There's a lot of interest in Lee. He spent all of Saturday in Minnesota. The New York Post reports that the Knicks have sign- and-trade offers of Al Jefferson from the Timberwolves and Monta Ellis from the Warriors on the table. "There are a million different conversations going on," his agent, Mark Bartelstein, said Sunday night. NBA.com
Charlotte and Golden State are involved because A) both covet Lee, and B) each has a point guard who’d complement Stoudemire if he winds up being the Knicks’ only top-tier signing. The Bobcats’ Raymond Felton and Warriors’ Monta Ellis have been on the Knicks’ radar for some time. CBSSports.com
According to various sources, the Warriors have been in touch with the New York Knicks regarding a sign-and-trade for Lee, who is an unrestricted free agent. With power forward Amare Stoudemire apparently headed for New York in the next day or two, Lee is expendable. Lee is open to a sign and trade because it would allow him to sign a six-year contract instead of a five-year deal. Lee isn’t a maximum-salary type player, but he certainly commands between $10 and $15 million per season. CSNBayArea.com
In other words, for the Warriors to get Lee, they’d almost certainly have to part with Ellis or Andris Biedrins, their two biggest money players. It would certainly seem likely that the Knicks would also inquire about Randolph, considered by some to be an intriguing young prospect. “We don’t talk about trades,” Riley said when contacted Sunday. CSNBayArea.com
Several sources told me the Warriors are trying to do a sign-and-trade with the Knicks for Lee. I’m not sure of all the details, but I would call it a long shot. Probably nothing will happen until LeBron James makes up his mind. And there is no telling what kind of domino effect his decision will have, so it could be possible. It would likely require guard Monta Ellis (though in my opinion, Lee is much more appealing if he can play with Ellis and Stephen Curry). And, yes, the Warriors will probably have to overpay to get him. Contra Costa Times
A league source said the Knicks have been offered Golden State's point guard Monta Ellis and Minnesota's Al Jefferson for Lee in separate sign-and-trade scenarios. But the Knicks are handcuffed on all moves until they find out what LeBron James and Dwyane Wade do. New York Post
By the way, I’m told the Warriors have little to no interest in Al Jefferson. Despite being a beast down low, he has knee issues and he’s slow. He’s not a good passer out of the post and he’s expensive. Contra Costa Times
What if the new management group loves Ellis? Or if several of the finalist bidders staked a part of their binding bid — due soon — on the belief that they could figure out what to do with Biedrins and Randolph? "That's a team with some good young players," one top-level league executive has told me repeatedly the last few months of the Warriors. "I think that's a big reason some people are excited about buying them." Contra Costa Times