Lee/Randolph swap waiting on LeBron?

Jul 8, 2010, 3:29 PM EST

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.

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mike - Jul 8, 2010 at 3:36 PM

I wonder if there would be any way to add in Eddy Curry and Wilson Chandler and Monta Ellis in that deal…
it still leaves open the door for a max contract in NY and then gives NY some serious fire power…I know the contracts do not match up totally and GS would end up needing to send probably about 8 million in salary to some other team, but dang look at how much better the Knicks would be…
PG: Douglas
SG: Ellis
SF: Gallo
PF: Randolph
C: Amare
Bench: Walker, Rautins, Fields, Jordan, and whoever else they pick up

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Tom - Jul 8, 2010 at 3:44 PM

That would be the worst defensive team in the league.
Randolph looks like he should be able to play defense but he’s a TERRIBLE man defender. He does a good job of blocking shots and getting rebounds but he is out of position and lazy with technique.
Ellis is only effective if he plays with a bigger guard, like a baron davis type, because he cannot guard a legit 2 guard. He’s also a ball hog who jacks up too many shots and turns the ball over too much. You don’t want any part of him.

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Bob - Jul 8, 2010 at 3:54 PM

Dude. What. Is. Wrong. With. Lee’s. Eyes. In. That. Picture?
Please stop posting that pic, it’s disgusting.

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Lee - Jul 8, 2010 at 3:57 PM

Gonna be watching Knicks Night Live on MSG before and after LeBron’s decision tonight regardless. Hoping they’ll be discussing only good things. Cross your fingers Knicks Fans…

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JDub - Jul 8, 2010 at 4:56 PM

Doesn’t matter. With Miami and Boston having the ‘Big 3′, and Orlando still relevant with talent, the Knicks can make the playoffs with Amare alone (becasue the east is pathetic), but will not be able to beat any of these teams.

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Brian - Jul 8, 2010 at 5:54 PM

This day belongs to the King.
LeBron James announces that he will buy the Miami Heat, endorse the New York Knicks, marry two of the LA Clippers’ Spirit Dancers in a Utah ceremony in August, become Executive Vice President of Mining and Distribution for Polyus Gold (NJ Nets’ owner Mikhail Prokhorov’s gold empire) and play basketball part-time for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Read the FUNNY article here:
http://www.dailygoat.com/2010/07/lebron-james-gives-thanks-god-signing-10-year-100m-endorsement-deal-heaven/

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