David Lee wanted to be a Net?

[NyCeEvO]

David Lee talks about Nets, Knicks and how he could have brought Carmelo to New York a lot sooner

BY Stefan Bondy

David Lee was intrigued by the idea of playing with Brook Lopez and, from what he gathered, the Nets were interested in his services.

But New Jersey and then-GM Rod Thorn never made an offer during free agency. They struck out with LeBron and Co., dangled $75 million in front of a reluctant Carlos Boozer and signed Travis Outlaw for $35 million before watching Lee relocate to the Warriors in a sign-and-trade with the Knicks.

“(Going to New Jersey) was a consideration,” Lee said before Wednesday’s 94-90 loss to the Nets at the Prudential Center, where he finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds. “I know they were interested. I thought it would be a decent fit with Brook Lopez at center, me playing (power forward). But they decided to wait off.

“Everybody makes their decisions and we’ll see how it works out.”

Thus far, it would be tough to argue against New Jersey's reluctance, especially at Lee's price (six years, $80 million).

While Troy Murphy failed as New Jersey’s starting power forward and Derrick Favors was traded last month after an uneven 56 games, Kris Humphries (averages of 9.4 points and 9.7 rebounds before last night) has played above expectations while filling that role at a discount.

Lee was averaging 16.1 points and 9.7 rebounds in his first season with the Warriors, who are again lottery bound.

Before Amar’e Stoudemire was voted as an Eastern Conference starter last month, Lee represented the Knicks’ only All-Star since 2001, highlighting a five-season stint with zero playoff appearances.

The Knicks gutted the roster during his final two seasons, but Lee said he doesn’t fantasize about playing with the rewards of cap space: Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony. If he stuck with the Knicks, Lee believes he’d be playing for the Nuggets and Anthony would have been in New York earlier, perhaps saving the Nets from their six-month failed pursuit of Anthony.

“Denver made a couple of attempts to get me in trades the previously two years,” Lee said. “I think all that would have happened in New York if I had gone back was the Carmelo trade would have happened sooner.

“It would have been me and Wilson or me and Gallo and some other pieces for Carmelo. So I think all it would have done was put me in Denver and sped up the process of getting Carmelo in New York.”

Despite the Knicks’ influx of starpower, Lee isn’t convinced they’re ready to compete for a title.

“They gave up a lot but they were able to get Carmelo,” he said. “I don’t know what it’ll mean for this year because they have a high-powered team but I think they’re still a couple players short because of who they had to give up. But I think that Amar’e and Carmelo are two guys that it’s going to be easy to get players to come and play along with them so I think next year and the years to follow they’re going to be one of the teams to beat.”

"It’s a little bit how the league works. The way Miami did it I think inspired teams to load up with different guys – the way Boston did it originally, I should say. Once they got Amar’e, the Carmelo thing was just circumstance. Carmelo wanted out, he wanted to be in New York so they made it happen."

[vincecarter4pres]

Meh.

If it meant him and no Outlaw and Petro, then I'm a bit perturbed.

But if it was him and Outlaw and Petro, then I still pass.

[Sharcm1]

^^ I agree. If it meant signing him and not petro and outlaw then we dropped the ball big time. But with the play of humphries we don't need lee. Hump plays a similar game and for less money. Even after we resign him he still won't get that kind of money.