http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=TradeOptions-090217 3. Knicks send David Lee, Malik Rose and Jared Jeffries to the Bulls for Tyrus Thomas and Larry Hughes. <!--INLINE MUG--> Thomas <!--END INLINE MUG--> <!--INLINE MUG--> Lee <!--END INLINE MUG--> • View this deal in the ESPN Trade Machine Why should the Knicks do it? It would help the Knicks tremendously in the summer of 2010. Not only would it clear the last $6 million of Jeffries' deal off the books, but it would ease the Knicks' worries about losing Lee for nothing this summer in free agency. If Thomas were to keep developing, they could pay him in the summer of 2010 along with LeBron. If he were to struggle, they could let him go and bring in two big free agents with all of their cap room. In the meantime, Hughes would help shore up a big hole at the 2 and he too would come off the books in 2010. Why should the Bulls do it? Lee would bring a change in culture to the franchise. He's a double-double machine and a good locker room guy. They'd have to pay him this summer, but given the horrific financial market, it probably wouldn't cost them a fortune. It also would save them some money heading into the summer; getting Hughes off the books would clear an extra $7 million or so under the cap. Will it happen? Maybe. The Knicks don't want to lose Lee for nothing and they would love to move Jeffries' contract. The Bulls need a shake-up and adding Lee would help get the team back to its winning ways.
This does nothing for us other than get rid of our most exciting player. I like David Lee and everything and yeah he's looked great in D'Antoni's inflated point system but do we really wanna give up someone who is starting to look like our 2nd best player?
F Jeffries. Not doing that. Jeffries contract goes past 2010 and he's useless. Make it Jerome James (equally useless but contract expires after next year) and we can talk
If by exciting you mean the guy who has had 3 good weeks out of 3 years and has a terrible attitude and has achieved nothing while in a Bulls uniform, then yes I agree. I like David Lee. I think he has defense issues, but he hustles. You can tell he would at least try to be better. I know nothing about Jefferies though.
Jeffries looks like he'd be great, but in fact sucks something fierce and has a long contract. Like I said, I do this deal if it's for Jerome James instead of Jeffries, because that frees up nearly $12M in cap space next year. We could pretty conceivably resign Lee and Gordon, dump Kirk and Noc, and roll into 2010 with a team of: 1- Rose 2- Gordon 3- Deng 4- Lee 5- Noah 09 pick, 10 pick, Omer Asik and still have max money to try and land ourselves a big time free agent. it's not as sexy as making a big splash now, but if we could lure Bosh or Wade, then we trade whichever guy's spot he takes and make a good push. Not sure that team is quite there though, even if we add (for example) Wade and trade Gordon for a big, or add Bosh and trade Lee or Noah for an upgrade somewhere.
