Stop the Presses: Curry to Exercise! Damn, Next Year’s Option

traps9

He’s a POS.

BigDaddybluesman

Curry is so full of it. He’s so full of crap, even more so than D’ASS and Walsh.

I never saw a team with so many people on it who are so full of BS, especially Little Jimmy boy Dolan.

SpaceMan

smfh.

the oak

Eddy Curry is clueless. I had felt bad for the guy because all he has gone through but its wearing off. He doesn’t seem to understand that just because he has a big contract doesn’t earn him the right to play. He was not very good. He is not one of our 10 best players so why does he deserve to play?

He is a joke.

Money gives people a sense of entitlement.
Look at Hughes and Curry and how they handled their benching.
Then look at how Robinson handled his benching.
It’s all about the benjamins

Jack D

I liked how nate handled it and i hope he signs with the knicks on the cheap.

Mucha

Eddy Curry’s a joke.

Of course Mike D’Antoni won’t give you a chance, you suck!!!

Mucha

Me too.

Boots

His statement about opting-in could be a bargaining strategy; just posturing. The Knicks must make it clear to him that they have moved on, and that he will never be activated next year. If he wants to spend the last year of his contract on the bench in street clothing, fine. So be it.

If he realistically wants another contract somewhere, a buy-out and a veteran minimum on another team is his best option. He has to prove that he can still play at this point. I really don’t think that any team will even want him as an expiring unless they have a large ticket player to move. I can’t see any team giving up a player of value next year to the Knicks for Curry’s contract.

It is one more unfortunate event for the young man, but in the interest of the team moving forward, the Knicks must play hardball with him.

starksoakmase

glad to hear that not everyone is a Nate hater.

JASONHAYES

Via Hoopsworld.com

Most Likely To Be Moved: Acie Law and DJ Augustin
Acie Law and his camp have been given permission from the Charlotte Bobcats to talk to teams and try to find a situation that makes sense for the point guard. The New York Knicks have shown the most interest in Law and his expiring contract. The Indiana Pacers have also had some conversations with Law and could be a potential suitor if New York doesn’t work out. Law still has a lot of potential and many believe he could still be a great point guard if put in the right situation.

DJ Augustin continues to appear in trade rumors due to a rocky relationship with head coach Larry Brown. Charlotte is reportedly shopping the guard for a big man. They have been looking to move Augustin for quite some time now but they haven’t been able to get a deal done. With that said, the team is ready to move him and they could be looking at all of their offers and waiting until the last minute to make a decision.

starksoakmase

It is a tough spot the knicks are in. It’s not like benching marbury because Curry is well liked around the league. All i hear is what a nice guy he is. Donnie has to be careful to not appear that he is mistreating a player while they are trying to attract free agents.

if Curry is indeed in game shape, it would behoove the knicks to showcase him as the season winds down. A team with an overpaid (but useful player) may want to get rid of a big contract and take on Curry for his expiring contract. Okafore comes to mind, but he may be a little too overpaid for my liking. Iguodala is another guy, but not if we get LeBron. Just thinking out loud.

what overpaid, but productive guys would you take on for Curry?

Boots

A question for BluEand Orange:

I appreciated your post on cap and sign and trade on the Re-Cap Thead, but I have a question: Forgive my cut and paste from the old thread.

Granted that the Knicks still have the right to sign and trade him even after renouncing him, but by renouncing him don’t they give up his Bird Rights?

In most sign and trade deals that I’m familiar with, the player agrees to the sign and trade because he can get more from his original team via his Bird Rights.

If his bird rights are renounced, the only reason to accept a sign and trade that I can see would be to help his new team clear a roster slot for him via the trade. That could help the Knicks if they were gettinng a couple of bench players back to re-fill the roster, but I’m not sure that many teams would be trading a usable “star” back to match Lee’s contract.in a Sign and Trade.

Can the Knicks still pay him more than another team even after renouncing him? I’m not sure that I see the advantage for Lee in this scenario. Any enlightenment would be appreciated.

What if the Knicks re-sign him after renouncing him and the trade falls through? It wouldn’t be the worst thing for the Knicks, but it could be a sizeable bump in the road if they have made other plans based upon the proposed Sign and Trade.

BiggieSmalls

you can only sign and trade someone you have not relinquished the rights to.

If the Knicks renounce Lee they can not “un renounce” him unless a player whom they renounced him to sign to an offer sheet doesnt accept the offer sheet.

if we renounce him the only way for him – or anyone – to come back is if he signs under the cap.. as once you renounce there is no more cap hold.

Boots

Good question. I guess it depends on “The Plan.” I wouldn’t want to see the Knicks add to a redundant situation similar to now where there is such a glut of forwards that everybody is playing out of position.

In some respects, the three and four slots seem interchangeable, but playing, in essence, a three at the center slot, and two threes, Chandler and Harrington, at the two spot has been part of this year’s comedy of errors. That has to change, and has to be considered when moving Curry.

At some point, the “make-do” playing out of position situation has to stop.

Boots

Thanks Biggie,

That is what I thought, but others are saying differently on the Re-Cap thread, and I was starting to doubt what I thought I knew.

VOR

@ Boots- You’ll find you answer here question 36. ” http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#Q11“

Boots

I forgot to ask: What would be the point for Lee to agree to that unless he gets no other offers? He might be doig the Knicks a favor by doing that, but why would he want to after being renounced? I could see it if he felt that he was staying in New York. But otherwise . . .

VOR

Question 36* “The actual question is 34, my bad!

BiggieSmalls

Can the Knicks still pay him more than another team even after renouncing him?

