Brad Townsend: I’m told Mavs have no plans to waive Courtney Lee, despite calf injury that required season-ending surgery. Ideally they want Lee in Orlando. He’s a respected locker room guy, perhaps most importantly by Luka Doncic. If Lee remains on roster, no addition, including Broekhoff.
One obvious possibility to replace Lee is Ryan Broekhoff, who was waived by the Mavericks on Feb. 11 to make room for the signing of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist after Kidd-Gilchrist was waived by Charlotte. Broekhoff and wife Katie and 1-year-old son Jackson still live in Dallas. Broekhoff reportedly in recent weeks has received interest from teams in Greece and Russia.
Kennedy: Did any of the players on the Knicks recruit you as you were weighing your options? Lee: “Before free agency, I was talking with Noah and it’s great seeing how passionate he is. This offseason, he’s getting out of breath just being on the phone – like he’s running sprints – but it’s because he’s talking about the city, talking about the fans, talking about the team and talking about everything we can accomplish together. He’s excited and he was recruiting me pretty much the entire time, telling me that I was the missing piece and what not. He kept telling me, ‘Let’s get it done!’ Noah was in my ear a lot.”
Alex Kennedy: You told me that the Knicks were the first team to show interest in you, with Phil Jackson contacting you shortly after free agency started. What was it like receiving that call? Courtney Lee: “Man, hearing from Phil and it being the Knicks, it was an incredible feeling. It took me back to all of the things that Phil has accomplished, and it also took me all the way back to my childhood because I grew up in Indianapolis so I used to always watch the Pacers and Knicks battle against each other. It just brought back so many memories. For them to be the first team to call me, it was a good feeling. I mean, it’s Phil Jackson. It’s New York. You’re playing in the Mecca.”
Ian Begley: Courtney Lee posts a photo of the Knicks' new starting five on Instagram: instagram.com/p/BHYPq56jHey/
Ian Begley: The Courtney Lee deal "would not have happened without Joakim Noah," a source close to Lee says. Lee had several offers to decide from and chose New York in part because of Noah's recruitment. "Courtney understands what playing for the New York Knicks means," a source close to Lee says. "He wanted to play in New York and Joakim Noah was instrumental in recruiting him. Would not have happened without Joakim. Courtney couldn't be more excited."
Sam Amick: Confirming Courtney Lee to the Knicks, four years, nearly $50 million. @Alex Kennedy first reported.
Ian Begley: Update: Courtney Lee's deal with the Knicks is fully guaranteed, in the neighborhood of $48 million over four years, sources say.
Michael Scotto: Knicks and Courtney Lee agree to a 4-year, $48 million deal, per league source. Deal fully guaranteed with no options. @Alex Kennedy 1st.
Ian Begley: Phil Jackson said that there are ways in which the Knicks can free up more cap space to sign players. He's likely referring to trading a player on the roster to a team that can absorb his salary into cap space. This would free up some more money for New York and my guess is that the Knicks may have to use this mechanism to sign Courtney Lee. They've offered Lee a four-year deal that's north of $10 million annually, according to sources. Lee has other offers, which are likely more lucrative, and he is considering them. Members of the organization - including Joakim Noah - would love to have Lee in New York, sources say.
Ian Begley: The Knicks' offer to Courtney Lee is north of $10 million per year for 4 years, per sources. Many in the Knicks organization would love to see Lee sign, but New York will have competition from teams that can probably offer a contract with a higher annual value. Lee is considering other offers. After signing Joakim Noah, the Knicks project to have at least $12 million in cap space. That cap space can increase, of course, if they trade a player to a team that has enough cap space to absorb the contract.
Alex Kennedy: Sources: Add the Sixers to the list of teams interested in Courtney Lee. The Knicks, Kings, Nets and Wolves also want him.
Also on the list of players the Wolves have expressed interest in are former Wolves guard Randy Foye, reserve Brooklyn center Willie Reed, shooting guard Courtney Lee, former Hopkins and Gophers star forward Kris Humphries, guard Jamal Crawford, forward/center Brandon Bass and center Ian Mahinmi. Most of those players would add depth and bench strength to the Wolves.
David Aldridge: Courtney Lee sifting through other offers after Knicks offer four years. He would be really good fit in New York w/Rose, Melo, Porzingis.
Marc Stein: ESPN sources say the Knicks have made a four-year offer to Courtney Lee, but Lee has a variety of suitors and is working through the options
Alex Kennedy: Sources: In addition to the Knicks and Kings, Courtney Lee has received interest from the Nets, Wolves and Hawks (if Kent Bazemore leaves).
Alex Kennedy: Along with interest from the Knicks, Courtney Lee is receiving serious interest from the Kings too. Sacramento reached out tonight.
