Lee Future Still Uncertain, Knicks Waiting For James In 2010

David Lee is 2,100 miles away from New York City, yet he is still being affected by the front office executives in New York.

Lee still remains the Knicks power forward after the Portland Trail Blazers offered free-agent point guard Andre Miller a 3-year $21 million deal.

Blazers’ head coach Nate McMillan, front-office executives Pritchard, and Tom Penn met with him in Las Vegas Tuesday evening.

Lee, who is currently in Vegas participating in the USA Basketball mini-camp this week, had his best season in the four years with the Knicks, and was hoping that was going to make make him a hot free-agent. He played in 81 games, averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds a game, and finished third in rebounding for the league. Oh yea, he did one more thing this past season, my favorite stat. He led the NBA in double-doubles with 65.

Lee's summer woes continue to keep coming. He was forced to sit out from the mini-camp this week because he is unsigned.

After Portland visited Lee in Las Vegas, they met with the Knicks in New York on Thursday. After discussions, the two teams could not get a deal done.

If the Trailblazers had made an offer sheet to Lee, it would have been a seven day wait before they could offer Miller a deal. 

Meanwhile, the Knicks continue to keep Lee in limbo.

Why do they do this to Lee?

But, then you remember that next year is 2010. The very same year that LeBron James, and many other young NBA stars, will be free agents.

Lee’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, is being reported to have asked for a contract that will give his client better than $10 million a season. Unfortunately for Lee and Bartelstein, a contract like that would put New York team president Donnie Walsh’s promise of being under the cap in 2010 to pursue “King” James in jeopardy.

Since the Knicks probably do not want to sign Lee to a long-term contract, and offering him a 1-year $10 million deal just sounds wrong to the ears, his only way out of New York has to be a sign-and-trade deal.

My guess, I won’t be writing an article about Lee’s new deal or trade in the near future.