Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Free Agency Update: Hints of Lee
Posted by Chris Herrington on Tue, Jun 30, 2009 at 10:18 PM
The NBA's free agent season got underway today and though the actual negotiating period is still a few hours away, the situation as it could relate to the Grizzlies has come into focus a little bit:
Carlos Boozer deciding not to opt out of his contract with Utah took a longshot option off the table for the Grizzlies, but it may have put a more reasonable option on it in the form of Paul Millsap, whom the Jazz are now at least somewhat less likely to re-sign.
The Milwaukee Bucks surprisingly neglected to tender a qualifying offer to Charlie Villanueva, making him an unrestricted free agent and making it all but certain that he'll be switching teams this summer.
It's funny — but not at all surprising — to see the Grizzlies not mentioned at all in one prominent free-agent preview. But I continue to suspect — perhaps willfully — that the team is going to do something significant this summer. Maybe it will be to re-start trade talks with the Clippers for Zach Randolph. But I still think Knicks restricted free agent David Lee is the most likely target.
CBS Sports' Ken Berger has a report tonight that might feed into this educated hunch:
* David Lee's days in New York are effectively over, said a source who believes that agent Mark Bartelstein will find the Knicks' choking point and exceed it by a dollar in negotiations with Oklahoma City and/or Memphis. "It's a tough loss for New York, but they don't want to screw up their 2010 plan," the person said. The money will be there for Lee, especially now that Boozer is off the market. The only reason for Lee to think twice is the added bang for the buck he's gotten out of playing in New York. He won't be a known commodity anymore in OKC or Memphis.
Comments (23)
Showing 1-23 of 23
With the report of the Millsap deal offered by OKC, then this bit of news about Lee sounds pretty promising for the Grizz.
If Millsap does head to the Thunder, we would be a great position to set the bar for Lee and make a great splash this summer.
I hoped against every Thabeet rumor, but I'm hoping this report turns out true as well!!!
like
dislike
So far this off season we have added at least the hope of better talent. Still lots of ?'s but Lee, Charlie V., or Millsaps makes us a better team right away. I think we win at least 30 games this year. Still room for improvement definitely but aso a step in the right direction
lee would be a definite good get. im kind of glad boozer didnt opt out. while im well aware of the game he has, im just a tad bit skeptical of his durability.
I hope we can get Lee, because i like him, but we need a PF that can shoot from outside, it will open the court for Thabeet and Marc Gasol and they will have better options to play inside.
Wow... I hope the Big Baby thing is not true... He is a great backup PF. The Grizz are one of the few teams in the NBA where he could start because the Grizz's PFs are so bad.
I am both excited and worried about the prospect of Lee. On the one hand, he is a proven hustler and fantastic rebounder, but on the other hand, I don't think he offers much as a solid perimeter defender and next to nothing shooting outside of 15 feet. If we do get Lee, I think it DOES make us instantly better, but then what does our lineup look like in the frontcourt? Obvs we would start Lee at PF, but who goes with him? Gasol? Do we really believe that Heisley drafted such a "premier defender/shotblocker" to have him ride the pine? Even if Gasol and Hasheem split time at C, the lineup of Lee/Gasol will no be able to defend perimeter 4's and the lineup of Lee/Hasheem will be offensively deficient in anything other than putbacks and alleyoops. Then again, Charlie V, while he can shoot from outside is a major defensive liability. I guess you cannot have your cake and eat it too, so, of those options, I think Lee is the best. I just wish Rudy was a better threat from long range to cover up for Lee's around-the-basket game.
Yeah, I agree GrizzleGM. Big Baby is a solid backup, but he has no business starting. I would love to have him backing up someone like Millsap or Lee. But after the playoffs he just had, he is about to get over-paid by some team. Just hope it isn't the Grizzlies.
From Rich Bucher's twitter:
@Raf1Pacers Was told that Mem GM wanted to make offer to DLee. Shot down by the owner. What did CWallace do in a previous life to deserve this?
