Blazers Getting Serious For David Lee

[Clueminati017]

Several sources with knowledge of the situation have told Tommy Dee that the Portland Trailblazers are getting serious about trading for David Lee.

The Blazers’ organization feels Lee’s style of play would fit perfectly in Portland as he can play in both the half court system and get out and run as well as any forward in the NBA.

The Knicks may be interested in Jerryd Bayless, who has fallen behind Sergio Rodriguez on their depth chart, and whom the team passed on in this year’s draft or Rodriguez, but the combination of either and a first round pick won’t be enough to entice Walsh. This is where a third team may get involved.

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/ ... david_lee/

Pretty much an enticing move in the Blazeres front office who is trying to beef up the post. My question right now is where do you want to start him at? The 3 over Nicholas Batum, or a back up behind LaMarcus Aldridge? Right now, it's Walsh's move on how this trade is performed.

[Andrew]

Could be a great deal for the Blazers but I'm still surprised that the Knicks are so willing to give up Lee when he's been staunchly off-limits until now, especially as they look towards 2010. They've already set themselves up to have enough cash to make a run at a top free agent that summer, possibly even two, but they also need to show those players they'll be joining a team that already has some talent and is capable of being competitive.

[Clueminati017]

The question for me right is...

Who is the Knicks are trying to build the team around?

I was hoping to see Jamal Crawford and David Lee as the 1-2 combo where that's main focal core for Walsh's look with D'Antoni. I guess they're taking an different approach.

[Andrew]

Right now they're really putting their eggs in one basket by banking on a marquee free agent coming next year, it wouldn't surprise me if they make do with some makeshift lineups until then, perhaps centring around whomever they get with what is likely to be a lottery pick in the Draft this year. If they do land one of the big names in 2010 then it's going to look like a well calculated gamble but I think they need to assemble the makings of a solid team to surround that player (whomever it turns out to be) and to that end, I would've thought Lee is someone they'd be holding onto with so many other names now out of the picture.

[[Q]]

that's just dumb on Portland's part. they already got a logjam at the 4 with Aldridge/Frye/Diogu with not a whole lotta minutes going around with the jogjam at PG with Blake/SRod/Bayless not to mention them scrapping for time at the 3 when Webster gets back with Batum & Outlaw. Blazers need to stop getting greedy. i feel Frye's a waste of talent on the bench right now, no need to add more to that list.

[The X]

Andrew, it is all about the Knicks not wanting to resign Lee on a long term deal for big $$$'s....I think it's a mistake, but they've got their plan & Lee doesn't figure into it....I'd love to see Lee at Portland, provided they get rid of chumps like Frye & Diogu....a 4 big man rotation of Lee, Aldridge, Pryz-bizz & Oden is what will get it done

[Andrew]

Andrew, it is all about the Knicks not wanting to resign Lee on a long term deal for big $$$'s....I think it's a mistake, but they've got their plan & Lee doesn't figure into it....

That's what I figured, not having to re-sign Lee to a long term deal will give them even more cap space but I doubt LeBron would leave Cleveland to play with a bunch of scrubs and a lottery pick or two, especially if the Cavs maintain a similar form to the one they've shown so far this season. Obviously all their plans are revolving around signing LeBron or someone in 2010 and Lee factors into that either way (either as a solid player alongside LeBron or a contract they need to get rid of, depending on how they want to play it) but the problem is the Knicks don't seem to have a contingency plan. If they don't get a marquee player, they're going to have a sorry looking roster and will have to spend that well earned cap space on a couple of lesser players who won't generate nearly as much excitement (or wins).

It reminds me of what happened in Chicago just after the 1998 Championship team was broken up and everyone was looking ahead to the summer of 2000 when Tim Duncan, Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady were all free agents. The Bulls had all that money to spend and they ended up with Ron Mercer. With everything else that's happened, I'm sure New York doesn't want to come at all close to a scenario like that.

[Clueminati017]

Andrew, it is all about the Knicks not wanting to resign Lee on a long term deal for big $$$'s....I think it's a mistake, but they've got their plan & Lee doesn't figure into it....I'd love to see Lee at Portland, provided they get rid of chumps like Frye & Diogu....a 4 big man rotation of Lee, Aldridge, Pryz-bizz & Oden is what will get it done

Channing Frye is not the problem. He was good back in NY, and when he came out of University of Arizona. The problem is why Ike Diogu never reached his expectations on being a double-double machine in the post like he was back in college. Diogu was an animal coming from Arizona just like Frye. Is there something wrong going on with the Arizona products now? Because I would hate to see how James Harden and Chase Budinger will turn out.

[The X]

Andrew, it is all about the Knicks not wanting to resign Lee on a long term deal for big $$$'s....I think it's a mistake, but they've got their plan & Lee doesn't figure into it....I'd love to see Lee at Portland, provided they get rid of chumps like Frye & Diogu....a 4 big man rotation of Lee, Aldridge, Pryz-bizz & Oden is what will get it done

Channing Frye is not the problem. He was good back in NY, and when he came out of University of Arizona. The problem is why Ike Diogu never reached his expectations on being a double-double machine in the post like he was back in college. Diogu was an animal coming from Arizona just like Frye. Is there something wrong going on with the Arizona products now? Because I would hate to see how James Harden and Chase Budinger will turn out.

No, I like Harden & Budinger & hoped Diogu would do well....don't like Frye though, never have, never thought he should've been taken over Danny Granger (like many others I guess) by Knicks....

but all that being said, I like Lee a lot, so would be happy to see those guys get moved on where they can hopefully blossom elsewhere....