Knicks hoping to keep Lee, Robinson
June 30, 2009
NEW YORK (AP)—David Lee(notes) and Nate Robinson(notes) become free agents on Wednesday, andthe New York Knicks say they would like to keep both.
The players shouldn’t expect too big an offer. Those are reserved for theguys who hit free agency next year.
In the meantime, the Knicks face decisions on two of their own, a pair ofpopular and productive players they will try to retain—but only if it doesn’tcost them too much.
New York’s goal remains to be a major player next summer, and not overspendin 2009.
“I’m always looking at 2010, because I want to be in the free agent marketin a big way,” team president Donnie Walsh said.
That’s why a player like Lee will become a free agent. The Knicks could haveextended him and Robinson before last season, and teams often take that option.Walsh, however, didn’t want to make any commitments without seeing how they fitinto coach Mike D’Antoni’s system.
“You don’t normally have a guy like this in free agency,” Lee’s agent,Mark Bartelstein, said of his client. “Usually these guys are extended beforethey get there.”
Lee went on to lead the NBA with 65 double-doubles and rank in the top 10 inrebounding and field goal percentage, averaging 16 points and 11.7 boards.Robinson also had the best season of his career, scoring 17.2 points per game asone of the league’s top sixth men.
Both are restricted free agents, meaning the Knicks can match an offer theyreceive. Walsh said he tries to make a fair offer first, but knows he hasoptions if that doesn’t go far.
“You try to discuss what the numbers are and if you’re really far apart inrestricted free agency then you keep talking, but you’re almost saying, ‘Well,you better prove it to me,”’ Walsh said.
That won’t be easy this summer, because there aren’t many teams who havemoney and want to spend it. The economy has hit some teams hard, and othersprefer to wait until 2010, for what could be one of the strongest free agencyclasses ever.
The Knicks understand that, but also realize one of those teams with money,such as Detroit or Oklahoma City, could make a strong bid that would changetheir strategy.
“Problem is, you can have a feeling where the league is, but it just takesone person to buck that trend,” D’Antoni said.
Robinson made $2 million and Lee a little less in the final years of theirrookie contracts, and both will seek much larger deals. Lee likely has a betterchance to get it, especially from the Knicks, with Bartelstein noting the6-foot-9 forward has improved every season.
But after devoting last season to untangling the Knicks’ salary cap mess,Walsh doesn’t plan to overspend.
“The one thing is, if you don’t want to, you don’t have to lose them, butyou might have to pay them a lot more,” Walsh said. “That’s the decision thatwe have to make.”
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