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The Walsh Perspective (and A Deliberately Skewed Take On His Decision) On David Lee
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misterearl
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12/20/2008  12:08 PM
David Lee is a nice player. We enjoy the double-doubles and his determination against centers. I coveted david Lee from the moment he won the HS Slam Dunk Contest and smiled the moment Isiah Thomas drafted him to puzzled mass expressions of, "who's he?"

But the Knicks are on the cusp of a new era and the complex choice is simple. Apparently, Walsh (and D'Antoni) saw someting valuable in Danilo Gallinari. If their basketball instincts are true then Gallinari is penciled in at the spot where Quentin Richardson is currenly bricking out the joint.

Gallinari is inexpensive than Lee and is 6'10. Chandler is inexpensive and shows a willingness to play inside. He lacks experience and confidence. Al Harrington loves New York and demonstrates a passion to stick around when the gettin' gets good. Duhon is a leader. That's four.

There are glaring needs at the guard and big frontcourt (center) position. One spot (preferably a center) can be filled via the 2009 draft. The other spot can be filled by signing the best available free agent in 2010. That's six.

Either David Lee is determined to be indispensible - or - he is an expensive seventh man. From this opinion, there is less loyalty to Lee at center than may be felt in the stands because of his role in competition with a player (potentially) like Chris Bosh, Tyler Hanbrough or Cole Aldrich.

And I love David Lee.
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Vmart
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12/20/2008  12:17 PM
David Lee should be traded. Anthony Randolph for Lee makes sense for the Knicks who are trying to work the cap space for 2010. I'm really not in favor of keeping Lee if he does stick around it has to be for 5yrs, 30 million no more than that. Rather thanletting him walk they should trade him right now for Anthony Randolph. ASAP.
Allanfan20
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12/20/2008  12:33 PM
David Lee is no longer just a 7th man if he's putting up double doubles at this rate and holding his own against these big centers. If we were to let Lee walk for nothing, it would be an Isiah like blunder.
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CrushAlot
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12/20/2008  12:59 PM
People were saying around the draft that Walsh would select Gallo to take Lee's place so that Lee's contract could come off the cap. As far as his instincts and having 'seen' something in Gallo, he admitted that he had only seen limited tape on Gallo and that he never saw him play in person. I think things have changed since the unloading of Randolph, and Crawfords contract. I am hoping that Lee is a part of the Knicks future.
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King1
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12/20/2008  1:39 PM
I would love to see the fans have gallo at the 5 and wilson get five rebounds a game at the four. Phoenix had marion and amare rebounding who gets rebounds. Randolph at 190 guarding a five would be funny should have traded lee in the summer. He isn't a good fit at golden state anyway
LivingLegend
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12/20/2008  2:27 PM
Posted by Vmart:

David Lee should be traded. Anthony Randolph for Lee makes sense for the Knicks who are trying to work the cap space for 2010. I'm really not in favor of keeping Lee if he does stick around it has to be for 5yrs, 30 million no more than that. Rather thanletting him walk they should trade him right now for Anthony Randolph. ASAP.

If we work with GS - I want one of Brandon Wright or Anthony Randolph and Marco Bellinelli.

Maybe for Lee and $4.4M trade exception.

Travla
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12/20/2008  2:30 PM
I hope to keep Lee, he's the kind of player you need. He'll start or come off the bench, he has no ego about that. He's that blue collar worker thet you can never have enough of. I understand the possible financial ramifications and hope it can be worked out.

[Edited by - Travla on 20-12-2008 13:32]
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misterearl
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12/20/2008  3:25 PM
Travla - of course Lee is the kind of player a franchise needs. That is not the issue that Walsh must face. Walsh must decide that what role Lee will play moving forward, on a championship calibre team.

There is no such thing as objectivity, but allow me to submit the 2009 Knicks:

Center - offensively, Lee can draw opposing center from the paint in the mold of Dave Cowens if he can hit the outside jumper with consistency. Defensively, he does not provide a presence that forces other teams to adjust. He will not block a shot and does not have enough variety to get his shot off in traffic. He needs a dependable hook shot or a step back (Jack Sikma) jumper. Analysis: Lee at center will be a wash on most nights. Good but not great. For him to play here he needs an imposing sidekick at big forward.

