Walsh: Lee Will Sign With Someone Soon

[magicbalala245]

Knicks team president Donnie Walsh predicted negotiations with David Lee will come to a head early next week, and indications were Lee will either sign an offer sheet with the Trail Blazers or settle for the Knicks' five-year offer, which agent Mark Bartelstein still believes is below Lee's market value.

 

If Portland doesn't come through and Lee still doesn't accept the Knicks' proposal, Walsh could pull the offer off the table next week.

 

"It probably will be next week, the way Mark talks," Walsh said. "My feeling is one way or another. He's looking to get an offer sheet that reflects David's value. I hope he doesn't so I can get him at the value I think he's at. There's a disparity."

 

The Blazers got back $10 million in cap room when the Jazz matched their four-year, $32 million offer to forward Paul Millsap. Bartelstein is trying to get the Blazers to offer Lee a five-year, $50 million contract, but they have been reluctant, feeling that the Knicks will match.

 

With his eye on the 2010 salary cap, Walsh is seeking a deal averaging between $7 and $8 million. Lee has agreed to backload a deal with the Knicks and take a pay cut for 2010-11. If Portland signed Lee to an offer sheet, it would attempt to add a poison pill clause for 2010-11.

Edited July 18, 2009 by magicbalala245

[Mike Hawk]

I think he is going to portland.