The Knicks are exploring the possibility of trading Courtney Lee and his multiyear contract, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post.
Lee will make $12,253,780 in the upcoming season and $12,759,670 in 2019/20, which could disrupt the team’s plans to offer a maximum-salary contract next summer.
If the Knicks want to lock up Kristaps Porzingis to a contract extension this offseason, it would cut into their projected 2019 cap room, so moving Lee for expiring salary would help retain some of the their ’19 flexibility and create a clearer path to a max-salary slot. Porzingis, who is expected to miss at least part of the season with a torn ACL in his left knee, is eligible for a extension worth a projected $155MM.
Lee, 32, will likely fall out of the rotation under new coach David Fizdale, Berman writes. Sources tell The Post that rookie Kevin Knox is expected to take Lee’s spot as the starting small forward, while Damyean Dotson will have a bigger role as the backup to Tim Hardaway Jr. at shooting guard and Frank Ntilikina will also see time there. Fizdale reportedly doesn’t view the 6’5″ Lee as a small forward.
Lee has spent the past two seasons with the Knicks after signing as a free agent in 2016. He appeared in 76 games this year, starting 69, and posted a 12.0/2.9/2.4 line.
good
Hope we can pull that off.
Wonder if he will return to Charlotte somehow
Jr Smith ($17 mil guaranteed) + 2nd red pick for Lee.
Knicks will never revisit that albatross.
They don’t have to play him. They can just buy him out and cut him. You still save the $12.8 mil Lee is due for 19-20.
The point is to get Lee’s contract off the books this next year to free up cap for a max contract. This would be a good deal. Anyone that expires after this season is a welcomed addition
Possibly, but I think I can get (and would prefer) a fully expiring deal. Knicks would release him (not stretching). A 2nd and 8-9 mm in cap space in 2019.
Smith, in essence, is an expiring contract. His 2019-20 money is only guaranteed for $3.4 mil which basically means he’s on a 1/$17 deal.
I know (I thought it was 3.8) but either way it’s not the same as an expiring deal. The 3.8 (or 3.4) is on the 2019-20 books. Whereas a 1/17 mm (true expiring) ZERO is on the 2019-20 books. That’s a significant amount of cap space if you’re using cap space.
If you’re stretching him though I think it’s better if it bleeds a little into that second year. The stretch over 5 years (for 2 years left) is less than for 3 (for one year left)… so for $17 it would be $3.4 vs $6.3. If anyone knows better please correct.
Yes, it would be (5 years vs 3). But the Knicks wouldn’t be into stretching. Cavs should call OKC. They might like Hill as well for an equal amount of their expiring deals (one in particular).
No JR Smith had to much of him. Knicks gave up extra player to get rid of him.
Wouldn’t Lee do better at guard? I realize he has always been in-between by preference, perhaps disappointingly so in some cases.
His numbers now show 41% on 3s but poor defense, 83rd of 110 by +/-, listed as a 2– but he played the 3 usually. (2G Hardaway did have a short season, his 2nd in 5 years. In 10 years, Lee shorted once in 2012.)
Correction, 2012 was a short season for everyone. Lee has never had one!
In 10 years in the league, Lee’s been a starter the majority of the time and averaged more than 28 minutes a game. He’s no star but he maximizes his talent by sticking to the things he does well. Great 3 point shooter, but no good at drawing fouls. Maybe Philadelphia will trade for him if they miss out on big free agents. I definitely think he can be a solid role player sg on a good team.
Need to get rid of both Lee and THJ. THJ is going to be almost impossible to trade with his contract. Mills was on board with 2 very bad contracts given out Noah & THJ. That shows Jackson & Mills both have no idea what needs to be done as head of the team. Noah should have been signed to a $5 mil make good contract. THJ should not have been signed for more then $45 mil (+$26 mil to much).
Where is Trey Burke getting minutes ?
Burke should be starting at the Point Guard position. Frankie for now at the Shooting Guard position. Mudiay, Lee, Brown, & Jack should all be traded.
Of course he’s not a “3” but someone has to defend there. The problem is your genius boss decided to give career backup THJ a high end starter’s contract with (of all things) a trade kicker. So, what wasn’t a problem, our “2” situation, now become two problems, our “2” stinks and we have to move a solid two-way veteran “2” with a decent contract to accommodate him. Fortunately, there will always be a market for a guy like Lee when the dust settles.