Daily Dime: Lee, Gallo, Toney D

Crazy⑧s

Evacuee
1. Gallinari, Douglas Are Keepers, Is Lee?
By Chris Sheridan
ESPN.com
NEW YORK -- The primary reason why the Denver Nuggets are now another game back in the Western Conference loss column is because two of the rarest commodities -- players the New York Knicks view as keepers -- were fantastic for a night.

Danilo Gallinari and Toney Douglas are two of the four players (the others are injured veterans Eddy Curry and Wilson Chandler) the Knicks have under contract for next season.

Galinari scored 17 of his 28 points in the third quarter, and Douglas had all seven of his assists in the same period as New York used a 34-21 surge in the third to defeat the Nuggets 109-104 Tuesday night.
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The Knicks also got another double-double of 12 points and 16 rebounds from David Lee, but Lee does not necessarily fall under the same category as Gallinari and Douglas.

His numbers say Lee is a keeper, but the free agent market may dictate otherwise. And there is a very strong chance that Lee is about to play the final 11 games of his Knicks' career because New York will not be able to keep him for financial reasons if they hit the jackpot and bring in two of the top unrestricted free agents on the market.

New York is currently projecting itself to have $33-plus million in cap space this summer, enough to sign two max-salary players. But that $33 million also could be enough to sign one max perimeter player, be it LeBron James, Dwyane Wade or Kobe Bryant (yes, Bryant has an opt out, too, though the subject of him joining this summer's free agent class is almost never publicly broached), and then to use the remainder to re-sign Lee (at a starting salary in the $10 million range) while still leaving enough money to go out and get another player -- perhaps a center to take away much of the low-post defensive burden that Lee has had to shoulder for two seasons.

"At this point there's not much that can happen, so many different things, and a lot of it is a trickle down effect from what other guys do, what other teams decide to do and what direction the Knicks decide to go. So there's so many different factors, it's impossible to look at it right now and guess what the outcome is going to be," Lee told ESPN.com.

Tuesday night's double-double was Lee's 46th of the season, tying Utah's Carlos Boozer for third-most in the NBA behind Dwight Howard and Zach Randolph.

Lee led the NBA in that category last season with 65 double-doubles, and he is the first Knick to reach that mark at least 45 times in consecutive seasons since Patrick Ewing did it from 1992-94.

Lee also was named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team this season, and the Knicks gave him a $7 million contract last summer when he was a restricted free agent as a reward for his four years of diligent service, rather than forcing him to sign his qualifying offer worth a fraction of that amount.

"When I got here, what I didn't understand was how good he was in the area of scoring around the basket," Knicks president Donnie Walsh told ESPN.com. "I mean, he's got phenomenal use of both hands, his shots around the basket are attempted while going at shot blockers -- and he makes them. So he's got a real ability to score. Last summer he spent the whole summer working on his shot as he did the summer before, but now he's hitting from the outside. So offensively he's a big guy that's very talented."

Still, the Knicks are not ready to commit to Lee beyond this season, because doing so might take them out of the running for James, their No. 1 choice.
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That's because if James decides to leave Cleveland and sign with New York, he'll likely want to have a strong say in who is going to be lining up alongside him for the next 3-to-5 years. James and Lee have a cordial relationship, but if James tells the Knicks he wants Bosh as his running mate, and if Bosh is on board, too, guess who's going to be dangled in a sign-and-trade offer to the Raptors?

It'll be Lee.

"I wouldn't say I've been a victim (of circumstances) in a bad way. Last summer, I guess it happened for a reason. I guess I would have been a victim if I came back and had a horrible season, but the Knicks decided they wanted to save their money for the upcoming summer, and I still got a great one-year deal with it," Lee said.

"Now, you could say there's a lot more good players, but there's also a lot more teams with cap space. So it works both ways: It's a big buyer's market but also a big spender's market. There's a lot of supply, but there's also a lot of demand," Lee said.

Tuesday night's win was only the 26th of the season for the Knicks, and one of the knocks against Lee is that for all his statistical production over the past five seasons, New York has never won more than 33 games with him on the roster.

Granted, those losing seasons have been accompanied by all manners of fits, starts and changes in direction for the franchise, but how much of that failure can truly be pinned on Lee? And how much will that impact what he is offered when Miami, Chicago, New Jersey, Minnesota and the Clippers will all be flush with cap space as soon as the calendar turns to July 1.

