Three-Way-Trade for Knicks?

Am I Nostradamus and just don't know it?

Minutes after posting that the Knicks might want to consider using the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 3-way trade involving David Lee and Al Jefferson in order to land Tony Parker, as Stoudemire promised he could make happen (as a Knick), ESPN Insider has posted a rumor of a three-way trade the Knicks are considering:

Minnesota Timberwolves receive David Lee in sign-and-trade

Golden State Warriors receive Al Jefferson

New York Knicks receive Monta Ellis

Ummm...how do I say this without sounding desperate? Oh, screw it.

DONNIE WALSH: DO NOT TRADE FOR MONTA ELLIS. HE HAS A BLOATED CONTRACT, DOES NOT PASS THE BALL, AND IS ALLEN IVERSON-LITE AND ALLEN IVERSON NEVER WON A TITLE. HE WAS A CANCER ON HIS TEAM LAST YEAR AND GOT SUSPENDED FOR GETTING INJURED IN THE OFF-SEASON AND THEN LYING ABOUT IT.

Okay, whew, I'm done.

To be honest, I don't think the Knicks are seriously considering this deal, especially at this time. It appears to be one of those flash rumors ESPN likes to post just to keep people interested on a slow day.

Amar'e: I Can Get Parker and Carmelo to NY

It wouldn't be the Fourth of July if there wasn't some good ol' American making a ridiculously bold claim that would undoubtedly ruffle the feathers of those around him. So, thank you Amar'e for telling the press that if you come to the Knicks, you could promise that Tony Parker and Carmelo Anthony would follow you.

As I mentioned before when it was revealed that the Knicks had an agreement in place with Stoudemire, one of the immediate plusses of an agreement would be that Stoudemire could be used as a recruiting tool. 

Well, apparently, he doesn't care if he is signed or not, he still plans to recruit. 

However, as much as he could be recruiting for the Knicks, he also might just be hyping up his ability as a recruiter so that the Knicks will give him his contract already (especially since there have been no other rumors of him getting Max offers elsewhere).

For the moment, though, let's take Amar'e at his word and see if this is even a possibility.

First, it has been rumored earlier this Spring that Tony Parker would be open to a trade to the Knicks. The only way this would occur is if a) the Knicks strike out on other free agents and b) the Spurs are willing to do a sign-and-trade with David Lee most likely being the centerpiece in the Knicks' side of the deal. The Spurs do have George Hill waiting in the wings behind Parker, but I have to believe David Lee is not the missing piece the Spurs need to make one last charge at the title with Tim Duncan. Thus, I think the Knicks would have to work some sort of a three way deal with maybe the Wolves involved and trading Al Jefferson to the Spurs?

Second, Carmelo Anthony has recently been offered a 3 year, $65 million extension from the Nuggets. Although he has not signed yet, most people believe it would be crazy not to take that much guaranteed money and run. However, there has also been some noise that if he does not sign the extension soon, the Nuggets will begin to consider trades so as not to lose him next summer for nothing. If he did become a free agent next summer, the Knicks are currently scheduled only to have $10-12 million in cap room, so they would need to trade some players to clear space in order to give Max dollars to Melo. However, considering how easy it became for the Bulls and Heat to pawn off players for cap room, I'm pretty sure the Knicks could figure something out by 2011.

If all this worked out, it would be a very very nice consolation prize to losing out on LeBron.

David Lee doing Free Agency the old-fashioned way

Although most of this year's top Free Agents have decided not to go on a tour of all the prospective cities they might be playing in next year and instead have had the team's representative's come to them, David Lee is taking the opposite approach (which might make the Knicks and some of their fans a little uncomfortable).

Already, Lee has lined up visits with the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves and the Knicks' now BIGGEST rivals, the New Jersey Nets.

As Chris Sheridan pointed out, both the Heat and the Bulls are probably going to wait and see how the bigger names play out before making a firm offer to Lee, but the New Jersey Nets, on the other hand, might be more willing to steal Lee away instead of waiting for Bosh, Stoudemire and Boozer to make up their minds.

Personally, I have to disagree with Sheridan here. Prokhorov just put up a billboard that read, "The Blueprint to Success." How is he going to sell David Lee receiving $12-13 million per year over five years as part of that blueprint. Those Knicks' fans who he wanted to convert into Nets' fans would just laugh in his face if he signed Lee before waiting to see what happened with the bigger names. David Lee, for all his talent, grit, and hustle, was able to put up solid numbers on some teams that were really brutal to watch. Signing Lee for that much money this early in Free Agency is the Blueprint to a First Round playoff exit, but not the NBA championship Prokhorov promised.