Knicks Trade Courtney Lee to the Thunder

Getting rid of Courtney Lee has to be a priority for the Knicks. They have their eyes set on courting Kevin Durant next summer (player option), per ESPN.com’s Zach Lowe. Sneaking out from under the final year of Lee’s deal matters. Their cap outlook isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Kristaps Porzingis’ restricted free-agent hold ($17.1 million) makes it tough for them to carve out max room. Stretching Joakim Noah alone doesn’t get them there. Waiving Lance Thomas’ partial guarantee ($1 million) and renouncing all their other free agents might, but it’ll be tight depending on where their draft pick ends up.official nfl jerseys cheap

Rerouting Lee to the Oklahoma City Thunder makes all kinds of sense. They need someone who can chase around opposing wings and hit three-pointers at a consistent clip. Lee fits that bill.

Oklahoma City doesn’t have the assets to make a deal work straight up. Including Carmelo Anthony and sussing out a third-team facilitator is important—and also super hard.

Cap space around the league is harder than ever to find. The Atlanta Hawks have recused themselves as a major dumping ground by absorbing Jeremy Lin. That leaves the Kings and Bulls.

The latter is the best option after rescinding David Nwaba’s qualifying offer. The Bulls can open up about $20.6 million in room by cutting bait with other non-guarantees, arming them with serious maneuverability in negotiations. A three-way deal along the lines of this works out for all three parties:nfl authentic jerseys

Bulls Receive: Carmelo Anthony, Terrance Ferguson, 2020 second-round pick (via Oklahoma City Thunder)
Knicks Receive: Hamidou Diallo and Robin Lopez
Thunder Receive: Justin Holiday and Courtney Lee nfl authentic jerseys cheap

Will the Thunder view Diallo, Ferguson and a future second-rounder as an acceptable cost for shaving $11.3 million off their bottom line before taxes? Are the Bulls cool with getting Ferguson and a second in exchange for renting out what will be sub-$10 million in cap space after Anthony’s buyout?nfl jersey wholesale

Both questions are valid causes for hesitation. But the Knicks should green light their own participation. This package adds just a couple million in salary for 2018-19 while erasing Lee’s $12.8 million hit from the 2019-20 ledger. Signing Diallo, a worthy perimeter flier, will barely eat into the resulting savings.best nfl jerseys

New York can hold out for a better return closer to the trade deadline. But going on 33, Lee’s value is subject to a nosedive. The Knicks should find solace in improving their 2019 cap sheet now—especially when they’re also opening more run for younger wings and strengthening their tank.nfl jersey for cheap