NBA Rumors: New York Knicks Target Courtney Lee, Dwyane Wade For Final Starting Spot
NBA rumors are swirling around the New York Knicks and the fact that they are reportedly targeting current Charlotte Hornets guard Courtney Lee and long-time Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade to complete their starting five next season.
Dwyane Wade — who was originally considered a lock to re-sign with Miami — has become upset with his initial offer from the Heat, The Vertical reported Friday. After playing for $20 million during the 2015-2016 season, Dwyane Wade does not want to reduce his pay during a year the salary cap is expected to raise by at least $20 million for the 2016-2017 season.
Enter the New York Knicks, a team that is looking for a shooting guard like Dwyane Wade or Courtney Lee after adding former Chicago Bulls teammates Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah to the roster. Rose joined the Knicks through a trade last week while Noah — as rumors indicated this week — signed a four-year, $72 million pact with New York.
Dwyane Wade is reportedly in contract talks with the Knicks, per @WindhorstESPN.
Imagine this starting 5. pic.twitter.com/XJXVvaKU5t
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 2, 2016
Rumors reported by ESPN have suggested that Dwyane Wade has two potential suitors for his services: the New York Knicks and the Milwaukee Bucks. Like the New York Knicks, Milwaukee has been busy during the free agency signing period, securing the services of both Mirza Teletovic and Matthew Dellavedova on Friday. Neither team has the salary cap space for the $20 million asking price Dwyane Wade set for the Miami Heat.
Rumors reported by The Vertical suggest three other NBA franchises — the Chicago Bulls, the Denver Nuggets and the Dallas Mavericks — could make a run at Dwyane Wade, giving the New York Knicks even more competition for his services next season. These three teams are likely to have the cap space, especially as Bulls and Mavericks both lost players in free agency Friday.
At Least Four Teams Pursuing Dwyane Wade https://t.co/Op4FyqAJgB pic.twitter.com/3QxqVzCJyF
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) July 2, 2016
Rumors suggest Bulls and Bucks may have the inside track on signing Dwyane Wade. The Marquette star played his college ball in Milwaukee after growing up in near-by Chicago. Like the Miami Heat have already done, the New York Knicks would ask Dwyane Wade to accept a pay reduction in order to join their team. Dwyane Wade averaged 19 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists during this past season.
Courtney Lee may prove to be the easier athlete to lure to New York, considering the Knicks have already offered the shooting guard a four-year deal, Fansided reported late Friday. Courtney Lee appears to be in no rush to sign with any team as more options are expected to be available for the 30-year-old shooting guard.
SB Nation reported that the New York Knicks reached out to Courtney Lee within minutes of the free agency starting, attempting to stake a claim to the shooting guard before other suitors approached. No details of how much money New York offered Courtney Lee have been revealed.
Ananth Pandian of CBS Sports reported that Courtney Lee to the New York Knicks could make more sense for both parties than any other available shooting guards. Courtney could provide New York with a solid shooter that doesn’t need the offense to run through him to be effective, qualities that will be important on an already-loaded starting lineup.
“Lee may be the better option for the Knicks. He is a better defender and shoots a solid 37.8 percent from three. Lee also doesn’t need the ball in his hands on offense as he’s been quite successful acting as a spot-up shooter, and his ability to slash to the rim forces teams to play up on him.”
Courtney Lee averaged 9.6 points per game in 79 games for the Charlotte Hornets last season.
Do you think the New York Knicks will land either Dwyane Wade or Courtney Lee in free agency? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
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