One of Lee's veteran Knicks teammates said Lee should accept a starting salary of no less than $10 million in his next contract. Whether someone will be willing to bid higher remains to be seen.

"That is going to reflect on his market value in the sense that if you're playing him at a certain level, you expect that guy to take you to wins. But I don't think he's had the components around him that he can take the blame for that," Walsh said. "He's a very good player, and I don't think anybody at his position could have done any better than he did, so I don't think you can hang all the losses on him."

One factor that no one is quite certain about is how the timing of James' decision could impact the market.

If James makes up his mind by the fourth of July, the other dominoes will start to fall rhythmically.

But if James takes his time and drags his decision into mid-July or later, it'll be a mad scramble and an excruciating decision for teams deciding whether to act immediately or to wait.

"I'm not going to talk specifically about one player, but I expect these things to get worked out rather quickly because that's usually what happens," Walsh said. "I think if you really look at the practicality of it, there are going to be five, six, seven free agents that are top-level guys. Not at the very top, but some team is going to walk in and say 'OK, I'll give you this offer. You either take it by tomorrow morning or it's gone.' I don't think they'll do that with certain guys, but with some they will. So the market will start moving."

But where Lee lands in that market -- and whether circumstances allow him to stay in New York, his No. 1 choice -- will remain unknowns until this summer's free-agency madness begins to play out.

Only then will Lee learn if he is like Gallinari and Douglas -- a keeper.
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ESPN Insider Chris Sheridan is a regular contributor to the Daily Dime
 

Red

TYPE-A
The Knicks priority on signing David Lee this summer is about as important as which tube sock belongs on which foot.

He's meaningless, useless, and has a minimal roster filling-bench player value.

Walsh knows we have bigger fish to fry! Isn't that obvious. Don't gas it a put Lee anywhere near a debatable signing!

He's the back-back up plan.
 
The Knicks priority on signing David Lee this summer is about as important as which tube sock belongs on which foot.

He's meaningless, useless, and has a minimal roster filling-bench player value.

Walsh knows we have bigger fish to fry! Isn't that obvious. Don't gas it a put Lee anywhere near a debatable signing!

He's the back-back up plan.
Oh I BEG to differ!



David Lee is a excellent player. he averages 20 points a game and is a Double Double Machine! He may not be a good Center but he is an Excellent Power Forward. Not to mention he Plays with class and dignity. Something LeBron does not. Also he appreciates the fans. Something LeBron does not.



Also I dont know why 90% of knicks fans are like

"If wez dont get get Lbaun an bush were screwed!1!11!"

Look we dont need to get both LeBron James and Chris Bosh. All we need is one, we can resign David Lee, Draft a good Center, Sign Chris Bosh or LeBron James, Then resign or Rookies. Then by next Year or Rookies will have developed more, David Lee will be in his prime, and we can sign Carmelo Anthony with the money from Eddy Curry's expiring contract.
 

Crazy⑧s

Evacuee
^^^
correction. Lee is an excellent offensive player. As amplified by D'Antoni's aborted phetus formally known as defense. NY's previously best defender preached D'Antoni 's defensive emfactuation with defense.

Good fellatio will inspire good words from any man.
 
^^^
correction. Lee is an excellent offensive player. As amplified by D'Antoni's aborted phetus formally known as defense. NY's previously best defender preached D'Antoni 's defensive emfactuation with defense.

Good fellatio will inspire good words from any man.
Just because hes not THAT good of a defefender doesnt mean he shouldnt be resigned. hes not that bad. and D'Assholio is the one running the Deffensive plays not DLee.
 

p0nder

Starter
DLEE is just not good on defense. If he wants 10 million then he can find it else where. The Knicks did him a favor by signing him to a 7 mill 1-year deal where he can showcase his talents to the prospective buyers.

him making the Allstar team pretty much put him out of NY's financial reach
 

Crazy⑧s

Evacuee
Just because hes not THAT good of a defefender doesnt mean he shouldnt be resigned. hes not that bad. and D'Assholio is the one running the Deffensive plays not DLee.

"he's not that bad" vs an almost imminent lock out sais it all. Trust me, I love D Lee, but as I say - he's a great offensive player. Great O and poor D = what?