Freak Forward - offensively I love how Lee sees the floor and makes the pass. I don't like how he struggles with forwards who can operate facing the basket. Defensively, he faces a variety of challenges from the lean flyers like Gasol, Garnett, Josh Smith and Rashard Lewis who are the new prototype. The Knicks need to start a young, less mental, 6'10 clone of Rasheed Wallace.

Skill Forward - Al Harrington

Assistant Guard - The Mayor. Of course he is raw. He Hasn't played a full season. But if Chandler can learn form his mistakes, (work on his ball-handling) having a 6'8 young man who can operate in tight and from three point range will be fun to watch. Don't sleep his defensive performance against Kobe.

Swing G/F - Gallinari

Lead Guard - Duhon. 22 assists is 22 assists. Must continue to work on his outside shot and adding crispness to the pass. Can be too casual with the ball - make no mistake, the stability and floor direction he has provided has been invaluable.

Lee is sixth man on a championship team.

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misterearl
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12/20/2008  5:36 PM
Addendum

Swing G/F - Gallinari

Let us take a deep breath on his current physical condition and consider that in 2010, by the time he reaches the ripe old age of 22, this 6'10 talent could play a role as an effective scorer.

Could he perform in a cameo role as a spot-up shooter at guard? Why not? His in-traffic handle can be camouflaged by deploying a more mature Chandler as a point forward. Defensively, Gallinari can find a home at the three and use his length to contest passing lanes.

In Mike D'Antoni's Italian League Connections we Trust
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King1
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12/20/2008  7:51 PM
Gallinari is a top 6 pick let's see if we get that value out of him. I think we missed out on a lot of guys who would have helped us. .mda has never had an imposing center or one to run the offense through he doesn't want that
Caseloads
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12/20/2008  9:07 PM
AR is on the block now. We have a trade exception, right? How about malik for AR and Bellineli?
misterearl
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12/20/2008  9:12 PM
(cough) Did somebody say Cole Aldrich... ? (see first post)

King - don't sweat the guys who ain't here.

If I can get over Trevor Ariza or Matt Barnes - you can stop coveting someone else's draft pick

... don't make the assumption that D'Antoni would not enjoy running 7 seconds or less with a 6'11 center who played some guard in high school. A decisive big man who can share the pill with the fluidity of Kareem, Marcus or Shaq would provide a much-needed variation from the Knicks reliance on the outside shot.

It pays to get closer to the rack... especially in the playoffs

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LivingLegend
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12/20/2008  9:13 PM
Posted by Caseloads:

AR is on the block now. We have a trade exception, right? How about malik for AR and Bellineli?

Don't think it works that way.

I mean Malik for the 2 kids doesn't match (if the Warriors had the $4.4M to throw our way it might make the deal work). But then you'd have to ask why the hell would GS trade 2 high end prospects and $4.4M exemption for Malik?

Now we could possibly move the exemption for those 2 - but again why does GS trade to young kids for a $4.4M cap space. Doesn't make sense. If it were an old dude on a 1 or 2 year deal maybe but I'm not sure I see GS angle.

I was thinking Lee and the exemption might net us Randolph and Bellinelli but NOT sure that's a good deal or not.

Based on what we are hearing from Hahn -- Lee for Kleiza or Lee for Randolph --- doesn't sound like Lee's value is quite as high as some around here might believe.

King1
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12/20/2008  10:23 PM
Lee has no value because he is going to be a RFA. Why would a team trade for him when they can sign a offer sheet and the Knicks wont match. The reason Joe Johnson was a sign and trade he wanted out of phoenix.
EwingsGlass
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12/20/2008  10:30 PM
Posted by LivingLegend:
Posted by Caseloads:

AR is on the block now. We have a trade exception, right? How about malik for AR and Bellineli?

Don't think it works that way.

I mean Malik for the 2 kids doesn't match (if the Warriors had the $4.4M to throw our way it might make the deal work). But then you'd have to ask why the hell would GS trade 2 high end prospects and $4.4M exemption for Malik?

Now we could possibly move the exemption for those 2 - but again why does GS trade to young kids for a $4.4M cap space. Doesn't make sense. If it were an old dude on a 1 or 2 year deal maybe but I'm not sure I see GS angle.

I was thinking Lee and the exemption might net us Randolph and Bellinelli but NOT sure that's a good deal or not.

Based on what we are hearing from Hahn -- Lee for Kleiza or Lee for Randolph --- doesn't sound like Lee's value is quite as high as some around here might believe.

