Ha. Too funny. Ironically, I received a call on my cell this morning from the Clippers trying to sell me season tickets. I told them I was a Knicks fan, but that if they got LeBron, I’d consider it.

Very true about Nazr.

My point is not that his stats improved next to those guys, but that his defensive +/- was better when he played PF. He played primarily PF 2 out of his 5 seasons in the NBA (primarily C 2 and primarily SF 1), teams have plenty to go on with Lee as a PF. Defensively there is evidence–both statistical and subjective–that he was better at the 4, and offensively I don’t think the role he’s played for D’Antoni was any more C than PF.

You can’t exactly put Donald Sterling aside. They would make the playoffs. If Griffin reaches his potential they might contend or win a title. I don’t think LeBron wants to go to LA to play for the B team (one of the worst run franchises in professional sports for several decades) in the Lakers’ shadow, but who knows? If LeBron signs with the Clippers I’m not quite sure what I’ll do, but something crazy.

Unless I’m mistaken, I don’t think Lee ever played a game with Nazr. Nazr was traded to San Antonio in exchange for Rose and a pick that became David Lee. That said, I agree that not much can be taken from the fact that Lee’s defensive stats improved next to Curry, Frye and James.

On another note, hoopsworld put together a nice analysis of the most desirable free agent destinations this summer. I still think the Clippers are a serious darkhorse candidate for the LBJ sweepstakes. Putting Donald Sterling aside, LBJ with B-Diddy, Eric Gordon, Blake Griffin and Captain Caveman would be a lock for the playoffs imo, and create a great rivalry in the Staples Center.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=16116#ixzz0mngYOO4m

I’d give him an A-, and probably a 2 on defense. Bad, but not god-awful, all the time (like certain other Knicks we’ve had the displeasure of watching over the decade).

When comparing Lee to other notable PFs for the Knicks, he holds his own and certainly ranks near the top.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=1&p1=oaklech01&y1=2004&p2=leeda02&y2=2010&p3=johnsla02&y3=2001&p4=debusda01&y4=1974

However, when I compared Lee to some of the best Knicks centers, he still rates as an above average rebounder and passer for a big man, but his scoring and shotblocking are not on par.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=1&p1=ewingpa01&y1=2002&p2=reedwi01&y2=1974&p3=cartwbi01&y3=1995&p4=leeda02&y4=2010

I expected Lee’s shotblocking to not stack up, but I was a bit shocked that his scoring did not compare favorably. I think both may be attributed to his lack of size for the position. For example, on his career, Lee only takes 3.2 FT per game. Even his best year, he got to the line 4.1 times per game. By comparison, Dwight Howard got to the line 5 times per game in his worst season, while his best mark was 10.9 FT per game. Even a guy like Bosh that often plays center but is not a traditional back to the basket big man takes twice as many free throws as Lee.

If the Knicks re-sign Lee, they have to find someone to play center so that Lee can move to his natural position at the 4. It is unfortunate that the Knicks did not get a real center sooner so that they could assess Lee’s real value at his natural position. That said, this may work in the Knicks favor, because teams could be reluctant to give Lee big money to play PF when they haven’t seen a lot of tape from him in that position.