It doesn't equal $10m+/year. Especially at the pivot. If he's playing next to D Howard: Sure.

But as Dennis Johnson, DJ3, recently said: Make the most of your minutes as a mismatch. Lee should honestly be thankful that he's been the absolute best player on a cruddy team for this long, playing his brand of basketball.
 
DLEE is just not good on defense. If he wants 10 million then he can find it else where. The Knicks did him a favor by signing him to a 7 mill 1-year deal where he can showcase his talents to the prospective buyers.

him making the Allstar team pretty much put him out of NY's financial reach
He can still get better omn Deffense. I think if we can get DLee for 7 to 9 mill we should take it. Hes a good player and will only get better around a superstar like LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony.
 
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bfab99

Benchwarmer
anyone else noticed that David Lee is actually blocking shots nowadays? He gets 2 blocks this night, a block the other night. A Block from 3 games ago etc. I think he's trying to be a better defensive player. David Lee used to get ZERO blocks but recently he's getting blocks. Opinions on this?
 

TR1LL10N

Hannibal Lecter
anyone else noticed that David Lee is actually blocking shots nowadays? He gets 2 blocks this night, a block the other night. A Block from 3 games ago etc. I think he's trying to be a better defensive player. David Lee used to get ZERO blocks but recently he's getting blocks. Opinions on this?

My opinion is that lee is a smart hardworking player who will work on all aspects of his game. His athletic ability will always prevent him from being an elite defender but he could with effort and focus develop into an adequate defensive player...at PF.
 

Kiyaman

Legend
The Knicks priority on signing David Lee this summer is about as important as which tube sock belongs on which foot.

He's meaningless, useless, and has a minimal roster filling-bench player value.

Walsh knows we have bigger fish to fry! Isn't that obvious. Don't gas it a put Lee anywhere near a debatable signing!

He's the back-back up plan.

If the Knicks would'nt have resigned Lee and Nate in October, the Knicks would be struggling right now to stay one game ahead of the Nets.

Toney Douglas is a rookie not a keeper.
Gallo is a 2nd season player not a keeper.
Chandler is a 3rd season player who "earned" an extension before his 4th season, which makes him a keeper after his rookie contract.
Do u think Jordan Hill will finish out his rookie contract in Houston?
 

KING~POETIQ

The One and Only
Just because hes not THAT good of a defefender doesnt mean he shouldnt be resigned. hes not that bad. and D'Assholio is the one running the Deffensive plays not DLee.

:teeth: :teeth: :teeth: :teeth: :teeth: :teeth: :teeth: :teeth: :teeth: :teeth:

Defensive plays??? What defensive plays??

Lets see....stay in your zone, put your hands up, contest the shot, stay in front of your man...are these the defensive plays that d'antoni runs?? :lol: cause these are the things Lee is messing up on.

No, D-Lee plays worse than a D-leaguer on defense. Though d'antoni has many faults, this one goes to Lee 100%. He doesn't intimidate anyone in the paint, not even point guards. It's absurd.
 
:teeth: :teeth: :teeth: :teeth: :teeth: :teeth: :teeth: :teeth: :teeth: :teeth:

Defensive plays??? What defensive plays??

Lets see....stay in your zone, put your hands up, contest the shot, stay in front of your man...are these the defensive plays that d'antoni runs?? :lol: cause these are the things Lee is messing up on.

No, D-Lee plays worse than a D-leaguer on defense. Though d'antoni has many faults, this one goes to Lee 100%. He doesn't intimidate anyone in the paint, not even point guards. It's absurd.
Look, Deffense is the easiest thing in basketball. You learn Deffense in Middle school. All it is is exactly what you had said

Stay in your Zone
Put your hands up
Contest the Shot
Stay in front of your man

David Lee can easily improve his D in the off season. Not to mention David Lee isnt a Center. Hes a Power Forward.
 

the portable man

Benchwarmer
if Lee spends this summer working on Blocking and moving feet better on defense then resign him no matter what, he said himself he wants to stay here

he has a lot to improve on, he developed a mid range jumper at a crucial time, without it we'd probably be worse than the nets

and he still needs a post move, he doesn't even have ONE, it's pathetic being he's 6'9", when ur that short u have to move better. being tall u can get away with hook shots ur whole life, but lee is suffering inside 1 vs 1 at this point
 

NYKnuniversity

Benchwarmer
Look, Deffense is the easiest thing in basketball. You learn Deffense in Middle school. All it is is exactly what you had said

Stay in your Zone
Put your hands up
Contest the Shot
Stay in front of your man

David Lee can easily improve his D in the off season. Not to mention David Lee isnt a Center. Hes a Power Forward.
Reading each of your posts in this thread is extremely irritating and painful for me.

