David Lee NOT in the plans?

[Fez Hammersticks]

With impending free agency right around the corner, it appears that one suitor who was once hot and heavy for David Lee, no longer has interest.

A source close to the Blazers braintrust has informed TKB that the Blazers seem to have an off season plan in place and that they are desperately trying to move Martell Webster, Sergio Rodriguez and Travis Outlaw so they can make a play for Orlando’s Hedo Turkoglu. As we’ve reported, Andre Miller is also a target with Jason Kidd’s name popping up as well should Miller remain in Philly.

“Hedo and the point guard are the targets,” the source told me. “After whiffing at the trade deadline, they are primed to make some things happen. I don’t know if they are the right things, but they have a plan in motion.”

To add another layer, reports claim that the Blazers have their sites set on Stephen Curry and are trying to trade up, but from what our mole told us that is a long shot at best. Looking to add some size and energy, which is what Lee would bring, the Blazers are gauging where Tyler Hansbrough status is and very well make a deal to snag the UNC product.

- TheKnicksBlog.com

 

[Crimson the Cat]

I just don't get it. And it's not that I don't value Hedo, because I do, but there are quite a few 3s that I'd rather target. Of course, my targets would take a lot more than Webster, Outlaw, and Sergio, so maybe that's the rationale - we can sign Turk outright without giving up an asset other than our cap space.

Two things don't make sense. How the fuck does some yahoo in New York have a handle on Portland's plans? Why would we reveal who our true target is? This is just another smoke screen. It's too early for our true intentions to be revealed.

 

[Tince]

This guy doesn't have a source, he just is aware that Lee in Portland makes zero sense. I'd be surprised if Hedo were on a roster a month from now as well.

 

[Shooter]

Link, please.

 

[Pinwheel1]

A source close to the Blazers braintrust has informed TKB

They lost me after this. How fucking stupid do they think we are to believe that a "source" close to the blazer braintrust would inform the "TheKnicksBlog.com" about anything.

 

[THE HCP]

Maybe NateBishop told them!

 

[gatorpops]

A source close to the Blazers braintrust has informed TKB

They lost me after this. How fucking stupid do they think we are to believe that a "source" close to the blazer braintrust would inform the "TheKnicksBlog.com" about anything.

Canzano maybe? Surly he has the "Braintrust's" ear?

 

[gatorpops]

Maybe NateBishop told them!

My mama always told me that "the guilty one always speaks first". "If the shoe fits wear it."

 

[cdub503]

My mama always told me that "the guilty one always speaks first". "If the shoe fits wear it."

makes sense! he is IN new york right now haha WEVE CAUGHT YOU HCP!

 

[THE HCP]

OH SNAP!!!!!!

 

[Ed O]

Link, please.

Dude. The link is right at the end of the original post.

Ed O.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'm not going to buy in to or discount anything this year. Who knows what people are hearing and who knows if the things they are hearing are planted just so they'll get out. Hedo, Miller, Kidd, Lee? If the only cost is moving some combination of our pick, Sergio, Travis, Martell and we're bringing back some of the aforementioned players then what's not to like? Adding proven talent to replace inconsistent talent to surround Roy, LMA and Greg with is an A+ move in my book.

Let the chips fall where they may.

 

[THE HCP]

What about this? http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/features/rumors

Free agents can begin contract negotiations July 1 and some are feeling the pressure.
"It's is a high-pressure time," David Lee tells the New York Post.

"There already been a lot of interest," Lee said. "There's definitely a bunch of teams very interested. It's a matter of how serious that interest is and what the Knicks want to do about it. ... It's up to Donnie Walsh and my agent to figure out what's going on."

The newspaper reports Portland has the strongest interest in Lee, followed by Detroit.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

The newspaper reports Portland has the strongest interest in Lee, followed by Detroit.

Mother. Fucker. These New Yorkers are pissing me off.

 

[The Professional Fan]

I honestly do not believe Portland is targeting Lee whatsoever. Not that Lee isn't solid, because he is a solid player, but how exactly does he fit? As a backup? Not so much. Not going to happen. I kind of want the Lee speculation to stop. It just doesn't add up.

 

[Tince]

I honestly do not believe Portland is targeting Lee whatsoever. Not that Lee isn't solid, because he is a solid player, but how exactly does he fit? As a backup? Not so much. Not going to happen. I kind of want the Lee speculation to stop. It just doesn't add up.

Bingo. He doesn't fit, he would be a horrible use of our money, and he wouldn't be happy in his limited role.

I'm shocked that this rumor has carried on as long as it has...

 

[BrianFromWA]

You guys are looking at this too linearly. If Lee wants to come here (and it sounds like he's open to it), then we have a good problem to have. 4 high quality bigs. Since Oden isn't going anywhere, and Lee can't go anywhere, and LMA is in that "you gotta blow up away with LBJ to get him" realm, that leaves Przy. MEM, CHI, MIL, MIN, CHA all have expressed big interest in him in the past year or so. Depending on what you can get/have to give up, signing Lee to have a 3-man rotation of LMA/Oden/Lee gets each around 35 mpg with someone like Brockman mopping up garbage time minutes sounds like a great plan to have in place if someone makes a sweetheart offer for Przy.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Does anyone remember how we split playing time between Brian Grant and Rasheed Wallace?

 

[alex42083]

Does anyone remember how we split playing time between Brian Grant and Rasheed Wallace?

I remember in '99, we used Grant at PF and Sheed at SF a lot, and Grant probably had his best season of his career that included that epic showdown with Karl Malone.
But Sheed probably wasn't used as effectively as he could have with Grant and Sabas clogging the lane a ton, which probably started Sheed's desire to shoot 3s more.

Then in 2000, we got Pippen, which forced Grant to the bench. Sheed had his best year at PF, while Grant was OK as a backup and was more of a hack-a-Shaq player in that WCF with the Lakers.

If we got Lee, there's no way we'd be able to have a four-man rotation with Oden/Joel/LaMarcus/Lee and keep them happy. And I don't see LaMarcus or Lee playing much at SF when we already have a logjam at that position.