[h1]Knicks Look to Hill for Stability[/h1]
By
HOWARD BECK
Published: July 8, 2009
Jason Kidd said no,
Grant Hill said maybe, and David Lee and Nate Robinson said thanks, but we'll get back to you. Seven days into July, the
Knicks are waiting for answers and searching for roster clarity.
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Perhaps a dozen players could sign contracts Wednesday, following the midnight expiration of the
N.B.A.'s annual moratorium.
Ron Artest will be moving from Houston to Los Angeles (and the
Lakers), Ben Gordon from Chicago to Detroit and
Rasheed Wallace from Detroit to Boston. Mike Bibby will re-sign with Atlanta, and Zach Randolph will land in Memphis in a trade.
And Kidd is staying in Dallas, despite a brief flirtation with the Knicks, who remain determined to import a steady leader.
Hill, 36, now represents their best hope. He was courted at length Monday by
Donnie Walsh, the team president, and Coach
Mike D'Antoni, and apparently left town feeling intrigued.
"I think we tried to impress him and to show him what we had," Walsh said. "I think we accomplished that."
Hill, who spent the last two seasons in Phoenix, is also considering invitations from the
Suns and the
Celtics. The Knicks and the Suns can offer the most money and a full-time starting job. Boston can offer the best shot at a title but only a spot as a backup to Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, which could prove to be a deal-breaker.
Hill has a comfort level with the Suns' roster and with Coach Alvin Gentry. But he also grew close to D'Antoni during their one season together in Phoenix. No other teams are believed to be in the hunt, and Hill could make a decision by the end of the week.
It could take much longer to determine the fates of Lee and Robinson. They are restricted free agents, making them a gamble for rival teams.
Lee's asking price may also be a big obstacle. His agent, Mark Bartelstein, is seeking $12 million per season, according to an executive whose team is pursuing Lee.
Given the depressed market, that figure may be out of reach. The three teams that still have substantial cap space - Memphis, Portland and Oklahoma City - are not believed to be pursuing Lee. Most other teams have only the midlevel exception, or $5.85 million, to spend. The Knicks have not made a formal offer but are hoping to keep Lee for about $7 million to $8 million per season.
Bartelstein would not comment on his asking price, saying, "So many people are throwing so much stuff out there, it's not something I would ever talk about publicly."
But Bartelstein made a strong argument that Lee is a unique and valuable player. He led the league in double-doubles last season, his fourth in the N.B.A., averaging 16 points and 11.7 rebounds, and shot 54.9 percent from the field. He is just 26 and still improving as a shooter and passer.
But at 6 feet 9 inches, Lee is also undersized for a power forward and center, and he does not block many shots or provide stiff interior defense. He scores in bunches, but he cannot create his own shot. Lee could make an All-Star team but he is not viewed as a franchise player, which is why the Knicks want to keep his salary in the single-digit millions.
It will take a major offer by a rival team to force the Knicks' hand, but most franchises are spending conservatively, in deference to the recession. Teams are also wary of Lee's restricted free-agent status, which allows the Knicks to match any offer within seven days. During that period, the team that signed Lee would have its salary cap space tied up.
Bartelstein sounded frustrated at the lack of a deal.
"It's a shame David's not done yet," Bartelstein said. "The Knicks have the ability to get him signed. The other teams don't, because they don't know if the Knicks will match or not, or go through a sign-and-trade."
Bartelstein said he was "working through a number of different scenarios," but he would not say how long it might take to get Lee signed. He could try to arrange a sign-and-trade deal, but the Knicks would probably balk unless they got a high-level player in return.
The market appears to favor the Knicks, but Walsh disagreed.
"Because a team can make a trade that impacts their cap, and they could get room," he said. "I don't think it's over till it's over. And I don't think the players do either."
Walsh is also balancing Lee's value against his primary goal of preserving cap space for 2010, when the Knicks hope to pursue
LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
Signing Hill, a widely respected former All-Star, could help stabilize the Knicks' lineup and make them more attractive to young superstars. Hill is still a solid defender, scorer and playmaker who can play at small forward, shooting guard and, in a pinch, at point guard.
"He's the kind of guy we want," Walsh said.
It is unclear where the Knicks will turn if Hill declines their offer. There are several intriguing players still on the market, but perhaps only a few who would - like Kidd or Hill - prompt the Knicks to make a heavy investment that could affect their plans for next year.
"This is just the beginning of the summer," Walsh said. "I'm trying to do this in a way that protects next summer, but I'm trying to make it better now at the same time."
This whole David Lee contract situation is like a bad Entourage episode.
$12 Mill???
Who does Lee think he is, mothaf___ing AQUAMAN???