"With the four years of hard work I’ve put in, I’m just frustrated this thing hasn’t gotten done yet...

"With the four years of hard work I’ve put in, I’m just frustrated this thing hasn’t gotten done yet with the Knicks," Lee said in a phone interview with Newsday from Las Vegas, where he is attending a USA Basketball minicamp. " . . . It’s been frustrating enough that it has caused us now to kind of look at other options."

The Knicks Fix

I'd be grumpy too.

about 1 year ago Seth 23 comments 0 recs |

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It would be done

If his idiot agent didn’t overpromise and underdeliver for him. When Bartelstein told him that he could get $10-12MM per year, Lee should have been dubious.

"Ariza on Mobley, trying to put some chillin on his thrillin"
"Vexing D, makes you hurry, makes you worry"

by Serious Garbage Time on Jul 23, 2009 6:46 PM EDT reply actions

i agree 100%

bartelstien is the source of all the nonsense in lee’s offseason… he should shut up and stop telling the media wat is going on before his client

"if it aint broke, dont break it"

by babyeater26 on Jul 23, 2009 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Also agreed

How did he figure 10-12 would be there for Lee? I’d like to see that equation.

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

by Lord Smackington on Jul 24, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

this is definitely a quote on orders from his Agent. They just think because he’s a [white] fan favorite , he can play the “i love them so much, why dont they immediately negotiate with me?” card? FUCK that. This is a business…don’t come here with that bullshit David.

reppin NYC, and my clothing line, Recruit Zero !

www. recruitzero.com !!!

by Prezs2ReprsntMe on Jul 23, 2009 10:10 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Whiteness

Has little to do with his agent shooting for the stars. An agent can overshoot on behalf of a person of color just as easily. The agent is certainly a schmuck for misunderstanding his guy’s market value. It has little to do with the player (supply) and more to do with the fact that very few teams have the money or desire to tie up long-term cap space (demand). Its an economic issue and I really don’t understand why you bring the color of his skin into play. It smacks of racism to me.

Anyone, and I mean anyone regardless of skin color, would be frustrated being caught in the middle between an agent that overvalues his services and a team that is trying to maintain fiscal responsibility. It sucks for Lee and he’s entitled to express that. If he only gets a 1 year deal, it would behoove him to find a new agent who doesn’t blow smoke up his arse.

by Blueshirts Rock on Jul 24, 2009 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Blame The Agent

White, Black. Mexican, Martian, D Lee has skills. Just not 12 million dollar skills and his agent is ruining his career by gassing him. Lee should go off by himself, hit the gym develop one or two go two moves that maybe force a double and THEN have his agent try and rape the Knicks for 12 even 15 but not before then.

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

by Lord Smackington on Jul 24, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

it has to do with fan appreciation.

It has to do with how much fan’s love him, whether or not people want to say it out loud. Thus, more fans like him because of it, as opposed to say, a Udonis Haslem, who a couple y ears ago was basically David lee with a better Jumpshot on a championship team and had nowhere near the same following.

Your’e right, his agent’s job is to shoot for the stars n o matter what, thats why he gets paid alot. What I meant to convey is that Lee’s hustle-all-the-time style, good skills on the court, and being white, are all marketable assets, even if the 3rd one of those 3 goes unsaid. The agent knows this, and just like his hustling, WILL use it as leverage to get “11-12” mil, which is ridiculous.

And i agree abt t he 1 yr deal thing too

reppin NYC, and my clothing line, Recruit Zero !

www. recruitzero.com !!!

by Prezs2ReprsntMe on Jul 24, 2009 9:29 AM EDT reply actions

I Must Agree (somewhat) that

David Lee has white skin and there is no way any agent can negotiate a contract for him as if he had a different skin color. But to say that someone’s whiteness or blackness (or anything in between) is a negative or positive element going into a contract negotiation has serious racist overtones and could indeed be actionable so there might be good reason why it goes unsaid by most. Moreover, I don’t think its particularly true but I don’t have the data to back it up. If you really think there is a salary disparity in NBA based on skin color, please provide some data to back it up. Otherwise, it seems you’re just taking your own issues about race from other contexts and projecting them onto the NBA. If I had to guess and again I haven’t seen any data so this is just a guess, if there is one arena where you won’t find a salary disparity based on skin color it would be the NBA.

by Blueshirts Rock on Jul 24, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions

You agree somewhat that David Lee has white skin? Are you saying he might be clear like Larry?

I’m sure the Pacers would be willing to pay a premium for him based on his…you know…whiteness. When did Prez say there was a racial salary disparity in the NBA? It’s not racist to point out the obvious. Many white Americans like white guys who can play in the NBA for many of the same reasons black americans like a black president in the White House. He’s someone people can identify with. If signing a white guy will keep fans in the garden and boost jersey sales, it’s is certainly a marketable quality.

by Weasie on Jul 24, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions

i, for one,

had no idea david lee was white

Posting and Toasting: "Say yo Oak, what's the dish tonight? A couple steaks on the grill and we season it right."

by Seth on Jul 24, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Me either

I only follow the Knicks on GameCast, so I didn’t know what he looked like.

I thought he was Korean.

