<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">Knicks Court Jeffries With Five-Year Offer</span>By Ivan CarterWashington Post Staff WriterSaturday, July 29, 2006; Page E05Restricted free agent Jared Jeffries signed an offer sheet with the New York Knicks yesterday, according to NBA sources. The offer covers five years and is worth around $30 million and uses the Knicks' mid-level exception -- a first-year salary of $5.2 million.Once the paperwork is complete and the Wizards receive a copy, the team will have seven days to decide whether to match the offer. Team owner Abe Pollin, President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld and Coach Eddie Jordan have all indicated a desire to retain Jeffries and continue building on the momentum created by consecutive playoff appearances."We have not received an offer and if or when we do, we will have a week to explore all of our options to determine our course of action," Grunfeld said in a statement.The 6-foot-11 Jeffries has posted averages of 6.1 points and 4.8 rebounds in four seasons while carving out a role as perhaps Washington's best all-around defensive player.Isiah Thomas, the New York president of basketball operations and head coach, has long coveted Jeffries. Like Jeffries, Thomas starred at Indiana University and Thomas is eager to add more defensive-minded players to a team that allowed 102 points per game last season."We're excited about the prospect of having the opportunity to play with the Knicks," said Jeffries's agent, Andy Miller.However, the Knicks may not want to get too comfortable with the idea of Jeffries in their lineup because the Wizards may match it. According to an NBA source, Jeffries turned down a "significant offer" from the Wizards earlier this summer, an offer that was worth more than the one he signed yesterday.The Wizards have 13 players under contract after the recent signing of forward Darius Songaila to a five-year, $21 million deal but only 11 of those contracts are guaranteed.Second-year guard Donell Taylor and third-year center Peter John Ramos have non-guaranteed contracts. Also, the Wizards have room under the NBA's luxury tax threshold to match the offer to Jeffries, according to sources.Pollin has indicated that his is willing to spend up to, but not over, the luxury tax threshold, which is $65.4 million. Teams with payrolls over the threshold pay a dollar-for-dollar tax on the overage.The Knicks already have Jalen Rose, Quentin Richardson, David Lee and first-round pick Renaldo Balkman at the small forward position, but Jeffries's versatility makes him a valuable asset.For the Wizards last season, Jeffries started games at shooting guard and small forward, often played power forward and even played center late in the season when Brendan Haywood and Etan Thomas were slowed by injury.Should the Wizards retain Jeffries, the team will have first-round pick Oleksiy Pecherov return to Europe for another year of seasoning. Pecherov has not signed with the Wizards and remains under contract to his team in the Ukraine.Also, should the Wizards retain Jeffries, the team will no longer have money to pursue free agent guard DeShawn Stevenson. The Wizards have courted Stevenson as a possible replacement for Jeffries.</div>Well, I dont really know what to say. Knicks overpaid him, thats for sure (again). He certainly isnt worth 30 mill for 5 years. This signing was a good addition for the Knicks and I'm happy for Jared. He is put in a pretty ugly situation but he got the money he wanted and I guess thats all that matters for NBA players. The bad thing about this is that we lose one of our best perimeter defenders, but it also means we get DeShawn Stevenson. :happy0144:EDIT: Btw the Wizards have seven days to match the offer, which I really hope we don't..
Bad thing is that we lose Jeffries, Kind of ridiculous offer by Isiah Thomas. However this gives us great motiviation to pursue DeShawn Stevenson which i would rather have than Jeffries. We honestly should not match this offer and let him go, he's not worth tha t much besides we've got Jarvis Hayes back now and have recently signed Darius Songaila.
Can someone answer me how the Knicks are allowed to sign players even though they are over the cap?? I know they have to pay some percentage or some stuff like that to the league for being over the cap.It doesnt make sense to me, couldnt you just make like an amazing team by signing allstar calibre players in the offseason and you would pay the league w.e ammount you owe them for being over the cap? With all the all-star players you would have a winning team which sells out every home game so you would probably make enough revenue to pay the league for being over the cap.Please someone fill me in.
