Landry Fields: New York Knicks Reportedly to Not Match Raptors' Offer Sheet
Shooting guard Landry Fields is reportedly going to be a Toronto Raptor. The club had signed the restricted free agent to an offer sheet, which the New York Knicks currently have a chance to match and retain his services.
According to New York Newsday's Al Iannazzone the Knicks will be doing no such thing.
"The Knicks are not matching the offer sheet to Landry Fields, his agent said.
— Al Iannazzone (@Al_Iannazzone) July 15, 2012"
The Raptors reportedly signed Fields to a three-year offer sheet for reportedly $19-20 million on July 4. After the Raptors signed Fields to that deal, Toronto GM Bryan Colangelo did not appear confident the amount would be enough to dissuade the Knicks from matching.
He told reporters, as quoted by ESPN's Ian Begley, that "the Knicks have informed me they are very interested in retaining Landry."
The Knicks' reluctance to match is not shocking. A great story, Fields, 24, had a solid rookie season after it was questionable he would even make the team roster as a second-round selection. But Fields took a step back last year as he averaged just 8.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. He also saw his shooting percentages drop, hitting just 46 percent of his field goals and 25.6 percent of his threes.
Also making Fields expendable is the fact that J.R. Smith is on board for next season, and he is a far better scorer than Fields.
The Knicks will also get back Iman Shumpert once he recovers from his ACL tear, and he is a huge upgrade on defense over Fields. For a team that already has cap issues, $19 million is a lot to give up for a player they could have little use for.
The way the roster looks now, with Fields' departure, the Knicks are going to be thin at 2 guard, at least until Shumpert is ready to return, but you can't blame the Knicks for not matching.
Fields brings nothing spectacular to the lineup, and in light of his sophomore slump, it would be foolish to expect him to ever develop into a quality starter; which is what you expect at $19 million over three years.
Update: More roster turnover and changes in Knicks land. Marc Berman and New York Post reports the Knicks have worked out a sign-and-trade for point guard Raymond Felton from Portland, which "would end the Jeremy Lin era prematurely and bitterly. In the deal, the Knicks have acquired Raymond Felton and former Knick Kurt Thomas from the Trail Blazers for Jared Jeffries and Dan Gadzuric. The person confirmed the trade said the Knicks do no [sic] plan to match the Rockets offer sheet."
