Unless we can get him for a very good price (let's say $7-8m per for 4-5 years), we need to let him go. We of course should have traded him earlier in the year. Or earlier, for OJ Mayo last draft (if that was actually possible). Though he has some very nice attributes, his shortcomings trump his positives given the type of player he is. On top of that, his positives have been disproportionately showcased this season given the type of team he plays on. I agree with many who have previously posted that he is a nice 6th man type on a good team. On a crap team with no real bigs, and no emphasis on defense (our team), he has been able to rack up big numbers.

This is how I see David Lee:

Positives: Excellent hands, very good (crafty) finisher with both hands, quick release, good offensive rebounder, above average passer for a big. Very good knack for rebounding at both ends. Above average offensive IQ. Good pick and roller. Good hustle overall on offense.

Negatives: Horrendous defender. This cannot be overstated. Probably the worst on the team, and that's saying something. He has a low defense IQ and low effort level when defending. He seems concerned with getting position for the rebound before the opponent shoots. Often does not even put the token hand up. Honestly, it's shameful. A lazy passer at times. Also he has at best an inconsistent mid-range offensive game, something that he will need in order to counter true bigs he plays against.

Trouble is, when you are not a finesse player or a shooter or super athletic, when you're just a hustle/rebounder/blue collar guy, you need to be a defender. He's a "nice" offensive player, but his total lack of defensive ability really outweighs his putbacks and pick and rolls on the offense, especially considering that good teams can shut down the pick and roll when they need to. A while back he was averaging roughly 16 and 12: I'd be surprised to see that as a season avg anytime in the future. I don't think he'll sniff that again, unless he remains on a cellar-dwelling team with no legitimate bigs where he can hoover all misses and get layups.

A 6'9" PF who is routinely abused on defense, is a one- (or one and a half-) dimensional offensive player, and cannot block shots is not a star. He is not a main building block of a young team. He could only really be excellent on a team with a dominant 2-way big at center, like Duncan or Howard, where he can clean up this misses and score on the worse post defender on the other team. In the context of the Knicks he is a fundamentally flawed player for his position. Don't be "mesmerized" by the gaudy stats this year. Get a great price on him (thereby preserving our ability to trade him in the future if necessary) or let him walk.

To me, he's a slightly better, glorified version of Kurt Thomas. And you're right, he should be paid like that, and if he somehow manages to get more, we should walk or try to hold out for a S&T.

David Lee's ascent has been somewhat Carlos Boozer like. I think you're seeing him make big strides offensively and he's hitting his jumper with more regularity. I think he still has some improvements that he will make.

He's a limited player, no doubt. But there is something to be said for maximizing what you got.

He's going to continue to get better.

It's a little crazy continuing to put out these threads about Nate and Lee being limited players. Everyone knows that they're limited. Lee is just as tiny as a Center as Nate is at 2guard.

They are limited, but they've played their asses off through many of the worst seasons that we've ever had as a franchise.

What's it worth $ wise? Fortunately the market will decide and again, the market is the worst a free agent could ever go into.

Even if a team has the money... why wouldn't you take Wallace for a year over Lee for 5?

Posted by DaJoka:

I think when Donnie Walsh is able to flip Lee and Nate for say a Carmelo Anthony...you guys will be happy. David Lee is good period...it's just we keep losing. If we won last night..we would be praising him here for those stats. Nate and Lee are still increasing their trade value and Donnie will capitalize on this.

I've liked Lee's game since his rookie season, but lately even if we had won the last two games, it's getting tiring watching him guide people to the rim and waving at them as they score; and the at least once a game, running-away-to-make-sure-i-don't-get-posterized is just sick to watch.

I'm rapidly starting to believe this guy would rather ensure he gets his double double than stop anyone from scoring. He'd jump through the backboard to get a rebound, but he stands still watching jumpers go in (which I'm sure he's learned, apparently gets you a better chance of being in position to rebound a miss). And IMO, I don't think you can blame all of it on D-Phony's system.

Posted by EnySpree:

Red on Roundball....I guess David Lee never saw this one, lol

eny you are so classic.

in case i haven't mentioned it lately . . . I LOVE BILL RUSSELL!!! tied for the all-time greatest player ever with oscar and jordan!! blueseats, where are you man, come on out after me

i agree, i don't think we've seen the best of D Lee... i think offensively he's on his way towards being a legitimate go to presence down low in the paint... his midrange shot has come a long way this year & he's starting to hit that shot from different places on the floor & even off the dribble at times... i just really wanna see some improvement on the defensive side of the ball.

Posted by GKFv2:

Go to presence in the paint? LOL. What? What exactly have we seen from him this year for that to even be remotely close? This guy is a backup. That's it. 6th man. Starter on a mediocre to bad team, backup on a good one. He plays 0 defense. 0. He is more concerned with grabbing the board off the missed shot than putting a hand in someone's face of challenging someone or manning up and defending. He is soft. Call me a hater but I've had enough of this guy and the overrating of him by the entire fanbase. He isn't that good. Not even close.

Come on man? Did you eat something bad today?
DLee has no relation to this...

It is possible that WE saw the best on Lee.
But I am confident that some other team which get him after us will see the best of DLee.
This is what usually happens with Knicks.
No patience - no glory. And this is us