July 29, 2006 -- The Knicks made some noise on the free-agent scene yesterday, reaching out to a defensive-minded small forward without regard to financial consequences.
The Knicks presented Washington's restricted free agent Jared Jeffries with an offer sheet that the Wizards will have seven days to match. The Knicks made no comment on the proposal, but sources said it is for the mid-level exception: five years at between $27 million and $28 million, starting at roughly $5.2 million per season.
The Wizards have seven days to match from the time they receive the offer sheet. Because the Knicks presented their offer late yesterday, the Wizards might not receive it until Monday.
"We have not received an offer, and if or when we do, we will have a week to explore all of our options to determine our course of action," Wizards president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld said.
Jeffries' agent, Andy Miller, told The Post last night he hoped the Wizards would not match.
"We wouldn't have accepted the sheet if we didn't think we had a fit with the Knicks," Miller said.
Though Washington is well under the luxury cap threshold (by about $11 million), the addition of Jeffries - an Indiana product like Isiah Thomas - could wind up costing the Knicks more than $10 million per season, as they would pay dollar for dollar in luxury-tax penalties. The chances of a sign-and-trade appear remote because there is little on the Knicks roster that is available that would appeal to the Wizards.
Grunfeld and Wizards coach Eddie Jordan have said recently their preference is to keep Jeffries, but that obviously was before a $5.2 million starting price tag. Jeffries is a 6-foot, 11-inch, 240-pounder who started 77 games and averaged 6.4 points and 4.9 rebounds last season. For his career, he has averaged 6.1 points and 4.8 rebounds.
HE'S A SIXTH MAN AT BEST!!!! Who's getting what minutes on this team????
The Knicks presented Washington's restricted free agent Jared Jeffries with an offer sheet that the Wizards will have seven days to match. The Knicks made no comment on the proposal, but sources said it is for the mid-level exception: five years at between $27 million and $28 million, starting at roughly $5.2 million per season.
The Wizards have seven days to match from the time they receive the offer sheet. Because the Knicks presented their offer late yesterday, the Wizards might not receive it until Monday.
"We have not received an offer, and if or when we do, we will have a week to explore all of our options to determine our course of action," Wizards president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld said.
Jeffries' agent, Andy Miller, told The Post last night he hoped the Wizards would not match.
"We wouldn't have accepted the sheet if we didn't think we had a fit with the Knicks," Miller said.
Though Washington is well under the luxury cap threshold (by about $11 million), the addition of Jeffries - an Indiana product like Isiah Thomas - could wind up costing the Knicks more than $10 million per season, as they would pay dollar for dollar in luxury-tax penalties. The chances of a sign-and-trade appear remote because there is little on the Knicks roster that is available that would appeal to the Wizards.
Grunfeld and Wizards coach Eddie Jordan have said recently their preference is to keep Jeffries, but that obviously was before a $5.2 million starting price tag. Jeffries is a 6-foot, 11-inch, 240-pounder who started 77 games and averaged 6.4 points and 4.9 rebounds last season. For his career, he has averaged 6.1 points and 4.8 rebounds.
HE'S A SIXTH MAN AT BEST!!!! Who's getting what minutes on this team????
