LJ4ptplay
Starter
Chris Sheridan of ESPN said this in his most recent chat:
I'm not sure Sheridan knows his ass from his elbows. Is anyone familiar with sign-and-trade deals?
Is it actually possible for Donnie to go this route to get two max free agents? Sign Lee, Nate, Harrington and Hughes to get the 2nd max?
I don't think this is possible because we can't sign them and go over the cap. But can someone please verify? And if it is possible, by going over the cap for a sign and trade, does it then make the MLE available to us?
Chris Sheridan (3:44 PM)
Yes, that is understood. And to clarify for everyone, if the Knicks get LeBron they CANNOT afford to keep David Lee. They won't have enough space left (unless they deal Jeffries/Curry for expiring contracts by Feb. 18). what they can do, however, is use David Lee/Nate Robinson/Al Harrington/Larry Hughes in a sign-and-trade deal to bring in a second max player. That is their Plan A.
Jon (NYC)
What makes Donnie Walsh think that Lee and Nate will agree to being signed and traded somewhere to help the Knicks land a second max guy?
Chris Sheridan (3:54 PM)
Because that's how they can get paid the most money. Lee has been the most underpaid player in the NBA for four of his five years (he was the 30th pick of the 1st round, meaning he was locked into a low rookie scale number for his first 4 years), and he's producing like a $10-12 million per year player. Donnie did David a favor my bumping his saary to $7 million rather thanh making him sign for the qualifying offer, and that did two things: It bought some goodwill from Lee, and it ensures that Lee (and Robinson, who also got a bump) will not be base-year compensation playrs on July 1, thereby making it easier to move them in sign-and-trade(s).
http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/30741/nba-with-chris-sheridan
I'm not sure Sheridan knows his ass from his elbows. Is anyone familiar with sign-and-trade deals?
Is it actually possible for Donnie to go this route to get two max free agents? Sign Lee, Nate, Harrington and Hughes to get the 2nd max?
I don't think this is possible because we can't sign them and go over the cap. But can someone please verify? And if it is possible, by going over the cap for a sign and trade, does it then make the MLE available to us?