Author Topic: Raptors setting their sights on David Lee (Read 143 times)

PLANT · « **on:** July 02, 2009, 08:12:44 AM »

http://www.thestar.com/sports/article/659530

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TheStar.com | Sports | Raps setting their sights on Knicks' big man Lee

Raps setting their sights on Knicks' big man Lee

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Jul 02, 2009 04:30 AM
Comments on this story (16)
Doug Smith
Sports Reporter

The Raptors are widening their NBA free-agent search that now includes one of the more intriguing players on the market.

Capping a whirlwind 24 hours to open the negotiating period, league sources say Toronto is trying to obtain David Lee, an energetic rebounder who is a New York Knicks restricted free agent.

The sources couldn't say whether the move on Lee would be a straight offer or whether it would be a sign-and-trade transaction with any of Toronto's current free agents.

Lee's name is added to a list that began with Charlie Villanueva – who ultimately signed a five-year, $40 million deal with the Detroit Pistons – and Denver's Linas Kleiza, a solid if unspectacular part not in the class of Lee.

There is no suggestion anything is imminent, but the attempts to try to get something done with Lee back suggestions before the free-agent period began that Toronto general manager Bryan Colangelo was trying to be creative in improving his roster.

Meanwhile, the Raptors seem to have pulled back on a decision to take a run at Orlando's Hedo Turkoglu, who now seems a good bet to land in Portland.

Still, two NBA sources said yesterday they thought Turkoglu was more interested in landing in Toronto than the Pacific Northwest. A report yesterday afternoon that Toronto was planning some exorbitant $60 million offer, however, was debunked by a handful of sources. It would take Toronto renouncing the rights to Shawn Marion, Anthony Parker, Carlos Delfino and others to get a Turkoglu deal done and one league source said a deal with Delfino was "close."

But the Blazers are hot after the 6-foot-10 Turkoglu, dispatching coach Nate McMillan to meet with Turkoglu yesterday and planning to fly the player and his agent to Portland today.

Lee, 26, had a breakout year with the Knicks last season, averaging 16 points and 11.7 rebounds a game. He had a salary of just about $1.8 million (all figures U.S.) and is seen as one of the top young free agents out there; he's a restricted free agent so if Toronto were to simply make an offer and not try to engineer some sign-and-trade transactions, the Knicks could match it.

Toronto also remains in contention to re-sign forward Shawn Marion, who is attracting very little interest on the open market.

General manager Bryan Colangelo said last week he had a number in mind for a contract offer to Marion, who was paid almost $18 million last season and will surely take a significant pay cut.

There was no indication what that number was and the Raptors are monitoring movement around the league to see if they can get the 6-foot-7 Marion back in the fold at the amount and terms they want.

The 24-year-old Kleiza, who lost his major role with Denver late last season, could be had for much less than the expected $5.6 million so-called mid-level salary cap exception, which is about all the money Toronto will have at its disposal to chase free agents from other teams.

The forward was paid about $1.8 million last season by Nuggets, who are likely to let him go without a fight because of financial considerations. Toronto would then be free to use whatever's left of the exception to further bolster the bench.

Meanwhile, the Raptors officially announced the addition of former player Alvin Williams to the coaching staff, re-signed assistant for basketball development Eric Hughes and added strength and conditioning coach Francesco Cuzzolin to the staff.

PLANT · « **Reply #1 on:** July 02, 2009, 08:19:35 AM »

wow this would be a sick move if we could have Lee, Bosh and Bargnani in the frontcourt

Since we already got Evans from Philly, adding Lee would drastically improve our toughness and rebounding. I dont see how we could keep Marion aswell, but MAN, if we could have Lee AND Marion we would be looking REAL good!!!

Carlos Delfino is supposed to be coming back aswell for us this year so its looking like

Jose Calderon
Delfino or Marion
David Lee
Chris Bosh
Andrea Bargnani

then we have the rookie DeMar Derozan who can jump out of the gym, hes expected to get a lot of playing time and they say hes the most talented player from the draft besides Blake Griffin. Anthony Parker will be great coming off the bench this year too.

PLANT · « **Reply #2 on:** July 02, 2009, 08:36:42 AM »

I also just got this message on twitter;

Raptors_Web_GuyHedo, Lee, Ariza??? Ear to the rumour mill #Raptors fans! It's getting interesting!

thisoneguy360 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 02, 2009, 10:56:24 AM »

I haven't seen Lee play much but IMO his stats are misleading because of playing in D'antoni's system

Mo Z. Dizzle · « **Reply #4 on:** July 02, 2009, 11:28:47 AM »

Quote from: 360 on July 02, 2009, 10:56:24 AM

I haven't seen Lee play much but IMO his stats are misleading because of playing in D'antoni's system

his PPG might have been misleading last year, but his RPG and FG% were around the same mark.

PLANT · « **Reply #5 on:** July 02, 2009, 11:43:30 AM »

Quote from: 360 on July 02, 2009, 10:56:24 AM

I haven't seen Lee play much but IMO his stats are misleading because of playing in D'antoni's system

Lee is a beast on the glass. Takes high % shots and has a high basketball IQ. Funny how people credit Dantoni for all the players success. Nash still managed to be 11+ assists per, Amare 24 and 9 per without Dantoni.....Also, the Raptors are going to be looking to play a more "Dantoni" style of ball with coach Jay Triano aswell...

thisoneguy360 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 02, 2009, 11:54:52 AM »

Quote from: PLANT on July 02, 2009, 11:43:30 AM

Quote from: 360 on July 02, 2009, 10:56:24 AM
I haven't seen Lee play much but IMO his stats are misleading because of playing in D'antoni's system
Lee is a beast on the glass. Takes high % shots and has a high basketball IQ. Funny how people credit Dantoni for all the players success. Nash still managed to be 11+ assists per, Amare 24 and 9 per without Dantoni.....Also, the Raptors are going to be looking to play a more "Dantoni" style of ball with coach Jay Triano aswell...

Yeah but the Suns still played up tempo without Dantoni. I'm not saying the players aren't talented but if you look at dude's like Marion who were once considered superstars you'll see a big decrease in stats.

PLANT · « **Reply #7 on:** July 02, 2009, 12:05:20 PM »

Quote from: 360 on July 02, 2009, 11:54:52 AM

Yeah but the Suns still played up tempo without Dantoni. I'm not saying the players aren't talented but if you look at dude's like Marion who were once considered superstars you'll see a big decrease in stats.

Ya but Id give Nash more credit than Dantoni as far as Marions stats go. He was pretty much spoon fed the ball for easy lay-ups and dunks from Nash. Marion without Nash is about a 10-12 PPG and 9 RPG guy, he still plays good defence too tho.