KNICK STARTERS SET
Shooting guard Lee agrees to 4-year deal in latest makeover move:
ORLANDO - The Knicks have their starting lineup.
Courtney Lee agreed Saturday to a four-year, $48 million deal to join the Knicks, league sources confirmed, giving Derrick Rose his backcourt partner.
Lee, 30, eats up most of New York’s remaining cap space and represents the last big deal of the summer. What’s left is filling out the bench — and Phil Jackson hopes to do that with some of his own free agents — and introducing Lee and Joakim Noah in press conferences.
In an Instagram post, Lee essentially confirmed the deal with a picture of the new Knicks starting five, photoshopping himself into a New York uniform and captioning it with “scary” and a ghost emoji.
Lee has played on six teams since getting drafted by the Magic in 2009, serving as a solid role player with strong perimeter defense and a decent shot. He’s more than comfortable with deferring on offense — which is something he’ll need to do playing with Rose and Carmelo Anthony — and holds a professional reputation.
“We need someone who can do multiple tasks, set the table, make plays,” Jackson said. “Has range. Can shoot the ball.”
Lee’s also not injury-prone like the other free agent shooting guard option, Eric Gordon, who hasn’t played more than 64 games since the 2008-09 season and reportedly agreed Saturday to sign with the Rockets at four years, $53 million. With the Lee agreement, the Dwyane Wade pipe dream was officially buried.
Ju s t hou r s before it wa s leaked, Jackson expressed confidence in his pitch to free agents. Lee is based in Orlando — where the Knicks are currently positioned for Summer League — but it’s unclear if there was a face-toface meeting.
“We are appealing to people’s better interest that we’re a team on the move,” Jackson said. “I think that helps.”
The starting shooting guard spot was vacated by Arron Afflalo, who opted out of his Knicks contract and signed a two-year, $24 million deal with the Kings. According to reports, the second year is only partially guaranteed.
Lee’s deal is fully guaranteed and gives the Knicks four players with annual salaries in eight figures. Five players — Anthony, Lee, Noah, Porzingis and Kyle O’Quinn — are signed until 2019, although the clear directive from
this collection is to win now. That’s why their two big signings are in their 30s.
“You have to understand the situation,” Porzingis, 20, the youngest player on the roster, said. “I'm young, but we don’t have 10 years to win a championship. We got to win soon. So that’s my mindset as well. I know those guys want to win right away. They’ve been in the league for a long time. So all I got to do is stay as mentally focused as I can to help those guys win. That’s the No. 1 goal. I’m not here to have five seasons of just trying to win.”
The Knicks were reportedly discussing a contract with Wade, but that was merely a smokescreen as the future Hall of Famer lobbies for a better offer from the Heat.
Lee played for two teams last season, having been traded at the deadline from Memphis to Charlotte. He played 79 games — starting 65 for the playoffbound teams — averaging 9.6 points on 45 percent shooting. He reached the 2009 Finals as a rookie starter with the Magic.
Hoping to re-sign Langston Galloway, Lance Thomas and, if they can afford it, Derrick Williams, the Knicks still need an inexpensive backup point guard. They were reportedly interested in Austin Rivers, but he re-signed with his father and the Clippers.