Didn't see it posted....


David Lee walked through a hard rain yesterday at an NBA function at the South Street Seaport in possibly his last public appearance as a Knick.

The rain was a foreboding foreshadow, because Lee will see a lot of rain the rest his career if he bolts New York for Portland.

This is not about the NBA draft. What happens in 10 days is just as important as the events of Thursday's NBA draft -- unless Ricky Rubio drops to the Knicks at No. 8. "It's is a high-pressure time," Lee told The Post.

Lee's future is at stake and it's as cloudy as the New York weather. He is free to negotiate with other teams July 1.

"There already been a lot of interest," Lee said. "There's definitely a bunch of teams very interested. It's a matter of how serious that interest is and what the Knicks want to do about it."

Portland will be Lee's strongest suitor. Detroit, with cap room, has interest, too. Lee declined to say whether he'll be in the Rose City July 1 for a recruiting trip.

"I haven't discussed it," Lee said.

Portland likely has to work out a sign-and-trade with the Knicks to get the 6-foot-9 power forward. Lee is expected to command between $7-10 million per year on an offer sheet, which the Knicks can match. If he gets an offer sheet at the spectrum's high end, Donnie Walsh is prepared to trade Lee or let him go with the idea of preserving 2010 cap space.

"I know the Knicks want me to be here, they know I want to be here," Lee said. "It's a matter of how things shake out in the draft and what decisions they want to make not just for this year but 2010 as well."

Lee, who led the league in double-doubles (65), is their best rebounder, hustler and most popular player. The negative is he's not a strong post defender and isn't an offensive go-to guy in the final minutes.

In his four seasons, Lee's Knicks have never won more than 33 games, but would have been worse without his grit.

"It's up to Donnie Walsh and my agent to figure out what's going on.," said Lee, who averaged 16 points and 11.7 rebounds.

*

Wilson Chandler, coming off a solid second year, was hobbling around the Seaport in a walking boot. Two bone spurs were removed from his left ankle during surgery June 4. Chandler said he plans to be back on the court the end of July but is disappointed to miss Las Vegas Summer League.

"I thought I'd use most of the summer to get better but I'll still have time," said Chandler, who learned of the bone spur with two months left to the season and played through the discomfort.

Seems to me like Lee will sign an offer sheet. If it's unreasonable then I hope we don't screw this up by S&T'ing for trash on the other end that screws up 2010 just to justify getting something in return for him. Same with Nate.

Chandler still hobbling leaves a sour taste in my mouth. At least Wilson himself cleared up one thing of contention: HE IS NOT A TWO GUARD but of course will do what's asked of him.

===========================================

At an NBA function, Wilson Chandler Wilson Chandler limped around the South Street Seaport yesterday in a walking boot on his left foot. He had ankle surgery to remove two bone spurs June 4th. He won't be on the basketball court until the end of July.

He had planned on participating on the Knicks New York Knicks ' summer-league team but that's by the wayside. It's too bad. Chandler, who has to work on his ballhandling, could have used the games in Vegas. Missing two months of offseason training is not good for a player still developing. Remember he could be going into his senior year at DePaul. Chandler is as important a part of the Knick future as anyone but you wouldn't know it because he's quiet and not a good quote.

The Knicks, according to Chandler, want him to work on ballhandling. That's because there's a chance Chandler will be their starting shooting guard next season. "Whatever they want me to play, I'll play,'' Chandler said. "I think I'm 3 or a 4, mostly 3, but I can make the transition to shooting guard.''

The Knicks love Chandler's versatility because he can play three positions. Chandler and Gallinari, Thursday night's pick, and possibly Lee are the draws to free agents in 2010.

Read yesterday that Portland is going go go after Orlando's Turkaloo (sorry, I know I butchered his name ;)
If they do, that really only leaves, maybe Detroit, as a serious suitor. Lee might not be going anywhere...

so they hope to start Chandler and Galinari as the wings next season?

Posted by JohnWallace44:

Posted by McK1:

so they hope to start Chandler and Galinari as the wings next season?

Isn't that everyone's hope?

as the sf and pf not the sg and sf

my prediction is that david lee will be a new york knick next season.

and pharzone knows you can take that to the bank.

Posted by McK1:

Posted by JohnWallace44:

Posted by McK1:

so they hope to start Chandler and Galinari as the wings next season?

Isn't that everyone's hope?

as the sf and pf not the sg and sf

Thank you. Where is all this BS last year I heard about Gallinari still growing and filling out. No reporter has balls to call old man Walsh on the fact that he drafted another SF when team lack a center, no point guard, no shooting guard. Oh wait but he claimed he was drafting a PF/C. How the hell can you be on top of things if you don't even know what position the player plays that you are drafting? Hey Donnie here is a hint, Flynn isn't a PF no matter how much muscle he may have.

Also, I love the fact that Chandler is the one who needs to work on things. I guess Gallo doesn't need no stinking summer league. He will just waltz in and dominate the SF position in preseason and the regular season. No pratice, no weights, just him showing up. Ha, I thought it was Isiah all these years but clearly one benefit of being Knicks GM is that you get an ample amount of crack to smoke.

Posted by Marv:

Posted by Pharzeone:

Posted by McK1:

Posted by JohnWallace44:

Posted by McK1:

so they hope to start Chandler and Galinari as the wings next season?

Isn't that everyone's hope?

as the sf and pf not the sg and sf

blah blah blah blah i hate gallo blah blah blah blah i hate gallo blah blah blah blah i hate gallo blah blah blah blah i hate gallo blah blah blah blah i hate gallo blah blah blah blah i hate gallo

lol