The Good Word on Nate

by Lord Smackington on Jul 23, 2009 11:39 AM EDT

Updates on D Lee and Nate. There is Hope!

"Nate wants to stay in New York."

Goodwin refused to discuss terms of a possible deal, but according to a Knicks source, Robinson is expected to sign a one-year contract worth between $4 million and $5 million, or at least $1 million more than his qualifying offer.

Goodwin has had talks with European clubs about Robinson, but the agent denied that he's used those conversations as leverage with the Knicks.

"We did not call up the Greek club (Olympiakos) to drum up an opportunity for Nate," he said. "They called us."

One league executive suggested that Robinson's deal is being delayed due to negotiations between the Knicks and their other restricted free agent, David Lee. For weeks, Lee's agent has made it clear he is looking for a contract that will pay his client $12 million annually.

The only team with cap space to sign Lee outright is Portland. There is also a possibility of a sign-and-trade with a number of teams. The Knicks would prefer to sign Lee to a one-year deal, which would enable them to retain his Bird Rights and also give the club flexibility for the free agent class of 2010. If Robinson were to sign for $5 million, Lee would likely ask for $10 million since, unlike Robinson, he is a full-time starter.

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Despite all this talk about signing guys, I think at this point I’m ready to just re-sign Lee and Nate and see what these guys can do with the additions of Douglas, Hill, Milicic and a healthy Gallo. Even without a free agent splash, I think they’ll be improved. Here’s why:

1. Milicic and Hill, even if they aren’t that great, represent an improvement at the 5. They won’t have to play 4’s as 5’s and 3’s as 4’s.

2. Douglas will likely be an upgrade when it comes to backup point guard and perimeter defense.

3. Gallo, if healthy (that’s a big if, but it’s looking pretty good right now) is a good long range shooter in a system that relies on that. Plus, he has the mindset to take over a game late, and has shown an ability to guard smaller players. I think that represents a significant upgrade over, say, Harrington.

So yeah – I’m not completely sold on Nate as a guy that consistently helps them win, but I like his attitude and he is a special talent. So let’s get him and Lee signed and get to training camp and see what we got!

by fuhry on Jul 23, 2009 1:30 PM EDT reply actions

$12 million for Lee?

Damn!

I can only pray that Lee and Nate are that commited to being NYK’s that they sign a 1 year deal that allows the Knicks to sign whoever they want in 2010.

Then we can sign both of them to whatever the hell they want (of course, hopefully with 3 year opt out clauses or something like that in case of disaster.)

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 24, 2009 7:44 AM EDT reply actions

yea

I like Lee alot. So much in fact I’d probably start a phony ebay auction claiming to sell his under arm hair, only to get drunk while laughing at all the idiots bidding only to black out , wake up and find out I just paid myself 6 g’s for some phony D Lee under arm hair!

fan fave, #1 in double doubles, #3 in boards…He’s justified in ASKING for 10 to 12, but he’s crazy to think he’ll get it. ESPECIALLY with the state of the NBA market right now. His agent really should have prepared him for this scenario.

I wouldn’t be mad at ten if it were structured right (like if he got 7 or 8 mil in 2010 and increases in later years) but 11 or 12 is crazy. Those are starting points to be used as negotiation so when you do get 10 mil everyone can feel like they got a bargain. Expecting 11-12…CRAZY.

For all of D Lee’s good skills he is still not a go to guy. He does not even have a single go to move when we need a score. No one needs to double him at all. If Lee had even one of these things going for him the Knicks would have coughed up that 12 million quicker than you can say Anucha Browne Sanders

What did the 5 fingers say to the face?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7CBwX1891A
HaHaHaHa!

by Lord Smackington on Jul 24, 2009 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions

uh oh....

Check this out:

Warrick will remain on Memphis’ cap for the time being at $6.2 million — 300 percent of his salary last season — but the Grizzlies could move about $9 million below the cap if they formally renounce their rights to him or move him in a sign-and-trade deal.

Looks like Memphis is going to be able to get itself 9 million under the cap if they renounce Warrick. And why wouldn’t they? They can probably have their pick of Lee, Nate, or Sessions for that price. But they need a guard… so it would be Sessions, right? Except they were looking at signing Iverson for box office draw. And Mayo wants to play point. So maybe they are going to go after N8. Would N8 go to Memphis? For a multiyear deal worth the MLE, I’d say he would.

by fuhry on Jul 25, 2009 3:18 PM EDT reply actions