Saw that twitter. Hope it's not true.
im gonna throw another name in the PF mix: leon powe. not a starter, but someone we could gamble on if we signed villaneuva as being a hustle type player. I know the injury history, but that will serve to further depress his price. 3 year/$2m each, team option for the 3rd year.
If you believe Yahoo...
Sounds like Villy and Gordon may have agreements with Detroit by the end of the day.
and
Memphis is preparing an offer for Lee.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-g…
I think that's a good offer, in my opinion. I now personally prefer Millsap, thinking he's younger, has more upside, better in the post, and better defensively.
I actually think 5 for $65 mil for him would be a bargain down the road ala Al Jefferson, but unless you go upwards of 70 mil, I just don't see Utah letting him go even if it means paying the luxury tax for one year.
Heck, if this deal for Lee falls through we can still hang on to the "hope" of acquiring Zach Randolph. His impressive-stats-non-winning-ways might be worth the added 4-6 wins in the standings. =P
Is it possible NY matches a 5yrs for $50 mil offer?
I don't think the Knicks would match that. In fact, considering they offered him around 4yrs / 32 mil, I think 50 mil might be a little much. Of course, guessing New York's comfort threshold is only half the question. The other half is how much would it take to get Lee to actually come here. I am guessing somewhere around 5 yrs / 47 mil is the sweet spot.
Oh, and I would choose Millsap ahead of Lee as well, but I don't think the Jazz are going to let that happen. I think they were not happy that Boozer decided to stick around another year, but they will suck it up and pay the luxury tax to insure Millsap doesn't go anywhere. We may also see a Pau-type trade of Boozer sometime before the season starts.
In any case, it is very encouraging to see the Grizzlies looking to spend money. With the right free-agent, and some (hopefully) solid coaching, they could be surprising next year. (In spite of the waste of a top draft pick.)
If Memphis offered Lee(or anyone) a 5yr/$50mil front loaded deal, the payout would be:
2009: 11.385mil
2010: 10.695mil(This is what NY would like to avoid)
2011: 10.005mil
2012: 09.315mil
2013: 08.625mil
5yr $65mil
2009: 14.784mil
2010: 13.888mil
2011: 12.992mil
2012: 12.096mil
2013: 11.200mil
The Jazz cannot afford millsap. If they keep him, they will pay 15m in luxury this season. Not happening. Like Grizzle just outlined, frontloading Lee's contract would be the best bet, (maybe even purposely spiking the 2010 salary to make it even more of a poison pill, a la KG/Duncan's contracts).
I've said all along, I have no problem with paying Lee $10m a year, as long as its frontloaded. Herrington said yesterday that that would be about the max he would be willing to pay Lee.
If they do offer this contract, more than likely they buy out Greg Buckner to shave 3m off the payroll. My fear is that Rudy thinks he's worth more than Lee. If he comes out in the first few months and averages 22/7/5/1.5, we should trade him on the spot.
I would take Lee for just under $10 million a year. He's a good-sized vet with hustle and rebounding.
Let him get the ball and then throw it out to Rudy or OJ for points.
As far as the center spot, I say you start Mayo at the beginning of the season and let he and Thabeet compete for minutes and the starter role. Whoever plays best, starts.
TennesseeDrew, I am assuming you meant Marc and Thabeet, not Mayo. And I agree. I am very hopeful that they let Marc and Thabeet compete for the spot. Then Marc will remain the starter.
to me i think david lee should try and workout something with the knick's. If he goes to Memphis or oklahoma city his career will go down the drain and he will not b as successful as he was on the knick's
**********************************************
**********************************************
**********************************************
LA Times is twittering that QRich has been sent to the Clippers for Randolph.
**********************************************
**********************************************
**********************************************
The LA Times has it posted as the lead story on their website, www.latimes.com. Randolph even up for QRich. I guess the lure of a 2 year contract was too much for Heisley.
THIS WEEK'S ISSUE
SPECIAL ISSUES