Tim MacMahon: Shooting guard Courtney Lee is getting early interest from the Knicks and Kings, a league source said.
The Vertical: Shams Charania: Courtney Lee set to meet with Knicks on Friday morning.
Marc Berman: As expected, #Knicks reached out to Courtney Lee to be starting SG, and Austin Rivers, backup PG. Rivers' price tag won't be crazy.
Alex Kennedy: Courtney Lee's first call after free agency started was from the New York Knicks. Phil Jackson called him, according to league source.
James Ham: The Kings, from what I know, are targeting Courtney Lee. They love Courtney Lee. They love what he brought to the end of the season to the Charlotte Hornets.
Eight-year NBA veteran Courtney Lee is undeniably on the verge of the biggest payday of his career. Fresh off of a four-year, $21.3 million contract that ended with the Charlotte Hornets, the versatile shooting guard could garner somewhere around to $11-14 million per year on the open market, according to NBA sources.
Now, if that sounds like a lot of money to you (and yes, it is a lot of money), consider the league’s new multi-billion-dollar television deal will ramp up each team’s salary cap from $70 million this past year to an estimated $92 million in 2016-17, and then a whopping $107 million in 2017-18. So it’s not just Lee who’s about to get paid. A bunch of free agents are about to get a whole lot richer. “It’s going to be eye-opening,” Lee told Basketball Insiders. “I don’t think people understand how much money is involved with this new TV deal.”
Courtney Lee, Marvin Williams and Al Jefferson also indicated their desire to return to the Hornets as well, but it remains unclear if general manager Rich Cho can — or even wants to — bring everyone back for another run at the playoffs or if he'll look in a different direction to upgrade.
November 20, 2023 | 3:12 am EST Update
Rui Hachimura: Dillon Brooks just wants to be part of LeBron James' legacy
“I don’t know what’s the beef between those two guys,” Lakers forward Rui Hachimura said. “But I know they’ve been doing it for a while now, especially last year in the playoffs. “For Bron, it’s nothing. It’s actually good for him. He needs that motivation. So, it actually brings him more to the game. Dillon Brooks, he just wants to be part of it — his legacy, I guess.”
LeBron James on Dillon Brooks: 'He’s a great competitor. I like going against him'
James was more complimentary, seeming to appreciate the nerve to challenge him. But he also had flashed a “too small” gesture after one drive that he finished over Brooks. “He’s a great competitor,” James said. “I like going against him. And he was hooping tonight, too, for sure. He was shooting the ball exceptionally well, kept them in the game. So, that’s competition. Those young guys, they get me going. So, I need that.”
The four-time league Most Valuable Player even surpassed a legend on the all-time NBA steals list. With three steals against the Rockets, James displaced former Portland Trail Blazers star Clyde Drexler in the eighth spot on the list, which also put him just four notches back of Michael Jordan.
Kyrie Irving wears Palestinian keffiyeh in press conference
When he arrived to face the media after the deflating loss to the Bucks, The Mavs point guard caught the attention of NBA fans worldwide with his outfit. He wore a black-and-white scarf called a keffiyeh, a traditional symbol of solidarity with Palestine among activists. He was not asked about his choice of headwear, nor did he answer any questions about the Israel-Hamas War during the press conference. He only talked about the game, which ended in disappointment after losing a 10-point fourth quarter lead.
It wasn’t his first fashion choice with a message this week. On Friday, the Mavericks’ official account posted photos of Irving at practice that showed him wearing basketball shoes with a political message written on them: “No More Genocide.” He signed with Chinese shoe brand ANTA after Nike terminated his contract over a controversial post he made on Instagram.
LeBron James: 'I don't feel that great right now. Dealing with a couple of injuries'
James entered Sunday’s contest initially listed as questionable on the Lakers’ injury report. He’s dealing with a left calf strain, and he admitted after the win that the ailments he’s dealing with continue to bother him. “I guess I’m just in a really good groove right now,” James said when asked about the efficiency he’s showing in his Year 21 in the NBA, per Spectrum SportsNet. However, after that, he shared: “I don’t feel that great right now. Dealing with a couple of injuries, little under the weather right now, but I guess I’m just trusting the work. And then the competition got me going a little bit as well. My teammates needed me to be as great as I could be tonight, and I’m happy I was able to come through for them.”
Todd Whitehead: Invented a bunch of new lob stats ??
November 19, 2023 | 9:13 pm EST Update
Marcus Smart feels devastated he can't play against old team
In an interview with Abby Chin of NBC Sports Boston on Sunday, Smart opened up about the challenge of not being able to suit up against his former team. “We’ve been struggling and we got a great win last night and, to come back and play a team like Boston, not to be a part of it is definitely devastating,” Smart admitted.