According to multiple sources, including a few within the organization, the Warriors are one of a few teams in the mix for Lee via a sign-and-trade with the Knicks. If James reaches a contract agreement with the Knicks, they would have to renounce their rights to Lee to have enough money under the salary cap to sign James. The Warriors and Knicks have agreed on the players involved, and forward Anthony Randolph is the centerpiece of the package the Warriors would send to New York, not guard Monta Ellis as previously reported. Golden State also will send other players, with center Ronny Turiaf and swingman Kelenna Azubuike among the candidates. Contra Costa Times
The Warriors and Knicks are in advanced talks about a sign-and-trade arrangement that would send free-agent power forward David Lee to the Bay Area for Anthony Randolph and Ronny Turiaf, two people involved in the talks confirmed to CBSSports.com. The trade is being set up as a contingency plan for the Knicks if James chooses to sign with another team Thursday. If James chooses to sign with the Knicks, they will have to renounced his rights -- and thus the rights to sign and trade him under the Larry Bird exception -- in order to clear the necessary salary cap space. Lee's agent, Mark Bartelstein, also is believed to have maintained contact with the Nets, who are in danger of getting shut out in the free-agent chase. But the Golden State scenario for Lee has legs, to an extent. "It's got legs," one of the people involved in the talks said. "But it needs arms, a torso and a head." CBSSports.com
One source warned that getting Lee is still a long shot at this point. Golden State management considers it a real possibility that Lee takes a lucrative offer elsewhere or the Knicks do a sign-and-trade with another team. The Warriors won't offer Lee a max deal, but one source suggested Golden State's ceiling is a six-year deal starting at about $13 million per season. New Jersey is still an option for Lee, as are the Minnesota Timberwolves, whom he visited earlier this month. The news that free-agent power forward Carlos Boozer agreed to a five-year, $80 million deal with the Chicago Bulls helps the Warriors' bid because that's one less team in the running for Lee. Contra Costa Times
Veteran NBA coach Mike Dunleavy is in the San Francisco Bay area this week, meeting about a possible role in the Golden State Warriors front office when the team is sold, according to NBA sources. Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison is the favorite to become the new owner of the NBA’s losingest franchise by the end of the summer. Dunleavy, fired after a seven year run as coach and GM of the Los Angeles Clippers, also coached the Portland Trail Blazers, Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers. Ben Maller