NBA Free Agency: NY Knicks Sign Courtney Lee, Eye Dwyane Wade Next
The overhaul of the NY Knicks continue. Just days after completing a trade for Derrick Rose and the signing of free agent big man Joakim Noah, SB Nation is reporting that GM Phil Jackson has inked a deal with free agent shooting guard Courtney Lee to round out the all-new starting five for New York.
The contract is reportedly for four years, $50 million, one that could be considered a steal considering the absurd amount of money being bandied around NBA free agency these days. In fact SB Nation praised Lee’s play last year.
“Lee is coming off a solid season. After being traded from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Charlotte Hornets in a three-team deal at the trade deadline, Lee played a crucial role for the Hornets as they made the playoffs for the first time since 2014 and gave the Miami Heat all they could handle in the first round.”
And according to Ian Begley of ESPN, the reason Lee took less money to come to New York came as a direct result of the newest Knick, Joakim Noah.
“‘The Courtney Lee deal ‘would not have happened without Joakim Noah,’ a source close to Lee says. Lee had several offers to decide from and chose New York in part because of Noah’s recruitment. ‘Courtney understands what playing for the New York Knicks means,’ a source close to Lee says. ‘He wanted to play in New York and Joakim Noah was instrumental in recruiting him. Would not have happened without Joakim. Courtney couldn’t be more excited.'”
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With the signing of Lee, it looks as if Phil Jackson is all but finished, save for signing some role players like Langton Galloway and Lance Thomas to help fill out a roster that includes Carmelo Anthony and rookie sensation Kristaps Porzingis. But a name that keeps popping up in some circles is Heat free agent guard Dwyane Wade, whose looking for a big payday after years of playing the role of good teammate to help win championships down in Miami.
And while some believe the talk of Dwyane coming to the Knicks is a pipe dream, Phil Jackson is remaining mum, as reported by the New York Daily News.
“Jackson acknowledged he doesn’t believe there’s enough money to accomplish what he wants this summer, before declining to answer specific questions about…Wade,” the article said. But he did say there was at least some truth to the rumors that have persisted.
“Not in this one. I don’t think so. But we’re hopeful. We have interest. We have people we are considering. We are appealing to people’s better interest that we’re a team on the move. I think that helps.”
Jackson also acknowledged that Carmelo’s involvement in trying to recruit his friends Wade and coveted free agent Kevin Durant has helped as the Knicks try to pull an instant 180 and become legit contenders in the East.
And why not? The Eastern Conference is, and has been for years now, the team LeBron James is on and everybody else. In this case, it’s the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers. In years past it was Wade and LeBron’s Heat that dominated everyone in the East. It would almost be fitting to find Dwyane join up with Carmelo to help him realize his champion aspirations. And with a stacked roster that now includes former All-Stars Noah and Derrick Rose, the 2016-17 Knicks might just be this year’s version of the Miami Heat from not too long ago.
What do you think? Are the NY Knicks serious NBA contenders next year, or do they absolutely need Dwyane Wade to compete for a championship?
[Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images]
