MOST of us — me included — only know what newspaper and on-line accounts disseminated about the NBA during the offseason.
That means that the well-read majority believe restricted free agent David Lee had no other choice but to re-sign with the Knicks for one year, albeit at the exceedingly generous figure of $7 million (far above his CBA-defined qualifying offer of $2.6 million, the first time in league history anyone has exceeded his entitlement), in addition to a $1 million bonus should somehow they crash the playoff party.
So, I was startled a few days ago to learn from Lee he actually had a considerably more lucrative, long-term option.
After being out-recruited by the Raptors for Hedo Turkoglu’s multi-talented services (any cryonicists who came in from the cold to watch Orlando throughout the playoffs may well have judged him to be its .400 hitter), and signing restricted free agent Paul Millsap to a fancy, front-loaded guarantee — only to see the capsized Jazz match seven days later — the Blazers zeroed in on the NBA’s double-double champ.
But Portland insisted Lee make up his mind quickly. Andre Miller was their next target and his Philadelphia Freedom had no strings attached. A well-documented sitdown took place in Las Vegas, attended by Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard, coach Nate McMillian, Chicago-based agent Mark Bartelstein and Lee. Unreported was the Blazers’ solid pitch.
“They felt I’d fit in perfectly with LaMarcus and Aldridge,” Lee said. “Believe me, I was flattered. They’ve got a great team.”
No firm offer was made that evening, says a Blazer source. However, it was felt a satisfactory compromise could be reached (Bartelstein wanted $50 million over five, Portland countered with $28 million over four with an escape clause after three) if Lee told them he was as serious about them as they were in him.
“I was given one night to think it over,” Lee said. “I couldn’t commit. I was worried about playing time. Aldridge is All-Star-caliber and they’ve got a huge investment in Oden.”
Moreover, Joel Przybilla gets more rebounds per minute than just about anyone in the league.
“If this was the old regime with all the accompanying craziness I would’ve been outta here,” said the Knicks’ starting center. “But I talked to Mike [D’Antoni] a lot over the summer and I’m down with everything he and Donnie [Walsh] are trying to accomplish.
“I’m really conservative, so for me to take a financial risk like this is completely out of character.
“Bottom line, I love New York and I love playing for the Knicks and I love playing at the Garden. I want to ride this out on a positive note and see what happens.”
Seems to me we already know what that will be. Should LeBron James and/or Dwyane Wade, or any two quasi-quasars join the Knicks, goodbye cap space! So long David Lee and Nate Robinson and the other four free agents!
The arrival of a celestial being(s) means everyone at the end of their contracts must be renounced. That means the Knicks lose their “Bird Rights.” That means Lee and Al Harrington and Co. must box each out for the team’s single loose mid-level exception contract or settle for bread crumbs.
The good news is there will be 8-to-10 teams owning cap space between $10 and $20 million, depending on what the projected dwindling number turns out to be; it could be as low as $50 million, down $8 million from this year. Four of them (Knicks are No. 1, Nets right behind them) will have over $20 million to squander.
In other words, Lee will have many more options than the three prospective teams that were well under the cap this past summer. The Pistons went deep into their resources to enlist Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, the Blazers bagged Miller and the Thunder decided against over-spending until further notice.
Of course, LeBron and Wade can always decide to remain the selected saviors of Cleveland and Miami. In that case, Lee is likely to get rewarded by the Knicks for his loyalty/gamble, and Walsh can get down to the business of developing a championship team instead of trying to buy one.
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Love what’s going on with Golden State. Stephen Jackson is demanding a trade and Monta Ellis says he and Stephen Curry are too small to play alongside each other in the backcourt. Now forward Brandon Wright, who was outplaying Anthony Randolph, needs shoulder surgery and is out indefinitely. The Warriors have a great future behind them.
At dinner Friday night I asked Walsh who he would have selected had he been able to acquire the fourth or fifth spot in last June’s draft: Curry or Ricky Rubio?
“Curry,” he answered without a pause. “Not only is he a great shooter but he can get his shot on anyone. Opponents look at his baby face and figure they can manhandle him. Meanwhile he tore up every top-rated guard he went up against at our workout, including Tyreke Evans, who might be the best player in the draft next to Blake Griffin.”
P.J. Carlesimo (doing color on 20 Spurs telecasts as well as some college games) attended a few Knicks workouts days after spending a couple days watching the Celtics.
“It requires no intelligence to deduce they’re damn good,” he cracked about the Celtics. “They’re already practicing. The rest of the league is training.” Exempting the Lakers, I submit.
“Kanye West got confused,” e-mails reader Richie Kalikow. “I told him to interrupt your Hall of Fame speech.”