"Ariza on Mobley, trying to put some chillin on his thrillin"
"Vexing D, makes you hurry, makes you worry"

by Serious Garbage Time on Jul 24, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions

you think

just cus he’s korean he knows how to make a name for himself in a gamecast!? yo i don’t think you can really say that. cus for one: no. and also most koreans i know don’t even think about gamecasting. and they certainly don’t generate the numbers in the gamecast. like… how can you seriously think you can seriously say that? you know? david lee is korean AND white. fyi! so rude. i have THIS many opinions. let it be known, too, that i said all this to you because i had a real concern about him and like… how is he doing? and like… is he gona be fine? pause. you know koreans got big black dicks right?

twitter.com/aighttho

by stingy d on Jul 24, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Whoa

I thought he was Korean because of his surname.

Actually, I didn’t really, but I thought it would be funny to say that.

"Ariza on Mobley, trying to put some chillin on his thrillin"
"Vexing D, makes you hurry, makes you worry"

by Serious Garbage Time on Jul 24, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

David Ree

I dont know what all this talk is about. David grew up as a little black boy. But he had that same skin disease that Michael Jackson had so NOW he looks white. But hes a fake. Us whiteys see right through him.

An all-white team would be fun. They wouldn’t win cus everyone would just guard the perimeter since everyone knows white guys can’t make lay-ups. Nor dribble. Jason Williams was ok, but he had skin-replacement surgery. And don’t say Ricky Rubio. He’s not white. He’s a muppet.

by Chris Child's Fist on Jul 24, 2009 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Basketball... in NY.....

Sometimes people make unconcious basketaball assumptions like White = smart but not athletic, and Black = Athletic but not as smart. But honestly, I think most true fans and any GM that still has a job looks beyond that. If you are a GM that makes assumptions about a guys skills based on skin color and then gives out contract dollars on that basis, you’re going to find yourself with a shitty team pretty fast, and you’ll be out of a job. There are plenty of racist idiots in the NY area, but when it comes to Knick fans, I just don’t see it. We like good basketball and we like to win. Lee’s agent is trying to get him the best deal, and he probably inflated the expectations too much. The salary cap just limits the options of free agents, and especially restricted free agents. Lee just don’t have that many options. If he were smart he’d take a 3 year deal with the Knicks for 6 or 7 million, that expires when he’s still under 30. If he continues to do well and improve, he’ll get another chance for big money then. Honestly, I think these young guys worry too much about an extra million or two when being in the right situation is going to do more for your career and your happiness anyway. Artest got it right this year.

by fuhry on Jul 24, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Wow

If anyone thinks that white New Yorkers will buy more Knicks tickets and concessions just because the Knicks have a white starting forward, you are living in the stone age. Pat Cummings started for a season or two and did nothing to increase the fan base. All Knicks fans like good hoops. The most popular Knicks – - with the small exception of Ernie Grunfeld – - did not have white skin. Ewing, Oak, Houston, Tucker ;), King, Clyde, Reed, etc . . . No GM in NYC is going to pay an inflated salary to Lee because he is Korean or white or brown or black or Jewish (well maybe) or any other ethnic or racial minority or majority. He is being offered a salary based on his skill set as a basketball player and the market conditions. He very well could be a piece to the puzzle for the future., but DW is not going to pay him 10+ mill per season.

by Blueshirts Rock on Jul 24, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Same Team

I agree they shouldn’t. I never said he would be offered based on his Koreanality(is this a new word?). I’m just saying that like it or not, it’s a factor. Not an awfully big one, but it’s there. Any agent that touts that trait as having any value (outside of Indiana obv) is an idiot.

by Weasie on Jul 24, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions

we got it all wrong.

The Knicks aren’t as concerned with his skin color or tone. The reason they are hesitant to pay him double digit mils per has to do with his lack of tattoos. Look it up. The really good players all have plenty of tats. The kinda crappy players also have tats because they want to be good. Having tats shows you are a badass and not gonna give up the baseline down low. Donnie Walsh posted on his Twatter page that they are waiting for Lee to pick out a tough looking tat before they finalize anything.

Another thing they are workin on is Lee’s penchant for dog-fighting. Well, technically puppy-fighting, but its still rough. In my eyes, he’s tough enough with just that. But NY apparently wants something on skin to prove it. He doesn’t have to go Chris Andersen on us all…but just a couple of skulls or lyrics or something.

by Chris Child's Fist on Jul 24, 2009 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions

If you have never had a tat before

is it acceptable to get one on your neck? Or is that like a virgin trying DVDA on the first time?

by Weasie on Jul 24, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Test Run Tat

There’s nothing wrong with David experimenting with a temporary tattoo to see how much tougher it makes him feel. My suggestion would be he gets a tatt goes onto the court lets chandler drive it in and if he tries to block it he has enough tatts, if he lets changler lay it in uncontested he needs to go back and get another tatt. Keep repeating till he feels tough enough to go for a block.

by John Wallace Fillin It Up on Jul 24, 2009 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions

from a white boy...

find me any knicks fan, black or white or any color, that did not die a little bit inside each time they had to watch chris dudley in a knicks uniform

by nba refs: man up on Jul 24, 2009 8:10 PM EDT reply actions