With bounteous rumors regarding David Lee’s free agency this summer, and the potentiality of Walsh trading him, Walsh also has another decision on his hands that is seemingly flying under the radar.  This decision is whether to match any offers for Nate Robinson, or to let him walk.  Nate Robinson clearly loves being a Knick, and there is no place in the world that fits him better.  He’s improving vastly, and he electrifies the crowd on a nightly basis.  If the Knicks choose to let David Lee go, they cannot afford to lose Nate as well.  Losing Balkman, David Lee, and Nate Robinson, three fan favorites, is not an option;  The fans won’t have it.  So the first question is “How much is he worth?”  and there is never a correct answer to that question.  I, personally, never though Rashard Lewis was worth $118 million, but to answer this question, one must assess Nate’s upside and downside, his pros and cons.  

Good: Nate is simply able to galvanize the crowd.  He’s won a dunk contest, and he’s had plenty of highlight material dunks throughout his career.  Nate has also improved every year; He’s gone from 9 to 10 to 13 points per game, and he’s putting up 16 per this year.  He’s a top five sixth man in this league.  Nate’s also playing some defense, averaging 1.6 steals per game, which, according to Mike D’Antoni, could easily be 3 per game.  He rebounds extremely well, better than most two guards in the league in fact, and he gives you 1.5 offensive boards a game, which are especially useful.  The 6′8 Vince Carter averages 4.8 rebounds per, and the 5′9 Nate Robinson averages 4.3.  He’s had 10 rebounds twice, and 9 rebounds once.  Remarkable. He’s only 24, and if he continues improving every year, he could eventually win a Sixth Man of the Year award.  

Bad:  Despite the steals, Nate has a problem getting over screens when guarding shooters, and he has consistently gotten burned doing this.  And despite a noticeable effort, he can’t help when taller shooting guards simply shoot over him.  Inconsistency is also a problem with Robinson.  We all know about Nate’s emotional personality, but when the shot isn’t falling he sometimes shows anger on the floor, which can get him in trouble.  He still plays out of control at times, but that may just be who he is, and it’s obviously something Mike D’Antoni has accepted.  When you get a player with as fiery a personality as Nate Robinson, that is often reflected in his game, although his recklessness has significantly diminished.  

If Barbosa got 5 years for $33 million, Nate should be able to get 4 years for $22 milion, from whom I don’t know, but I suspect he will finish his career a Knick.  His buoyant and passionate personality resembles the fans that come to the Garden and support the Knicks, and we need little Nate around.

The Lee to Portland situation is a complicated one for a bevy of reasons. Lee’s contact is one, but  I really feel that there is no match for the Knicks with the Blazers  and that a third team needs to be  involved. So no trade is imminent, but sources close to the Blazers have told me management is infatuated with Lee to the point that are hoping to make a deal.

“He’s on top of their list and a guy who would give their frontline, which is still developing, so much versatility moving forward,” the source told TKB. “He gives energy off the bench but he can make them big or small. He’s perfect and anyone on Knicks, with the exception of maybe Chandler, should be available.”

Frank Isola of the Daily News reported that a three-way deal including the Clippers with Marcus Camby coming to the Knicks may have been discussed but Walsh denied it. A similar trade was left in the comments section of this blog, but it was not confirmed by my sources. What I do know is that  Walsh was steadfast about obtaining Camby in the Randolph deal but the Clippers wouldn’t budge,  causing a stalemate.  Walsh finally agreed to move Z-Bo’s contract for Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley. I’ve also heard rumors that Walsh knew of Mobley’s heart condition and agreed to trade for him so that if he retired he’d have a roster spot to try and trade Stephon Marbury in a 2 for 1, which makes sense as it  always baffled me that a savvy guy like Walsh would mistakenly trade for someone with heart history.

But getting back to what we’re hearing, it makes plenty of sense for Walsh to stay patient and hold on to Lee, as hoopsworld claims. Our report simply stated that the Blazers were aggressively thinking about making a move considering they are very high on Lee and would love to have him for the playoff push. Again, nothing imminent because when you look at the Blazers’ roster, there doesn’t seem to be a fit, which is why we mentioned the third team.

Walsh will not just let Lee walk, and he will get optimum value or simply wait for a sign and trade this summer. But the key here is that, as far as Lee is concerned, with Walsh not offering him an extension, his situation is still cloudy.

And that he’s still a Knick, but the Blazers are closely monitoring the situation as are the Nuggets and Bulls.

Jay Greenberg of the NY Post wrote a nice piece on Wilson Chandler this morning, discussing how his combination of youth and talent is the bright light in a dim Garden nowadays. Greenberg discusses how the 21 year old Chandler works as hard as anybody to make himself better on the court.

Last night, I read that BlueandOranges’ comment comparing Chandler to Richard Jefferson and Shawn Marion. BaO believed that those comparisons were hard to make because of Chandler’s superior upside. Well, I do not think that those comparisons can be made quite yet. If Wil turns out to be either of those guys, then I will be a very happy man, given that both RJ and Marion are all-star talents.

