Lee seeking 12 per???

[will1682]

www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/60409/20090708/lee_seeking_$12m_per_season/

According to an executive whose team is interested in David Lee, Lee's agent Mark Bartelstein is seeking $12 million per season for his client.

The Knicks have yet to make a formal offer but hope to re-sign the forward to a deal averaging between $7 million and $8 million per season.

"So many people are throwing so much stuff out there, it's not something I would ever talk about publicly," Bartelstein said about negotiations.

Howard Beck of the New York Times described Bartelstein as frustrated that his client was still in limbo.

"It's a shame David's not done yet. The Knicks have the ability to get him signed. The other teams don't, because they don’t know if the Knicks will match or not, or go through a sign-and-trade," Bartelstein said.

The Knicks may not be interested in being part of a sign-and-trade deal for Lee unless they receive a significant talent back.

Via New York Times

[will1682]

Bartelstein is frustrated because David is in limbo? If its true about 12 per, what do they honestly expect? Hell, even 10 per isnt happening! They obviously have paid no attention to around the league and what others are settling for. This is becoming laughable in my opinion.

[kgooglog]

Mark Bartlestein's "frustration" is as much of a show as his expectations. I nearly spit my coffee out laughing my ass off when I read that David Lee's agent expects $12,000,000 per year for his client.

Once again, the lowering of the NBA salary cap by almost 2%, teams not having the monies to offer Lee a contract, and the established market value for PFs, seemingly have left Dave without many other options other than resign with the Knicks for the one year qualifying offer, which is less than $2.5 million dollars but which would allow him to be an unrestricted free agent next season (a huge gambel) or settle for what many sources say would be Donnie Walsh's offer of a multi-year pact which averages approximately $7,000,000 per year.

This off-season could prove to be a bonanza for Walsh if he signs Grant Hill to a portion of the mid-level for this year, Nate accepts a one year qualifying offer which several reports seem to believe, and inking David to the aforementioned "normal and reasonable" contract. 10 years ago, David Lee would have garnered a contract in the range of $10-$12 million per annum, but it is just wiill not happen this year, or next year.

Too many quality players, many of whom that are better players than Lee, have accepted MLE deals. I am sure Lee's agent will be presented with sign and trade scenarios, but Walsh has not been receptive to Portland's garbage, and I cannot see an all-star player coming back for Lee under wraps, unless Toronto offers Chris Bosh for a David Lee package.

Nate Robinson is in a similar situation yet appears, according to reports, poised to accept the Knicks one year qualifying offer, as numerous sign and trades have been presented to Robinson's camp, yet Walsh can simply reject all of them, as I am sure none of them would bring back payers of equal value.

I see Lee settling in as a Knick at $7,000,000 per year and it is no one's fault but the economy.

I see Nate Robinson accepting the Knicks qualifying offer of $2.9 million dollars.

I see Grant Hill accepting the Knicks as his team of choice between Boston and Phoenix. If Walsh signs Hill to a one year deal for half of the MLE, I think Grant accepts. Perhaps Bucks RFA PG Ramon Sessions can be inked for the rest of the MLE, which would be more than double his salary of last year.

[jbnewyork162]

I agree with everything you said except for the Ramon sessions observation at the end because milwaukee will match anything like half a midlevel. Plus Scot skiles doesnt like our organization too much and he would have a say somewhat in any sign and trade deal i think.

Now if we somehow keep Lee what do we need Jeffries for really? It sbad enough most have wanted him to leave aalready but if Gallo and Eddy come back and Darko and Jordan Hill and possibly Lee are in the mix why would Jeffries still be on the team?

Something might tell me that houston may not have wanted to do this deal after all with NY because you would think it would have happened already. It benefits both teams but I guess the fear is that for only eddy and a roster spot that will never play they(Houston) might think McGrady may come back sooner, and also may want to see how well Eddy progresses before they invest in him.

-Jason

[kgooglog]

Jul 8, 2009 7:56:21 GMT -5 jbnewyork162 said:

I agree with everything you said except for the Ramon sessions observation at the end because milwaukee will match anything like half a midlevel. Plus Scot skiles doesnt like our organization too much and he would have a say somewhat in any sign and trade deal i think.

Now if we somehow keep Lee what do we need Jeffries for really? It sbad enough most have wanted him to leave aalready but if Gallo and Eddy come back and Darko and Jordan Hill and possibly Lee are in the mix why would Jeffries still be on the team?

Something might tell me that houston may not have wanted to do this deal after all with NY because you would think it would have happened already. It benefits both teams but I guess the fear is that for only eddy and a roster spot that will never play they(Houston) might think McGrady may come back sooner, and also may want to see how well Eddy progresses before they invest in him.

-Jason

Jason...

Just a quite couple of notes. First, as you know the FA period just opened up at 12:01 this morning and many deals we are not aware of, will probably be announced this afternoon and in the following days. Nothing is "official" until today. I know that I am stating the obvious, but this leads into my second point.

I wholeheartedly agree with you that Jared Jeffries is even more useless than he was last season with our new additions. However, getting a team to take Jeffries off our hands, will require, Nate Robinson as well, and his RFA status remains unresolved. I believe that July 9th is the date that official RFA signings and trades can take place.

I bring up Nate since I think if Jeffries is going to be traded, NY will have to include N8, as in the Sacramento trade I have spoke about for 5 months, LOL! I definitely see both players traded in a package, as no one will take Jeffries without additional bait. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on your perception of Nate Robinson as a valuable part of the Knicks, I feel that the two players are linked together in trade. Thus, Nate needs to either resign with NY for a sign and trade to occur.

I certainly think that you have a valid point about Houston wanting to see how Curry's conditioning is or whether or not he can even run the length of the court. However, Yao Ming may not play this season and I do not believe the Rockets want to start the season without a scoring center. While Curry is a disgraceful example of apathy, lethargy, and obesity, he is a center, one who is 6'11, and has had spurts of excellent play. Conversely, no one has seemed to have seen Curry's reported new figure, nor have they seen him play.

With all that said, perhaps Eddy will be with us until the February trading deadline, although that Mobley 80% insured contract would basically pay for a huge portion of T-Mac's league highest salary.

I have read conflicting stories surrounding the Bucks plan on what they plan to do with Ramon Sessions' salary offer. In a way, I think if the Knicks would just pursue Sessions and offer him the full-mid level over three seasons and forgo Grant Hill, we would get this kid. I hate Scott Skiles, probably even more than he dislikes the Knicks. He is a pompous ass, and the Bucks organization was so stupid in letting Charlie Villanueva just walk away for nothing, when he was a RFA. At the very least, they could have got a first round pick from the Detroit Pistons, who were under the cap by $20,000,000 so there was no returning contract necessary, had the Bucks simply traded him to Detroit. Moronic move of this summer...

However, the Bucks can redeem themselves by giving us Sessions and their 2010 first rounder for David Lee, since they just let their other PF walk out the door...