Keep No. 42? Definite-LEE

(15th January, 2010)

Regardless of who the Knicks entice, six months from now, it will be a wonderful thing for the city, and its fans, if David Lee remains with the organization.

Lee, the final First Round pick of the 2005 Draft, has proven to be the one saving grace of the Isiah Thomas Era.  He is a consistent double-double threat on the court, and the face of this team inside the lockerroom.  Neither Eddy Curry nor Nate Robinson –who played with the 6’9” forward on the 2005-06 squad- bring to the table what Lee can.

The popular talk is that, if the Knicks sign LeBron James or Dwyane Wade this summer -while allowing Lee to fly- they will become a playoff team.  That’s not necessarily true.  LeBron or Dwyane, and the other 100-odd unrestricted free agents, will play just so well without a quality supporting cast.  If Lee goes, the Knicks may need a number of players to fill the void.

Who will provide supplemental scoring?

Who will grab the lion’s share of the rebounds?

Who will be that viable second option?

I do not think LeBron is going anywhere.  He is Ohio Basketball, and would want to win a title in Cleveland more than anywhere else.  LBJ is already the most marketable player in the NBA, so the lure of Madison Avenue isn’t really much of a lure at all.

D. Wade has already won in Miami, so he may want to move on.  When he was named the MVP of the 2006 Finals, he had a still-formidable Shaquille O’Neal at his side.  And, though Lee does not possess Shaq’s bulk, he and Wade would create a dynamic inside-out attack challenge when Mike D’Antoni’s offense requires one.

Amare Stoudemire, who played parts of five seasons for the Knick coach in Phoenix, is a very likely candidate to relocate to New York.  Stoudemire’s 6’10” frame allows him to play center, thereby moving Lee to his more-natural power forward position.  Another intriguing scenario.

There will be several other quality free agents to test the market, beginning in July, but the mutual desire [player and team] to keep Lee in this metropolis remains the common thread.  He is among the few fan favorites in this town who has matured right in front of our eyes.  New York fans appreciate his work ethic, even if he has never appeared in a game that truly mattered.

It would be a damn shame if he was to go.

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