Posted by Westphal44:

basically every bit of news out there has been planted by Sessions' desperate agent. It's been weeks since and offer sheet was "imminent". Don't panic till someone actually makes a move for him. It's called a NEGOTIATION I know thats weird to think here that we now have a GM who assesses market value, other offers etc... before jumping in and handing over the full MLE to guys with no other offers like Isiah the moron did for years

Posted by Bippity10:

Posted by TheGame:

Posted by Westphal44:

basically every bit of news out there has been planted by Sessions' desperate agent. It's been weeks since and offer sheet was "imminent". Don't panic till someone actually makes a move for him. It's called a NEGOTIATION I know thats weird to think here that we now have a GM who assesses market value, other offers etc... before jumping in and handing over the full MLE to guys with no other offers like Isiah the moron did for years

The problem is that by the time you know la is going to make an offer for him, it may already be too late. Honestly I don't see la signing him because they are already committed to baron Davis. plus they have the great mardy collins. :) I just have never seen it take so long to sign another team's rfa.

It's never too late. It's too late for the fans because we aren't privy to what is going on. but the agent is trying to get the best deal for his client. He isn't going to have him sign with LA until he goes back to NY and says, "hey this offer is on the table can you beat it". The Knicks aren't going to find this out in the papers. There is a lot more that goes on behind the scenes than that.

Posted by TheGame:

My point is this. If Sessions is a starting caliber pg (or if you sstrongly believe that he is about to step up to that level), then he is worth the full MLE for at least four years, especially if you plan to take him from another team as a RFA. That is the minimum price for a starting pg in this league. Indeed, there are probably only 9-10 teams with starting pgs earning less than that and most of those players are still on their rookie contracts and will get a raise above the MLE when their rookie deals are through. What are we really negotiating over? $1 million or so per season is likely the most we could be apart from what Sessions wants, unless Walsh is lowballing them. Just give him the money and turn your focus to trading Jeffries or Curry.

[Edited by - thegame on 14-08-2009 10:02]

Posted by BRIGGS:

Posted by Paladin55:

From Hahn's Twitter account about 20+ minutes ago:

Source says Walsh "has a line in the sand" with Sessions and "isn't going to budge." Pessimism now reigns, but the kid has few other opts.

If true, it would indicate Walsh does not really believe that Sessions is having any real progress dealing with the Clippers, or the offers are similar, and Sessions realizes that playing in LA at this time is not a good idea, and he's trying to squeeze a little more from Walsh.

I would assume that the "line" is in the $4-4.5 M/yr range. Wonder how many years we are offering?


Sounds like it is up to Sessions, now. Walsh is being disciplined in his dealing, or so it would seem.

I understand that there is a bottom line--but if you are willing to go to 4.5 and you believe in the player--in terms of NBA $--what is another 500K? At worst you have a solid player worthy of the contact imho--at best you get a steal where the player performance was worth double the contract. So is holding a line for 500k really prescient? I don't think so. The problems the NY Knicks got in trouble with in the past had nothing to do with 500 or 1mm $ added to anyone contract--but rather collecting multiple max contracts with multi years--giving out long lucrative contracts well over the MLE to players that would be deemed questionable and using the MLE on true role players. My feeling is Sessions would be the starting PG and that 500k shouldnt hold up a deal --especially if you really believe in the player. It could really end up being a steal for the knicks. I hope that Walshes ego is not getting in the way here and he steps back and thinks about 500K NBA dollars--I mean we just spent 3mm$ to acquire a 29 pick. 500k is very little NBA$ and should not stop a deal. I don't see a reason why a 5 year 25mm$ contract with an opt out after 3 would be fair to both sides.

Posted by Knicksfan:

Briggs, that's exactly why we are fans and he is the GM. What is 500k? Well, first of all, if we are offering starting at 4mill, it is almost 2mill of difference. If its 4.5 like speculated, its still close to a million and a half difference. No problem for a money-happy team like the Knicks, right? Well, the thing is that if its a long term deal that goes up each year, a 5mill or almost 6 mill deal now will be more in 2010, so the 1.5-2mill difference grows for the 2010 plan, and that margin could be the difference between signing top talent or not.

Now, let's not start playing the "how many real chances do we have of signing one or two max stars" because that's not the point. Walsh is committed to get to 2010 with enough cap space to make a splash, and an irresponsible deal to Sessions, considering his options are limited at best, could cost the Knicks a lot in the future.

Posted by purple012870:

NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Monday that the Raptors have agreed in principal on a sign-and-trade deal that will send swingman Carlos Delfino and guard Roko Ukic to the Milwaukee Bucks for power forward Amir Johnson and guard Sonny Weems.

This makes Sessions even more available !

Posted by martin:

Posted by TheGame:

Posted by purple012870:

NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Monday that the Raptors have agreed in principal on a sign-and-trade deal that will send swingman Carlos Delfino and guard Roko Ukic to the Milwaukee Bucks for power forward Amir Johnson and guard Sonny Weems.

This makes Sessions even more available !

In theory, but if I am the Bucks and Sessions signs like a 4yr/$18 million contract. I match that and try to trade him for an asset during the season. I think a number of team would give up a 1st round pick for him at that price.

[Edited by - thegame on 18-08-2009 05:58]

the thing about matching and trying to trade is that for the most part you have to match salaries, and it would cost Milwaulkee DOUBLE the nearly $5M to keep Session because of luxury tax, and that team is REALLY hurting for money. So, do you spend ~$9M for 1 season in the hopes of a 1st round pick and an expiring? probably not.