RealGM

It's my understanding that David Lee cannot be extended as his contract was not at least four years in length. Is that correct?

The reason I was thinking about it is due to questions about his eligibility for an extend-and-trade along the lines of the Garnett to Boston trade.

He's on a one-year deal. So he can't be extended, and trading him requires him waiving Bird rights, which means the team that gets him will have a hard time keeping him ...meaning his trade value is going to be low as a result.

You can signed and trade him in the summer without any real problems, but it's really really really really unlikely that hell be moved before then. And he definitely can't be extended.

Sham wrote:You can signed and trade him in the summer without any real problems, but it's really really really really unlikely that hell be moved before then. And he definitely can't be extended.

A sign-and-trade would be legal, but given the circumstances it's hard to see how it would be feasible.

He'll be unrestricted.

Knicks won't want to take salary back.

So the only team that can do a sign-and-trade is one who doesn't have to send any salary, ie they are under the cap ... in which case, they might as well simply sign him and forget the trade part, there's no benefit to them to send non-salaried compensation.

Only place it works is a dual sign-and-trade, swapping teams. Maybe.

Knicks won't want to take salary back.

Well, that depends on who they're getting back. If he were to be a sign and trade for one of the coveted players that they're doing all this silliness for, then it'll be easy enough.

Sham wrote:

Knicks won't want to take salary back.

Well, that depends on who they're getting back. If he were to be a sign and trade for one of the coveted players that they're doing all this silliness for, then it'll be easy enough.

Agreed. If they agree to a deal for Lebron and work a deal with the Cavaliers for a sign and trade with Lee then its certainly possible. Lee might be able to get more money in a S&T than he would in a new contract elsewhere. Its certainly feasible.

Sorry to be late with my thanks, but I do appreciate the responses.

So even though if traded Lee loses his Bird rights, he can still be signed as a non-Bird free agent by his new team, eligible for 105% of his previous salary. Or so I've been told by some on the Knicks board. Is that correct?

120% and with only 8% raises, but yes.

would the team that trades for Lee, need the cap space to offer him 120% of his previous salary?

id like to know the answer to that one as well as it concerns GM a Team