Hooped Up

All those double-doubles coming off the bench are about to pay off for David Lee if he stays in New York according to the Daily News.

A team source claims the Knicks will offer Lee a four-year deal worth $32 million, which is below his asking price of $10 million per season. The Knicks have the right to match any offer given to Lee, as well as Robinson, but the club wants to remain fiscally responsible as it pertains to the summer of 2010.

“There’s no question he’d love to stay in New York,” Lee’s agent, Mark Bartelstein said yesterday. “But you are only a free agent so many times in our career, especially in the prime of your career.”

The Knicks have been flirting with the idea of trading David Lee since he was drafted and even if he signs a deal worth $32 million, I doubt that would change. But will another team offer Lee more is the real question.

Via NY Daily News

The New York Knicks have already used their financial might on Draft Day and have purchased the 29th pick in the draft from the Lakers, according to a Knicks source. The price is around $3 million - which is the highest an NBA team can include in a deal.

The deal can not be announced until after the Lakers make the pick tonight, according to NBA rules that prohibit the selling of picks as opposed to draft rights.

And by free I mean trade.

“The Grizzlies aren’t just entertaining the idea of parting with the No. 2 overall pick in Thursday’s draft. They’ve also engaged in advanced discussions with the Knicks that should put former No. 2 overall pick Darko Milicic in New York by week’s end … unless Memphis winds up needing Milicic’s expiring contract in another draft-related trade.

Sources say that the proposed swap would send Milicic to the Knicks for swingman Quentin Richardson and cash. Milicic is scheduled to earn $7.5 million next season in the final year of a three-year deal he received from the Griz in 2007; Richardson has a player option for next season at $8.7 million.

If the teams go through with the trade, Milicic would join his fourth team since Detroit infamously gambled on him in 2003 with the pick immediately after LeBron James … and right before Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade.”

ESPN

The New York Knicks select 8th overall in the 2009 NBA draft. Listen to who Fantasy Sports Girl Lina So thinks the Knicks are picking and then check out her selections vitals, strengths, 08-09 stats and draft demo reel after the jump.

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There have been recent conversations between the teams about players, mainly ones the Wizards are interested in on the Knicks roster. But what may come as a surprise is that Wilson Chandler doesn’t appear to be the main ingredient here. In fact, from multiple sources with knowledge of the Wizards’ strategizing, they’re the ones who have inquired about two former Wiz players, Larry Hughes and Jared Jeffries.

The Knicks are all ears.

NY Newsday

The Knicks have not given up hope on Ricky Rubio and are still trying to interview the 18-year-old Spanish point guard phenom this week before Thursday’s NBA Draft, according to a source. Rubio will be in New York for the draft but hasn’t worked out for teams. Rumors are circulating that Rubio could fall because of the complexity of his $6 million buyout and the Kings are no lock to take him at No. 4. Rubio has sued his Spanish club and a court hearing is scheduled for tomorrow. A Spanish source said he would not be surprised if Rubio starts the preseason in Spain. If the Kings pass, Rubio, some people in the league predict, could fall as low as eight to the Knicks, who are trying to trade up for Stephen Curry or the Spaniard.

New York Post

It was only a matter of time before a Shaq to the Knicks rumour started and voilà, here it is.

The Cavaliers are not the only team that has inquired about a trade with the Suns for Shaquille O’Neal. Among a small group of others is the Knicks, but before we go for a drive to Rumorville, a source said it was mainly Donnie Walsh doing his due diligence and did not engage in any serious discussions. O’Neal, 37, has one year left at $20 million and, according to several persons with knowledge of the situation, would welcome a trade to New York. But the preference would be to move to a championship contender such as the Cavs.

If this happens, the Suns might as well trade D’Antoni for Shaq since O’Neal is one of the main reasons D’Antoni left Phoenix in the first place. Don’t get me wrong, Shaq will help a team that wants to play half court basketball somewhere just not any team that D’Antoni is coaching — ever!

Via NY Newsday Blog

Spain’s Ricky Rubio was not among the group working out at the Reebok camp in Treviso. New York is a destination very high on the 18-year-old Spaniard’s list, but it is unlikely he will fall to the Knicks at No. 8.

Now it seems even Stephen Curry might not be there, either. The Davidson star, who has been quite open about his interest in becoming a Knick, has seen his stock rise to the point that he could wind up being taken by a team that trades up to a spot ahead of the Knicks. The Trail Blazers and Bobcats are said to be enamored of what Curry can bring.

The Knicks will get a close-up look at Curry on Wednesday when he visits the MSG Training Center in Greenburgh for his predraft workout. Curry will be joined by UCLA guard Jrue Holiday, in whom the Knicks also are very interested.

Newsday

Marcin Gortat has raised a lot of eyebrows this year with his play as a back up to Dwight Howard and Donnie Walsh and the Knicks like what they see too.

“Though the Knicks likely will take a combo-type guard in the June 25 NBA Draft, Knicks team president Donnie Walsh will eye a center with his $5 million mid-level exception during free agency, and Orlando’s 7-foot backup Marcin Gortat is very high on his list. The Knicks had no interior defensive presence, and that’s Gortat’s strength. [...] (The Knicks were last in blocked shots the past two years).

The Polish big man originally was drafted by coach Mike D’Antoni’s Suns in the second round of 2005, but they traded his rights.”

I’m no GM, but I’m thinking that a great way to save $5 million towards the LeBron James fund and to get a quality center is to get Eddy Curry to drop weight and let him understand that rebounding and blocking shots is kinda easy when you’re 7′0″.  I mean since you’re paying him anyway but like I said, I’m no GM.

Via New York Post

There is no promise from the Knicks, Stephen Curry’s father said, but the Davidson star would be “a perfect fit” for Mike D’Antoni’s system. “I think any point guard would love to play for the Knicks and the system they have,” Dell Curry said Tuesday in a phone interview with Newsday. “The freedom he gives guys offensively to make plays and looking at how Stephen’s game is, I think it would be a perfect fit. But there’s several teams around the league I think would also fit that bill.” Curry, who played 14 seasons in the NBA, Tuesday shot down an Internet-based rumor that said the Knicks promised they’d draft his son if they remained in the No. 8 overall slot. “I don’t know where that came from,” Curry said. “I’ve never spoken to Donnie Walsh at all. Stephen doesn’t have an agent, so that’s news to me. That definitely wasn’t the reason for Stephen leaving school. I don’t know how you can guarantee anybody stuff this early. The lottery results haven’t even come out. That was surprising. There’s no truth to it on my end.”

New York Newsday