March 2009 New York Knicks Wiretap

Sign-And-Trade Still Possible For Lee

Aug 30, 2009 8:39 AM

There are a number of sign-and-trade possibilities still out there for David Lee.

Alan Hahn of Newsday reported overnight that there "are a couple of sign-and-trades still being considered before a one-year deal is negotiated."

New York general manager Donnie Walsh is seriously considering a pair of reasonable trades involving Lee, but there is a possibility that the forward could stay with the Knicks under a one-year deal if neither trade is worked out.

The Blazers are mentioned as a possibility as they nearly made an offer to Lee before they eventually signed Andre Miller.  New York would want Rudy Fernandez to be included in any proposed deal.

Newsday

Tags: New York Knicks, NBA

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Jackson Wants Out Of Golden State

Aug 28, 2009 9:28 PM

Appearing in New York with Al Harrington, Stephen Jackson said he does not want to return to the Warriors this season.

"I don't think I'll be a Warrior next year. I'm looking to leave," Jackson said.

Jackson said the Warriors have been made aware of his desire to be traded.

"I really can't get too much into it right now, but I'm just looking to go somewhere where I can go and win a championship," Jackson said.

Jackson listed the Cavs, any of the three teams in Texas and the Knicks as his preferred destinations.

Jackson won a championship as a member of the Spurs during the 2002-03 season.

DimeMag.com

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, NBA

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Bucks Still Waiting For Sessions Resolution

Aug 28, 2009 7:15 AM

The Bucks are still waiting for a resolution regarding point guard Ramon Sessions.

Sessions, a restricted free agent, has drawn interest primarily from the Knicks and Clippers.

Milwaukee has a $1 million qualifying offer on the table for Sessions, but retaining him would give the Bucks four point guards.

"Nothing has changed from our standpoint," general manager John Hammond said. "It's still wait-and-see, to see what direction things go for Ramon.

"We have been in communication with (agent) Chubby Wells, and he's been very professional throughout the process. It's his timetable."

They already have Brandon Jennings, Luke Ridnour and Roko Ukic under contract.

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Tags: Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, NBA

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Lee's Agent Unsure If He'll Be Signed By Sept. 28th

Aug 27, 2009 11:52 PM

New York Post beat writer Marc Berman stood by his report that David Lee could remain unsigned on September 28th when Knicks' training camp begins.

Mark Bartelstein was angry with the headline, but he had no problem with the way the story read, according to Berman.

He indicated the story was accurate.

"But people read the headline," said Bartelstein, which stated "Lee could be a holdout."

Berman asked Bartelstein three separate times whether or not he believed Lee would be signed by September 28th and he repeatedly said he couldn't be sure.

New York Post

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Lee's Agent Disputes NY Post's Holdout Story

Aug 27, 2009 1:03 PM

David Lee's agent Mark Bartelstein said Marc Berman took his quote out of context and that his client does not intend to sit out training camp.

Alan Hahn described Bartelstein as "furious" with Berman's slant on the story.

"I honestly think this is why athletes and agents are at a point where you don't trust the media," Bartelstein said.

"Donnie [Walsh] and I have worked on this thing all summer," Bartelstein told Hahn. "I understand where they are [with the 2010 plan] and what they're trying to do. I'm not going to criticize Donnie and the Knicks for doing it."

Bartlestein said that he is "not opposed" to taking a one-year contract but that Lee "should be paid properly."

Newsday

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Lee Could Sit Out Camp Without Contract

Aug 27, 2009 8:35 AM

The agent for David Lee said his client could sit out training camp if a contract is not reached before then.

"I certainly hope not, but you have to have an agreement," Mark Bartelstein said. "I never thought we'd be this far without a deal. It comes down to making a deal. You have to ask Donnie [Walsh]."

Bartelstein said he and the Knicks have agreed to either find a sign-and-trade or come to terms on a one-year deal.

New York Post

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Could Knicks Re-Sign Lee Or Nate Next Summer?

Aug 26, 2009 8:30 PM

As the off-season drags on with both David Lee and Nate Robinson remaining unsigned, there has been much speculation that the two restricted free-agents could take one-year contracts with the Knicks, only to be cut loose next summer as the team pursues a superstar free-agent who would demand a maximum contract.

An examination of the relevant salary cap figures shows that the Knicks' ability to retain Lee or Robinson may end up being a close call even if the cap drops as expected.  

If the Knicks do not sign Ramon Sessions or add any other 2010-2011 salary, team president Donnie Walsh will have approximately $4.1 million of cap room after one hypothetical max contract, under the league?s worst-case projection of a drop in the salary cap next summer to $50.4 million.  With 10.5% annual raises, $4.1 million of cap room may be sufficiently large to retain Robinson.