Since when can you teach size in middle school? Part of the NBA defensive game is SIZE, which D-Lee has NONE OF at the Center position (Not to mention...he IS A CENTER on this team...). Strike One against him as a defender.

Since when can you teach athleticism in middle school? If you want to be an elite NBA defender (ex. Josh Smith), or even a DECENT NBA Defender (ex. Trevor Ariza) then you have to be able to not only jump out of the freakin gym, but also have speed, agility and lateral quickness to stay in front of opposing players, or contest shots. Strike Two.

You may be able to teach the 2-3 zone to a bunch of 7th graders, but you can't teach a player how to put himself in the right place defensively in a game situation, and David Lee has proven that. Strike 3.

Since when is defense the easiest thing to learn in basketball? Who made you the NBA scout here...because last I checked, only the elite defensive players can control a game defensively, and only the elite defensive teams win championships in this era of basketball. Obviously it isn't the easiest thing to learn, and learn well, seeing as only the very best can play defense the right way. David Lee is NOT an elite player (top 20), and will never be a force defensively.
 

donchris

Next season, keep waiting
Lee is a double double guy night in and night out that plays out of position. You can pay Lee 10 mill a year for four or five years and he'd likely be happy with that. Or you can pay Bosh 18-20 Mill a year to do the same thing.

Personally I'd sign Lee and try to get a single free agent (LeBron, Kobe, Wade or Joe Johnson).

Gallinari is an anomaly. He clearly has the ability to score 28 points in a game but he is completely inconsistent. If Gallo could score like this game in and game out, the dynamics would change. We wouldn't be talking about getting a free agent to get us into the playoffs, we'd be talking about championship runs. That's really how important Galinari's success really is to the Knicks.

Think about a consistent Gallo, a healthy Tmac, Lee being Lee and a free agent of your picking. We'd be were the Magic are now in terms of wins and respect.
 

SSj4Wingzero

All Star
David Lee is a hard worker. If he could have improved his defense so easily as some of you say, then he would've done so years ago.

Simply put he's playing out of position (fail) and even at the 4 he's just not a great defender, period.

Now if we got a legit center and played David Lee at the 4, we might be able to get away with it...
 

RunningJumper

Super Moderator
I would be sad to see him anywhere else.He's our homegrown player and has never even been to the Playoffs.I really want to see him be with this team when we get things rolling.I rather pay less for Lee and not get Bosh, then spend a max on Bosh and not get Lee.It just wouldn't seem right.While other teams would HAVE to throw a max contract at Bosh, we got someone who won't ask for that much.He might ask for more now, but I'd give him a little more than giving it all to a guy who right now is on a team battling for even the eighth spot.He's just not that good.Only teams who need someone like him should be willing to pay that.
 
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Kiyaman

Legend
No matter what anyone write or feel....the Knick Organization would be a "FOOL" if David Lee is not in a Knick jersey next season.
David Lee could put up a consistent team-winning performance alongside (or tandem) with another BIGMAN in the paint doing the samething he does.
Lee & Bosh, Lee & Amare, Lee & Boozer, even Lee & Frye could put up nice numbers.

Only a fool would believe Harrington, Chandler, and Gallo are a NBA BIGMAN (center or PF) in the paint. They are SF!!!! plus theyre to weak to bumb-bodies game after game to average 8 to 12 rebounds per game in a season.
This is why "6.10 Jordan Hill" was the best selective player for the Knicks at the 8th slot.
And why we Knick-Fans shouldve seen a 18 to 24 mpg rookie Jordan Hill for 82 games this season in a Knick uniform.

Lee weakness is not DEFENSE....the best defense is "team-defense" where five-players cover for each other defensively using any means neccessary at stopping oponents from scoring.
Lee has the ability to switch positions (3) on the court (ala Odom) on offense or defense. So Lee's hustle as a switching defender in the paint is valuable.
 
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