NEW YORK - JANUARY 22: David Lee #42 of the New York Knicks reacts to a call against the Los Angeles Lakers during their game at Madison Square Garden on January 22, 2010 in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Al Bello
According to Chad Ford of ESPN.com, the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors are ready to make a sign-and-trade deal as soon as LeBron announces he will sign with a team other than the Knicks.
The Knicks are obviously hoping that James will decide to sign with them tonight, and are waiting to make the deal until James is officially no longer a possibility. If James does not become a Knick, New York will reportedly send David Lee to the Golden State Warriors in a sign-and-trade deal that would bring forward Anthony Randolph to the Knicks.
This deal wouldn’t be the biggest news of the day by any stretch of the imagination, but it could potentially pay big dividends for both teams involved.
For the Warriors, the upside to this deal is obvious. Golden State was the worst rebounding team in the league by a comically wide margin last season, and Lee has been one of the best rebounders in the league over the last few seasons.
The Warriors also desperately need someone who doesn’t waste possessions, can score the ball inside, will a veteran presence, and can bring some consistency to the squad. Lee should be able to do all of those things, and will immediately become the best big man the Warriors have employed in several years. Randolph is a talented prospect, but the Warriors already have plenty of talented prospects. The Warriors need someone who will produce, which Lee will do.
In exchange for Lee, the Knicks will get one of the most intriguing and maddening young prospects in the NBA. Few, if any, players have Randolph’s combination of height, length, explosiveness, and skills, but Randolph hasn’t come close to putting it all together yet. He can do almost anything on offense or on defense, but his bad shot selection, lack of muscle, injury history, and inability to finish inside have kept him from being an effective NBA player thus far.
Even with all of his shortcomings, Randolph does bring some good things to the Knicks. Randolph is young and athletic, and New York needed youth and athleticism. He’s a big man with ball skills, which could make him a dangerous weapon in Mike D’Antoni’s system. With his length and athleticism, he could become the kind of defensive dynamo that Shawn Marion was under D’Antoni. Randolph isn’t LeBron James, but his package of athleticism and skills could make him the kind of player that will help the Knicks return to relevance.