I think Lee is respected as a hard worker and a blue collar worker on the boards, but otherwise a product of the system. Lee for Randolph doesn't work for me... I think the expression on his face as he got sent to the bench when dunked on by Jared Jeffries paints a picture of his mental makeup-- albeit only a single instance of it... the kid needs to toughen up... but if Donnie Nelson is giving up on him, why would Donnie Walsh be interested... I like the idea of Lee for Bellineli and AR for Lee, but if I can get a DP for Lee, I'd rather have that.
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misterearl
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12/21/2008  9:06 AM
EwingGlass - Did you say Randolph is 19 years old?

Jump in The Way Back Machine with me and check out this post-draft (cough) analysis:

9. Milwaukee Bucks | Dirk Nowitzki | PF | Germany
*Pick traded with No. 18 overall selection to Dallas for rights to No. 6 pick Robert Traylor.

“Winners: The Bucks
After trading away No. 4 draft-pick Stephon Marbury last year, the Bucks get it right in '98 by stealing the marketable and talented Robert Traylor from the Mavs for an overhyped foreign prospect.”(Dirk Nowitzki ) - Shanoff

I’ll just let you absorb those remarks for a second.

You think any critics cited that Nowitzki needed to "toughen up."?
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Bonn1997
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12/21/2008  11:02 AM
“Winners: The Bucks
After trading away No. 4 draft-pick Stephon Marbury last year, the Bucks get it right in '98 by stealing the marketable and talented Robert Traylor from the Mavs for an overhyped foreign prospect.”(Dirk Nowitzki ) - Shanoff
WOW! I have sympathy, though, as I think the draft is 90% luck.
Cookdcokehop
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12/21/2008  12:40 PM
Posted by Vmart:

David Lee should be traded. Anthony Randolph for Lee makes sense for the Knicks who are trying to work the cap space for 2010. I'm really not in favor of keeping Lee if he does stick around it has to be for 5yrs, 30 million no more than that. Rather thanletting him walk they should trade him right now for Anthony Randolph. ASAP.

Amen
EwingsGlass
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12/21/2008  12:46 PM
Posted by misterearl:

EwingGlass - Did you say Randolph is 19 years old?

Jump in The Way Back Machine with me and check out this post-draft (cough) analysis:

9. Milwaukee Bucks | Dirk Nowitzki | PF | Germany
*Pick traded with No. 18 overall selection to Dallas for rights to No. 6 pick Robert Traylor.

“Winners: The Bucks
After trading away No. 4 draft-pick Stephon Marbury last year, the Bucks get it right in '98 by stealing the marketable and talented Robert Traylor from the Mavs for an overhyped foreign prospect.”(Dirk Nowitzki ) - Shanoff

I’ll just let you absorb those remarks for a second.

You think any critics cited that Nowitzki needed to "toughen up."?

I don't think I mentioned age as a factor, I focused on attitude because for me it is an attitude thing. I am sure for the few examples where betting on young players that still need to mature have paid off, there are countless examples of players who never cross the gap and mature into meaningful players, let alone stars. I am not going to exaggerate your Dirk example to mean that you think that Anthony Randolph is the next Dirk, but between Gallo and Randolph having a Dirk-esque career, my money is on Gallo because he seems to have the right attitude (even though he doesn't have the physical presence).

I am not saying that we can't take a flyer on Randolph, I am not sure that Lee is the guy to trade for him though if you aren't getting Marco Belinelli back. AND, I would rather have a draft pick.
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misterearl
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12/21/2008  1:50 PM
Ewinglass - I appreciate you not taking the Nowitzki reference the wrong way. All I want for Gallinari is another year of patience. Besides, a fluid 6'10 dude with range is something a coach like D'Antoni can work with.

My money is on Gallo as well.

I like the Warriors Randolph. I've only seen a snapshot but there is something about his unusual frame that reminds me vaguely of Tayshaun. Not saying he IS Tayshaun, but I'd be willing to watch him cameo under D'Antoni at two guard.

I would rather have a draft pick as well, but I ain't never been a "dreck for draft pick" advocate and my gut tells me NBA franchises are going to hold on tightly those precious (and inexpensive) rights as the economy slows down.

[Edited by - misterearl on 12-21-2008 1:52 PM]
once a knick always a knick
The Walsh Perspective (and A Deliberately Skewed Take On His Decision) On David Lee

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