EDIT: woops, i saw jarred and was thinking jarred collins for some reason.I like this for them actually. He is a good defensive player who is very underrated. Although, they already have 2 capable guys at that position AND they overpaid them.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MosDefinitely @ Jul 29 2006, 01:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Can someone answer me how the Knicks are allowed to sign players even though they are over the cap?? I know they have to pay some percentage or some stuff like that to the league for being over the cap.It doesnt make sense to me, couldnt you just make like an amazing team by signing allstar calibre players in the offseason and you would pay the league w.e ammount you owe them for being over the cap? With all the all-star players you would have a winning team which sells out every home game so you would probably make enough revenue to pay the league for being over the cap.Please someone fill me in.</div>As was said earlier, they used the mid-level exception. Basically there are some exceptions that can be used to sign players every year if you are over the cap. You can't sign just anybody. And even if you could, I don't think that would necessarily be the best thing...This might help you a little bit: link
Yeah I saw this transaction earlier today..It isn't finalized, Wizards have a week to match the offer...But yeah overpaid player once again. He is one of the biggest guards in the league but literally he cannot shoot. We need perimeter D thoguh so that's the plus about this deal. If we sign him we need to depend on QRICH and JCRAW to be successful this year from shooting their outside J's.I just hope this signing if it does happen turns out to be a success, us Knick fans have never witnessed a good transaction by us in the 21st century yet lol if you think about it.
I think it is a good signing. I dont think s mil is overpaying Jeffries for what some of the other guys are making. They needed a tough player like Jeffries, and they got him. Good job.
He's not getting overpaid guys, he turned down a bigger offer by the Wiz, and now is simply taking the MLE to play with NY. If Jefferies is overpaid, why were people talking as if Daniels wasn't when he was traded for Croshere? Daniels took the MLE as well, and I'm pretty sure Jefferies is the better player. So how is he overpaid? Also, who in this league isn't overpaid?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Jul 29 2006, 01:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Daniels took the MLE as well, and I'm pretty sure Jefferies is the better player.</div>Absoulutely wrong, Rok. :no1:
How is Marquis Daniels better? Your telling me a unproven guy in Daniels who got similar money as Jefferies deserves the MLE but not him?
I'd rather have Marquis on my team than JJ. Marquis actually has an offensive game, along with decent perimeter defense. He's a good guy to have off the bench and I wish we'd get him this off season.EDIT: If Marquis hasnt proven anything, then Jeffries definitely hasnt proven anything.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I'd rather have Marquis on my team than JJ. Marquis actually has an offensive game, along with decent perimeter defense.</div> Quis offense is relegated to slashing, he has no jumper, just like Jefferies.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>EDIT: If Marquis hasnt proven anything, then Jeffries definitely hasnt proven anything.</div>But yet Quis got the MLE, and I hear no mention of him being overpaid. Weird?Also, want to know what you think he was going to get paid going into this offseason Zards. Because I've stated before the free agency began, that Jefferies would get the full MLE. It's just ideal for players like him, Daniels, etc. Every team in the league has it, and it's good amount to lock up a potential player with upside. If it doesn't pan out, the contract is tradeable.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Jul 29 2006, 02:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Quis offense is relegated to slashing, he has no jumper, just like Jefferies.</div>Jeffries never slashes to the basket, and he doesnt have any jumpshot whatsoever. He has no offensive game to speak of. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>But yet Quis got the MLE, and I hear no mention of him being overpaid. Weird?</div>Maybe because Marquis Daniels is a better player than Jared Jeffries?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Maybe because Marquis Daniels is a better player than Jared Jeffries? </div> I beg to differ, but what has Daniels done since he got it, that makes him deserving of that contract? I would say nothing. He's been injury prone, hasn't shown up in games when he's not hurt and still has yet to develop a jumper. There's a reason he was undrafted.
