isiah does crap like this all the time.

I realize this is maybe 50-50 he gets him, but does signing him actually make drafting Balkman a waste?

I hope Isiah is not just doing this for this year because at somepoint we have to decide on what to do with Dlee, who seems to have still nice upside. I'd hate to have Jeffries contract block us keeping a good player in the future just cuz Isiah panicked.

Gotta think down the road!

It can be worked out if Isiah plays the best players and doesn't worry about salary or egos corresponding to playing time. I think the hardest thing will be getting minutes for Jamal, Nate, and Steve.

PG: Marbury 34 min, Jamal 14
SG: Francis 28, Nate 14, Jamal 6
SF: Jeffries 26, Balkman 14, Lee 8
PF: Lee 20, Frye 20, M Rose 8
C: Curry 28 (more if he's in top shape), JJ 10 (more if in shape fewer if not in shape), Frye 10

DNP-CDs: J Rose, Q Rich, Mo Taylor, Collins

Not sure if I'm leaving anyone out.
Players get injured. It's always better to have some depth.


[Edited by - Bonn1997 on 07-29-2006 11:50 AM]