Free agent big man LaMarcus Aldridge cancelled his Thursday meeting with the New York Knicks, sources confirmed to ESPN.com, a tough blow for a franchise that has endured a difficult start to free agency.
Aldridge's decision to cancel his meeting with the Knicks was first reported by NBA.com.
New York missed out on Greg Monroe -- one of its top targets -- earlier Thursday when the big man opted to sign with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Knicks have a glaring hole on the front line and will continue to try and address it through free agency.
New York met with Robin Lopez on Wednesday night in Los Angeles and one source said after the meeting that there was mutual interest between the Knicks and the free-agent big man.
The Knicks also met with DeAndre Jordan on Thursday morning. Prior to the meeting, New York was considered a long shot to sign Jordan, a source said.
Jordan left the meeting undecided about his future but he came away with a good impression of the Knicks, said a person familiar with the meeting. But New York is still believed to be low on Jordan's list of potential destinations.
Another big man on the Knicks' radar is Golden State's David Lee. The Knicks have discussed internally the possibility of trading for Lee, who was drafted by New York in 2005 and played his first five seasons there, sources confirmed.
Lee, 32, is due to make $15.5 million next season and is looking for a new home. The Knicks have approximately $19 million in cap space and can absorb Lee's contract in a trade.
Lee's deal would come off the books in 2016 and the expiring contract would give the Knicks an extra $15 million in cap space to spend in the summer of 2016, when the cap is expected to increase by $22 million.
Lee has played in Golden State for the past five seasons but fell out of Steve Kerr's rotation in 2014-15. Sources told ESPN.com's Marc Stein shortly after the season that the Warriors and Lee's agent Mark Bartelstein would work together to find a new home for Lee this offseason.
Several teams, including the Lakers, per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, view Lee as a potential option if they fail to land a big man in free agency. The Knicks' discussions about potentially trading for Lee was first reported by Bleacher Report.
Golden State would benefit from dealing Lee because removing his salary would lower its potential luxury tax bill. Golden State could also agree to buy Lee out of the final year of his contract and allow him to become a free agent.
Lee would be open to a return to New York as a free agent, according to a source familiar with his thinking.
"He still loves the fans there," the source said. "He'd be willing to gamble on the Knicks like they gambled on him when they drafted him."