Completely unnessesary signing. I guess they don't really want to develop Balkman as much as I thought. Well I guess Rose will be out of this season, and maybe they can move Q? It still doesn't make sense. They should have kept the their MLE. Why do they they need two defensive minded small fowards with limited offensive skills, esp when you just used the 20th pick in the draft on the other. Baffled.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Jul 29 2006, 02:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I beg to differ, but what has Daniels done since he got it, that makes him deserving of that contract? I would say nothing. He's been injury prone, hasn't shown up in games when he's not hurt and still has yet to develop a jumper. There's a reason he was undrafted.</div>I'd rather have an undrafted backup SG, who's capable of producing starter numbers than a guy who we wasted on the 11th pick with no offensive game whatsoever and who's decent defensively.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I'd rather have an undrafted backup SG, who's capable of producing starter numbers than a guy who we wasted on the 11th pick with no offensive game whatsoever and who's decent defensively.</div> You don't know even know what your talking about with Daniels. Producing starter numbers? Yeah right, he couldn't even break our swingman rotation unless they were injuries. And he will have a hard time in Indy as well. I'll take a guy who does the intangibles, plays better defense and has better size over Daniels. I could care less about offensive production. Not every player has to be a scorer. You act like Daniels is that much better at scoring, when in fact he isn't. He needs to ball to score, still has no jumper, and reverts to driving. I'm not even going to comment about him missing layups at times. His defense is also sub-par and your telling me he's that better then Jefferies? Get that sh*t out of here. Neither player is something to write home about, I simply brought him up because Daniels ain't that better(to me Jefferies is better) and no one talks about Daniels being overpaid. It's dumb and a double standard. Also, Daniels is far worse off because after his contract, he failed to live up to it. While we have a wait and see with Jefferies still. If he doesn't pan, it's not hard to trade him. You still didn't answer my question about what you expected Jefferies price range to be in. If you expected half the MLE, you set your expectations way too low. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Why do they they need two defensive minded small fowards with limited offensive skills, esp when you just used the 20th pick in the draft on the other. Baffled.</div> Maybe because the rest of team have offensive oriented players that need the ball.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DRob-50-Forever @ Jul 29 2006, 02:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Completely unnessesary signing. I guess they don't really want to develop Balkman as much as I thought. Well I guess Rose will be out of this season, and maybe they can move Q? It still doesn't make sense. They should have kept the their MLE. Why do they they need two defensive minded small fowards with limited offensive skills, esp when you just used the 20th pick in the draft on the other. Baffled.</div>yea it was completely unecessary. yea what a stupid offer they made. i mean the knicks were so good defensively last season why did they have to sign an offer to someone that is said to be the best defender on his team? are you serious??? how can you say this is bad? the knicks were awful on defense giving up over 100ppg. what's wrong with signing a good defenisive player like jefferies who can also play other positions? whoever is using the argument of jeffries having limited skills which makes this a bad signing is ridiculous. you think the knicks need more offense? like crawford, marbury, francis, q, curry, rose etc. all players who score and can drop 20 points any given night. the fact that jeffries isn't a good offensive player is irrelevant. they needed defense it's that simple, isiah realized that. maybe some of larry brown has rubbed off on him.i wouldn't say i'm "baffled" by the offer because it may mean that balkman isn't going to develop. honestly balkman may not even crack the rotation. i know collins won't but balkman will play limited minutes anyway. why should they have kept their mid level exception? who else would they have used it on??????
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Jul 29 2006, 03:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You don't know even know what your talking about with Daniels. Producing starter numbers? Yeah right, he couldn't even break our swingman rotation unless they were injuries. And he will have a hard time in Indy as well. I'll take a guy who does the intangibles, plays better defense and has better size over Daniels. I could care less about offensive production. Not every player has to be a scorer. You act like Daniels is that much better at scoring, when in fact he isn't. He needs to ball to score, still has no jumper, and reverts to driving. I'm not even going to comment about him missing layups at times. His defense is also sub-par and your telling me he's that better then Jefferies? Get that sh*t out of here. Neither player is something to write home about, I simply brought him up because Daniels ain't that better(to me Jefferies is better) and no one talks about Daniels being overpaid. It's dumb and a double standard. Also, Daniels is far worse off because after his contract, he failed to live up to it. While we have a wait and see with Jefferies still. If he doesn't pan, it's not hard to trade him. You still didn't answer my question about what you expected Jefferies price range to be in. If you expected half the MLE, you set your expectations way too low. Maybe because the rest of team have offensive oriented players that need the ball.</div>You're underrating Daniels, and you're overrating Jeffries. Trust me, I've been watching the Wiz for 7 years now, and Jeffries is not as 'great' as you think. He is DECENT on defense, he has length, but his footwork is terrible. He never completely shut down an opposing team's superstar. Hey, guess what? Jeffries misses tons of lay ups, too. Daniels will not have a hard time in Indy because Fred Jones may be gone to the Raps, and overall they dont have good backups in the guard positions. He will get a lot of playing time once Jones leaves, and he will flourish. Also, you said that Daniels failed to live up to his contract. Well, Jeffries failed to live up to him being picked at the 11th pick. Undrafted players like Daniels dont have much success, they either go to Europe to play ball or something and no one ever hears of them. Daniels put in suprisingly good numbers for an undrafted rookie. Jeffries hardly made any kind of impact in his rookie year being in the lottery. Also, he missed a ton of games in his rookie year because of a torn ACL. You say that Daniels is injury-prone. Well, Jeffries is, too. In 29 starts in '05-06, Marquis Daniels averaged 13.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.7 apg and 1.3 spg. He isnt worth the entire MLE, I dont know where you get that. Go ask a bunch of other Wizards fans, and hear what they say.
