The Summer is Quiet
Well, we seem to have hit a quiet lull in the Knicks’ off-season. Donnie had a quiet draft night, making his pick (Gallo) and then holding his peace. He then signed an unspectacular, yet serviceable, free agent in Chris Duhon with the team’s full MLE, leaving practically no wiggle room for the rest of the summer. Mix in the signing of 3 minute per game, 3 point specialist Anthony Roberson and the trading of Renaldo Balkman for a 2nd rounder, a trade exception, and an open roster spot, and you have the Knicks’ off-season thus far.
The Knicks, as currently constructed, have 15 players under contract for next season. However, they are not the fifteen players that will break camp. Donnie Walsh isn’t that foolish. At the very least, Jerome James will be bought out (traded???) of his contract and be free to sign on with any team, restaurant, or donut chain of his liking. I read in the newspaper the other day that James Dolan (the CEO of Cablevision… oh yeah and the owner of the New York Knicks) was considering a stock repurchase or a dividend after strong 2nd quarter earnings. I have a better idea, Knicks fans. Maybe all of the investors that are Knicks fans should write a letter to Mr. Dolan in an attempt to forego their portion of the dividend, prompting Dolan to instead buy out this team’s junk. Quite simply, alleviate your heart-burn in lieu of receiving money.
That all said, it is clear that the Knicks will not open their season at the end of October with the same players that are here on August 4. Without wiggle room under the cap and a potential inability to trade away his players, Walsh may simply have to opt to sift through the bottom feeders of the league with the hope to find lightning in a bottle. There are players bound to be cut during training camp, both veterans and young 2nd rounders that might catch Donnie’s eye. Maybe Stromile Swift? There are also a few available free agents right now that might find themselves jobless come mid October who would be willing to sign on for the league minimum. Donnie will surely be targeting a backup center when filling the massive void left by Jerome James. Looking through the free agent list, all I could come up with were:
Nick Fazekas- I do not know why, but I have always had a strong liking for him. I really think that he would be a great fit for us. He is a huge body that can nail three pointers. He is slow, and not a great defender, but he is efficient. Basketball smarts could go a long way with Coach Mike.
Francisco Elson- He is simply a big body who has playoff experience with the Spurs.
David Harrison- The Pacers will not resign him. Walsh has already had him. He is young. Maybe?
Theo Ratliff- I cannot imagine him signing on with a bottom-feeder team.
Robert Swift- This would be excellent, but the Sonics (Thunder) owner wants him back.
Jamal Magloire- Please, no! He is big and lazy. He is one notch above Jerome James in my book, but I cannot see him as our backup center. Earl Boykins is still a FA. Let’s sign him to back up Eddy Curry before Jamal.