If the cap is set at the league?s best-case projection of $53.6 million, the Knicks would have $7.3 million remaining after one max contract, which may be a big enough first-year salary to retain Lee on a potential six-year deal at 10.5% annual raises.  Walsh could also try to create about $1 million to $4 million of additional cap room by buying out the contracts of Jared Jeffries and/or Eddy Curry, who may just prefer to seek new long-term contracts in 2010 rather than incurring the risk of unfavorable changes to the CBA in 2011.  Jeffries and Curry could make up the 2010-2011 salary reduction in their new contracts.  And because each player will be in the last year of his contract, the Knicks would save dollar-for-dollar 2010 cap relief on any difference between the buyout and the salary due.

If Lee signs with the Knicks for one season in the coming weeks, his sizable 2010 cap hold would prevent the Knicks from having the room to sign a free-agent to a maximum contract.  However, note that Lee?s cap hold would immediately be replaced with the actual 2010-2011 salary figure if and when he were to sign a new contract with the Knicks next summer.  For example, if the Knicks know that they have $7.3 million to offer Lee while still having the room to offer one max contract (which will come out to about $16.57 million for LeBron James, Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh), the team can first sign the deal with Lee in order to convert his cap hold to the $7.3 million contract amount, then comfortably ink one max contract.

Of course, things don't always play out so sequentially in actual practice.  In the summer of 2005, the Cavs were forced to renounce Zydrunas Ilgauskas in order to make room to sign then-free-agent Larry Hughes.  The Cavs did end up re-signing Ilgauskas later, simply using their leftover cap room rather than his Bird exception.  But that would not be the ideal scenario for anybody involved.  For instance, if Walsh is able to squeeze Lee in at $7.3 million in year one, the two sides could want to take advantage of the added 2.5% of annual raises and an extra sixth year in order to make the most attractive and lucrative deal possible.  Those advantages are lost once the player?s Bird rights are renounced as was the case with Ilgauskas in 2005.

Christopher Reina/RealGM

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With No Offer From Knicks, Sessions To New York Looks Dead

Aug 25, 2009 9:15 PM

Alan Hahn writes that the Knicks do not have a standing offer to Ramon Sessions and that the team would only make a long-term commitment to the restricted free-agent if Donnie Walsh is able to move the contract of either Jared Jeffries or Eddy Curry.

Hahn therefore concludes that the Knicks' chances of landing Sessions this summer are remote.

Newsday

Tags: Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, NBA

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Goodwin: No Meeting Between Nate And Knicks

Aug 25, 2009 5:30 PM

According to the player's representatives, Nate Robinson is not meeting with the Knicks on Wednesday.

"Contrary to the NY Post, Nate Robinson/reps will NOT be meeting with the Knicks," wrote Goodwin Sports on its Twitter page.  "Responsible reporters RESEARCH."

Twitter (Goodwin Sports)

Tags: New York Knicks, NBA

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Nate, Knicks To Talk On Wednesday

Aug 25, 2009 7:30 AM

Knicks general manager Donnie Walsh and restricted free agent guard Nate Robinson plan to meet on Wednesday.

The pair will discuss Robinson's status with the team in the wake of his arrest for driving without a license.

One of Robinson's agents, Eric or Aaron Goodwin, will be present at the meeting.

The Knicks have a one-year qualifying offer worth $2.9 million on the table, and it isn't believed that Robinson has another offer on the table.

New York Post

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Source: Sessions Still A Priority For Knicks

Newsday

Three Teams Could Be Set Up More Favorably Than Knicks For 2010

Cleveland Plain Dealer

Nate: I Want To Be A Knick

Journal News

Nate Tried To Get Out Of Arrest

New York Post

Iverson 'Definitely' Not Coming To Knicks

Newsday

Nate May Have Hurt Chances With Knicks

New York Post

Knicks Only Remaining Suitor For Sessions?

Newsday

Knicks Court Sessions With Eye On 2010, As Bucks Push Closer To Tax

Christopher Reina/RealGM

Nate Arrested For Traffic Infraction

New York Post

How Much Cap Space Knicks Will Have In 2010

Christopher Reina/RealGM

Iverson Lists Bobcats, Heat, Knicks As Options

Allen Iverson/Twitter.com

Knicks Waiting Out Sessions

Twitter (Alan Hahn, Newsday)

Lee Now Understands Knicks' Position

LoHud.com

Knicks Could Be Pursuing Rubio

Alex Kennedy/RealGM

Duhon: Sessions Will Make Knicks Better

Newsday

Walsh Thinks Darko Can Blossom With Knicks

New York Post

Knicks Still Chasing Sessions

Twitter (Gery Woelfel, The Journal Times)

Wade Believes Knicks Will Be Back Soon

New York Times

Knicks Almost Had Deal For Sessions; Clippers Closing In

Twitter (Gery Woelfel, The Journal Times)

Nate Robinson To Change Jersey Numbers

Twitter.com