Maciej Lampe won't be going back to Europe after all. The 18-year-old rookie forward from Poland is staying in New York.

The Knicks signed Lampe to a three-year deal worth approximately $2.8 million on Wednesday. The amount is far more than what second-round picks normally receive, but it will help Lampe pay his buyout with Real Madrid.

Originally, Lampe's buyout was about $2.1 million. After weeks of negotiations, culminating with Knicks general manager Scott Layden going to Spain to meet with the president of Real Madrid last week, that number was whittled down to roughly $1 million.

Teams can pay $350,000 toward a buyout, so the player must assume the difference. The initial figure in Lampe's deal contributed mightily to him dropping to No. 30 after he was projected to go as high as fifth.

Generally, second-round choices make the league minimum - which is $367,000 for this season - and what 7-foot-6 Slavko Vranes received from the Knicks. But the Knicks see tremendous potential in the 7-foot Lampe.