I have said before that I think Chandler has a shot to be our best player by he end of the year. He has decent form on his jumper, but he is not a deep threat (not yet). He rushes too many of his threes, and he is much better suited inside the arc than outside it. But I believe that he can develop that outside game, and therefore I can withstand some of the bricks he throws up there.

He has all the talent and physical tools to be a stud player. But he also has a very important intangible as well. He has an innate sense of fearlessness. His aggressiveness in not newfound, not in the least bit. Ever since his first time taking the NBA floor last year, Wil has shown a propensity to get into the action on practically every play. Wil is not afraid to shoot the rock, even when he has no shot. As a young kid, he will determine what is a good NBA shot with more experience. Chandler’s aggressiveness gets him into foul trouble a lot, and only experience will help him get over that.

All in all, the Knicks have their young stud. He is underrated, as he was neither a high draft pick nor did he come out of a national powerhouse program.  But this league should know that Chandler is on the rise. And I am unsure if there is anything that someone can say or do to change that.

Mitch Lawrence had this to say today in the Daily News:

“They’ve already changed coaches - when they were 8-9 - so now the Raptors, eight games under .500 as of Friday, might have to start making deals as they continue to underachieve and sink in the East. One rival Eastern Conference GM said that Andrea Bargnani, the No. 1 overall pick in 2006, and Anthony Parker are prime candidates to be moved, as they look to add athleticism on the wings. In the meantime, Jermaine O’Neal has been sidelined with yet another knee injury. The Raptors are second in the NBA in losing games in which they’ve held double-digit leads (seven), with only Indiana (nine) doing it more times.”

This was probably just a Sunday paper page filler. But I have read in multiple spots that Bargnani might be wearing out his welcome in Toronto. As the #1 pick in 2006, Bargnani has not lived up to the billing of being selected that high. He has not been awful, but he has not been great either, averaging a modest 11 ppg and 4 rpg in 2.5 seasons. This year, he is posting about the same stat line, but is also averaging about 1.5 blocks as well. Bargnani is shooting 36% from beyond the arc, but only about 40% from the field, a terrible number for a player that is 6’11.

Parker is a veteran shooting guard that can knock down treys at a good clip. He is unspectacular, but like I just said, he can hit the three ball.

So I ask, would giving Bargnani a whirl be worth Donnie’s time? Can D’Antoni’s experience with Euro hoops and his offensive based system be good influences on a player, who at 6’11, appears to be more comfortable 20 feet away from the hoop than 5 feet? The Knicks do not have wing help to provide to the Raptors, but they do have Eddy Curry. The Raptors can still use help at center, and if Eddy Curry is healthy and productive, that might be a match.

Or maybe Donnie can find a third team, i.e. the Bobcats. The Cats are loaded with wing players. They want a big man who can play with Okafor. There have been rumors floating that Curry might be used in a deal with the Cats. How about Curry to Charlotte, Parker/ Bargnani to NY, and a player like Gerald Wallace to Toronto? That would probably not get it done on the Knicks’ end, but if Curry can be productive, then it might work.

Thoughts?

By the way, that is Gallo to the right. Bargnani is above.

So I noticed my David Lee Blazer post made it to Dime Magazine who took the opportunity to knock me:

“…Some of the rumors have made some sense for New York, but this latest one that apparently would have Lee going to Portland for Jerryd Bayless is kinda crazy. As much as we love Jerryd and his huge potential, the Knicks would be trading big for small, adding an undersized ‘tweener to a roster that features an NBA midget backcourt ensemble of Nate Robinson, Chris Duhon and Peep Roberson…”

Yeah but here’s the thing Dime, I said Donnie Walsh would turn down a trade for Bayless or Sergio and a number one pick.

“…The Knicks may be interested in Jerryd Bayless, who has fallen behind Sergio Rodriguez on their depth chart, and whom the team passed on in this year’s draft or Rodriguez , but the combination of either and a first round pick won’t be enough to entice Walsh. This is where a third team may get involved…”

Where exactly does it say that the Knicks or Blazers are entertaining Bayless for Lee? It’s not being offered, thus it’s not a rumor. The story is that the Blazers have a serious interest in Lee and I was merely suggesting Bayless or Sergio and a number one, as a means to gauge the level of Knicks interest. IF Walsh turned down two picks from the Nuggets he’d surely turn this down.

Seriously, I get knocked for not having an editor and that’s fair sometimes I wish I had one…well not really. What’s your guys’ excuse?

BOX SCORE
SHOT CHART

In an inspired effort the Knicks got their first road home win in almost a month by taking down the World Champion Celtics who have now lost 4 of their last 6.

