I don't see it any other way. That is roughly 16-17 mm in 2010 contracts and they say the salary cap will likely drop as well for 2010. So with Nate Lee Chandler Curry gallinari and Jefferies we are at 40mm$. First off what FA will like that team? I mean Miami has nice weather Dwayne Wade Beasley and space for two max contracts--can we compete with that?

I think we are better off having the ability to get to FA if we needed to and just building a team.
Orlando tried to do that once with Grant Hill and it cost them 8 years of doom.

As you know I am a big defender of Lee, but no way he's going to pull 12! Not in NY anyway. 7 a year for Nate isn't too bad, but Lee? No.

This is what's going down dude. We resign Lee and Nate at fair market contracts, bring in two big stars and either resign or find people who are going to solidify this team with all the offense D'Antoni needs, as well as with as much defense as we can find.

And most of all, we have been needing and seriously need to get a bonified center on this team. Picking at 8-10 as someone noted on another thread is our chance to do just that next June. A real center would solidify most of our defense anyway. But Lee and Nate are not the do all contracts here. They can't be. Not on any team!

Posted by JohnWallace44:

No way. In a normal year, maybe. Listen to Marc Cuban. Free Agency will be all messed up this year.

They can't get this much. Not that they aren't worth it. Just that in 2009 they are not going to get offered that much.

2009 Doesnt matter

I think Donnie is just gonna tell them to play the market and extort them both into playing for less than they could get if the market was better.....cuz why would a team sign them to an offer sheet if they know the Knicks will match. Still that's playin with fire cuz what if a team really does offer them a decent salary. Then the Knicks would be stuck on stupid.....

Its gonna be interesting what Donnie does this week. If he doesn't trade Nate and Lee then the Knicks will most likely re-sign....

But yo.....what if Donnies plan is to just let them walk....

Ah I'm getting a headache!!!

Posted by EnySpree:

I think Donnie is just gonna tell them to play the market and extort them both into playing for less than they could get if the market was better.....cuz why would a team sign them to an offer sheet if they know the Knicks will match. Still that's playin with fire cuz what if a team really does offer them a decent salary. Then the Knicks would be stuck on stupid.....

Its gonna be interesting what Donnie does this week. If he doesn't trade Nate and Lee then the Knicks will most likely re-sign....

But yo.....what if Donnies plan is to just let them walk....

Ah I'm getting a headache!!!

Walk? ummmm, I think Donnie should pressure them into signing for less and at least a year shorter. They know Donnie doesn't operate like isiah did and I think they know that Donnie's going to call their bluff. All wouldn't be that bad though. We'd have even more money in the bank and like I keep saying 'we will have people knocking down the door to sign in NY'. It's all good as far as I can see.

Here's a little proof to back up the last comment.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090215/ap_on_sp_bk_ne/bkn_all_star_stern;_ylt=AnfGnD_Ew4SrKKHSlzh9JB.79LQF

Posted by BRIGGS:

Posted by JohnWallace44:

No way. In a normal year, maybe. Listen to Marc Cuban. Free Agency will be all messed up this year.

They can't get this much. Not that they aren't worth it. Just that in 2009 they are not going to get offered that much.

2009 Doesnt matter

2009 (this summer) matters. Who is going to spend big money this year? Not enough teams to trickle down to Nate and Lee for big contracts.

Still. If we sign them for 10Mil combined without shedding Curry or Jeffries it's going to be a problem as far as the cap is concerned.

Have to look at signing Lee for a one year contract at the highest dollar amount possible.

Have to also consider any available deals to get stars now in trade, or take on someone else's problem salaries for major picks this summer.

Briggs, would you be happy if we could take on 2010 salary that brought back Jennings and Not-so-Flabby Thabby?

Jennings
Chandler
Thabeet
Lee
Jr Harrington

Bench;
Nate
Gallo
Jeffries

I bet you could take on Troy Murphy and get a #1 back. Maybe Troy and Dunleavy.

We'd be a lot better 2009/10 team if we could gain picks and resign Lee and Nate.

Posted by BRIGGS:

Posted by JohnWallace44:

No way. In a normal year, maybe. Listen to Marc Cuban. Free Agency will be all messed up this year.

They can't get this much. Not that they aren't worth it. Just that in 2009 they are not going to get offered that much.

2009 Doesnt matter

Huh? What year do you think Lee and Nate will be FAs in? The dead economy of 2009--the same time when Bobby Abreu got a 1 year $5 mil contract--is when Lee and Nate will be FAs. I know that's a different sport but look how little baseball players not signed by the Yankees are getting this year. Sports owners are not spending.

[Edited by - bonn1997 on 02-15-2009 7:54 PM]

I wouldn't sign Lee and Nate not at those rates. They can go else where. Its not like they are foundation type players. Personally I would let both walk regardless of the their production.

Posted by JohnWallace44:

they're our best players, but they won't get us to where we need to be
that's pretty much the problem with this team

yeah, this is true. and they weren't even our best players before we traded JC and ZBO.

Resign Nate. Fuck da Haters