Brian– are you sure Lee can’t be used in an “extend-and-trade” type deal before the deadline? It seems ambiguous whether he is still technically on his rookie contract or not.

If not, then I’m starting to wonder why Walsh didn’t lock Lee up long term last summer, knowing that as long as he didn’t get hurt he’d have a lot of value around the league. He’d still be BYC, but he’d actually be an asset right now instead of a dead-man-walking.

Yeah, Lee at, say, 5 years/$45 million (which was very doable during the offseason) would be a tradeable asset for sure.

That’s the kind of trade proposal you should only find on demeaned fan sites. Seriously, a professional sports writer should be ashamed of himself for suggesting such a lame trade idea.

I should add that Sheridan had a qualifier before his statement.

He wrote:

On your How to Fix the Celtics question, it’s a matter of what they can get back in a Ray Allen trade from a team looking to clear space. Question for Celtics fans (and I am only posing this purely hypothetical question because I saw Rasheed’s agent, Bill Strickland, chatting with Donnie Walsh at MSG the other night.) If you were Danny Ainge, would you trade Rasheed and Marquis Daniels to the Knicks for Nate Robinson, Jared Jeffries and Jordan Hill?

I probably should have included the qualifier originally (my apologies, Sheridan!), but even with the qualifier, it’s completely asinine, no?

Didn’t you cite this “rumor” in your piece last week (Trade Numero Uno I believe it was).

“It’s like still being pissed that Isiah Thomas retired in ‘93 rather than be traded to the Knicks.”

Not really. Trading Jeffries is still as important as ever, hence Trade Numero Uno.

“I don’t think anyone would trade for Lee at this point (at least not for anything helpful), what with Lee becoming a free agent this summer and all.”

Brian– are you sure Lee can’t be used in an “extend-and-trade” type deal before the deadline? It seems ambiguous whether he is still technically on his rookie contract or not.

If not, then I’m starting to wonder why Walsh didn’t lock Lee up long term last summer, knowing that as long as he didn’t get hurt he’d have a lot of value around the league. He’d still be BYC, but he’d actually be an asset right now instead of a dead-man-walking.

“trade Rasheed and Marquis Daniels to the Knicks for Nate Robinson, Jared Jeffries and Jordan Hill”

That’s the kind of trade proposal you should only find on demeaned fan sites. Seriously, a professional sports writer should be ashamed of himself for suggesting such a lame trade idea.

But when it comes to speculating, they’re not very good.

And to clarify for everyone, if the Knicks get LeBron they CANNOT afford to keep David Lee. They won’t have enough space left (unless they deal Jeffries/Curry for expiring contracts by Feb. 18). what they can do, however, is use David Lee/Nate Robinson/Al Harrington/Larry Hughes in a sign-and-trade deal to bring in a second max player. That is their Plan A.

Don’t you love “clarifications” that are based on absolute speculation?

If you were Danny Ainge, would you trade Rasheed and Marquis Daniels to the Knicks for Nate Robinson, Jared Jeffries and Jordan Hill?

If you were Danny Ainge would you do that deal??!!?!?

Why in the name of all that is holy would the Knicks ever, ever, ever, ever, ever do that trade?

Give up Jordan Hill to save a million dollars on the cap next year?!!? For a player who is A. pretty much washed up and B. has a contract that goes on a year longer than Jeffries?!!?

Seriously, Chris Sheridan, what the hell?!?

They’re thinking someone like Josh Howard, not Jared Jeffries.

In this scenario, each teams gets players they can use and cap room. Well, Boston really doesn’t get great cap room, but they get a young replacement for Ray Allen-which they would admit they need. And SAC gets Hughes’ expiring deal, 2 defensive players, and an opportunity to move Evans into his more natural position. Not to mention the savings from getting from under Martin’s remaining 4 years. I think it’s a good deal. It would allow us to field a lineup of Lee, Rooster(I believe he’s getting stronger and may be able to start at the 4), Chandler, Allen, and problee Duhon. With Al, Hill, and Nate leading the reserves. That may not be enuf to thrust us into the playoffs but it keeps us competitive while the youngins grow into their roles. The biggest thing about that lineup is it takes Chandler outta the backcourt. Sound good?