Wilson Chandler had a career high 31 points and broke out of a recent slump, they kid was simply fantastic tonight on both ends of the floor. When asked how it felt to join the “30 point club” Chandler responed, “Good but it’s better that we got the win.

Chandler had 15 points in the 3rd quarter where the Knicks took control outscoring the Celts 28-15 and never looked back.

The Knicks constantly double teamed Kevin Garnett, who left the game briefly with a calf injury, and was never really effective finishing with just 6 points on 1 of 6 shooting.

Rajon Rondo also struggled after torching the Knicks last game finishing with just 3 points. D’Antoni placed Jared Jefferies on Rondo and it worked.

Al Harrington had another strong game for the Knicks, finishing with 30 points and 5 three pointers, he also added 7 rebounds. David Lee and another square game tallying 14 points and 14 rebounds.

One to build on for the Knicks (13-19) who now face 6 of the next 7 on the road during a Southwest swing. They return to action Tuesday night in Oklahoma City.

AP Photo/Kathy Willens

When: 6 P.M.
Where: MSG
Watch: MSG
Starting Lineups:
Celtics (29-5)
PG Rajon Rondo
SG- Ray Allen
SF- Paul Pierce
PF-Kevin Garnett
C- Kendrick Perkins
Rest of rotation: Eddie House, Leon Powe, Tony Allen, Brian Scalabrine, Glen Davis

Knicks (12-18)
PG: Chris Duhon
SG: Quentin Richardson
SF: Wilson Chandler
PF: Jared Jefferies
C: David Lee
Rest of Rotation: Nate Robinson, Tim Thomas, Al Harrington

Injuries:

Celtics: N/A
Knicks: OUT: Eddy Curry (conditioning) Danilo Gallinari (back)

GAME NOTES

Another tough matchup for the undermanned Knicks, who are facing a Celtics team that has “slipped” over the holidays losing 3 of their last 5 games.  No question they will be up to play at the Garden and watch for the continued bad blood between the teams. First Paul Pierce and Q Richardson then Al Harrington called Pierce a “professional trash talker” after their last game in December.

EACH TEAM’S BEST 5-MAN UNIT
NYK:  Duhon, Robinson, Richardson, Lee, Harrington (+ 11)
CELTS: Rondo, Allen, Pierce, Garnett, Perkins (+248…seriously)

The Other Blog’s Take: Celticsblog.com

“…After one game at home, the Celtics are back on the road to play the NY Knicks at Madison Square Garden.  This is the third meeting between these two teams as the Knicks lost twice this season in Boston.  The Celtics have won 5 in a row at Madison Square Garden.

The Celtics and Knicks are rebuilding the rivalry between these two storied franchises as the Celtics have once again claimed their place at the top of the league and NY is struggling to be relevant once again.   Under new coach Mike D’Antoni and GM Donnie Walsh, they are moving back toward respectability.    The Knicks are 7-7 at home and the Celtics have lost 3 of their last 4 games on the road  and so the Knicks would love to add to the Celtics road woes with a win in this game.

The Celtics are hoping that the problems that plagued them on their recent road trip are over and hopefully they will continue their dominance over the Knicks with a big win in this game…”

Leave the in-game banter in the comments section. Let’s go Knicks.

Several sources with knowledge of the situation have told TKB that the Portland Trailblazers are getting serious about trading for David Lee.

Blazers ownership thinks Lee is the perfect 6th man who will be 26 in April and can be part of their long term plans. As we know Lee has leverage because he doesn’t have to sign with a team he is traded to, but playing in Portland with their young core would be very attractive.

The Blazers’ organization feels Lee’s style of play would fit perfectly in Portland as he can play in both the half court system and get out and run as well as any forward in the NBA. Plus he’d be a “flex” forward who could make them a big half court team or a smaller quicker team depending if he subbed in for LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden or Nicolas Batum.

The question now becomes what do the Blazers give up in order to match what the Knicks need. We’ve said Donnie Walsh might move Lee with Curry as a means to get Curry’s contract off the books. But there isn’t great rush in moving Curry at this point because he is under contract next year. Since they were able to move Zach Randolph and Jamal Crawford, there isn’t any desperation. At some point they want to move Big Ed, but it doesn’t have to be at the expense of Lee especially with his value being quite high. ESPN reported that Walsh turned down the Nuggests offer of Chucky Atkins and two first round picks for the former 30th overall pick.

The Knicks may be interested in Jerryd Bayless, who has fallen behind Sergio Rodriguez on their depth chart, and whom the team passed on in this year’s draft or Rodriguez , but the combination of either and a first round pick won’t be enough to entice Walsh. This is where a third team may get involved.

TKB was the first outlet to report the Clippers involvement on November 21 in talks for Zach Randolph. We were also the first to learn that Stephon Marbury would suit up against the Bucks, a sure sign that the Randolph trade would go through since the incoming players would not play and the team needed to dress 8 players, an NBA rule.

Interesting stuff may be in the works so stay tuned as we stay on it…