No.
to clarify my comment above.. you can only transfer bird rights with a 6 year contract/10.5% raises with a player who you have not renounced.

if a team renounces a player they are o long any bird rights so the player can sign with any team on equal footing for a max of 5 years. the team has to be under the cap or arrange a sign and trade to fot the salary under the cap..

Any team with cap space can facilitate a sign and trade with a free agent. as long as the player agrees tot he trade part of the sign and trade. the contract has to be a min of 3 years in length ..

BiggieSmalls

more like the knicks would be doing him a facor by facilitating his move to a team over the cap AND taking back equiavlent salary in the trade..

this is like a 1% chance thing…

Boots

Thanks, but that is a big, “If . . . ” (queston 34)

Again, it may be because I’m a medicated geezer today, but I’m reading that the clause applies if they are renouncing a player to attempt to sign a Restricted Free Agent. I don’t read that it applies to renouncing to sign an Unrestricted Free Agent. Particularly, if the UFA does sign with them.

Not being critical here, just looking for the knowledge.

Thanks to all for clarification.

harris

I wouldn’t kill Curry over these comments. A potential buyout is far down the road, and he’s probably not certain at this point as to what he would be willing to do anyway. As much as everybody wants him out of here, it is his right to receive his money. If there’s anybody to be angry with, it is the idiot who gave him this contract in the first place.

Does a buyout this summer translate into more salary cap space?

starksoakmase

To me, this is the best the knicks case scenario

Sign LBJ, resign Lee, Trade Curry for Okafor, Trade Chandler for Darren Collison, maybe have enough to resign Nate

Okafor
Lee
LBJ
Nate
Collison

Bench: TD, Gallo, Hill, JJ

The only reason New Orleans would do that trade is because they will have to pay West some big bucks in 2011 and Okafor’s contract goes up and up after 2011. Plus, Chandler will take Peja’s rolewhen his contract is up after the 2010-2011 season.

Boots

Thanks again, that is what I thought, but I’m trying to see the logic and reasoning behind the statements made others as to this being a viable scenario.

I do see your point about it being a favor to Lee if the other team is over the cap. 1% chance, you say. Not a really big part of the possible equation then.

BobbyFromBK

Who the hell cares about Eddy Curry. The N.Y. Bricks are a joke and NBA laughing stock from top to bottom. Either Donnie Walsh or Mike D’Antoni has to go. Preferably both. I’d like to see DW have the rocks to bring in Bill Lambeir. Believe me, MD will be run outta town way sooner than later.

Boots

I believe, but will defer to Biggie and others, that the difference between his salary and his buy-out price becomes cap space. That is why the less the buy-out, the better it is for the Knicks. If he gets close to his full amount, there is little point other than freeing up a roster slot.

The buy-out factor is what I’ve been advocating if the Knicks can only get partial relief for Jeffries, i.e. a player with a year or so to go for part of his contract and an expiring for the balance of JJ’s contract, which might be a more palatable trade for another team.

At that point, a buy-out of Curry added to the expiring for JJ, to my understanding, would help the Knicks create cap space.

BiggieSmalls

Back to the Curry comments.. I agree I wouldnt kill him over wanting his money.

I dont see him accepting anything less than full boat considering there is like zero chance of him getting a league minimum contract given his history and his current health status..

If the player is bought out then the amount of the buyout becomes his salary cap figure. so yes.. it theoretically could save us maybe 1 million of he accepts 10.2 vs 11.2 .. but who is going to give Eddy Curry a million dollars given what has happened to him over the past 2 plus years?

BiggieSmalls

im not sure what the proposal was that would trgger the need to facilitate a sign and trade with Lee after we renounce him.

if we want to “unrenounce” him his old cap hold (150% of base) HAS TO fit under our cap at the time of the unrenouncement…

if we just failitate a sign and trade his NEW salary has to fit under our cap at that time.

http://theKnicksBlog.com Tommy Dee

Tough not to respect nate’s professionalism, in general.

He has flaws but considering everything, he’s been very impressive.

Still doesn’t have a position tho.

Boots

Not a Nate hater, but I do believe that his role has to be defined and monitored, and that on nights when he is off, they must have another “instant offense” type player on the bench to come in.

You know, “plug in, plug out.” Whoever is on gets the minutes. I believe that he is most valuable in that type of role.

I just don’t see him in the role of a point guard for more than a few minutes at a time. When he is doing well as a PG, fine. But when he isn’t . . . He seemed more comfortable last night when he was playing more as a two and ironically when Duhon was in with him.

There were several times the last two games when he crossed half-court playing PG and didn’t seem to know what to do. I put some of the blame on his team-mates as they just refused to set up and a run a play, but still, he’s not a rookie and this is not the first time he has played PG.

http://theKnicksBlog.com Tommy Dee

No one is saying he shouldn’t get “his” money…i said “earned”

the point is actually “playing” he should go somewhere where he can have a chance to get in a rotation.

99% of NBA players want to play AND get paid.

Not just earn a check.

Knicks4life

Putting aside that he has put himself in this position (of not getting a new contract) his comments lead one to believe that he wants to play. If that is the case why not forgoe the million dollars for a chance to play and earn a new contract.

Some team would give Curry the veterans minimum if he proves he is healthy enough to play.

joetheknick

I agree there is no reason to kill Curry. He is in control here. If he gets in shape, he will get playing time as the Knicks want to trade him. If he still has game he probably can be traded. It is all up to Eddy. A buy out doesn’t do much for the Knicks except save ownership a few bucks.

BiggieSmalls

who is going to give him this chance to get into a rotation given the past three years?

I agree he should be given the opportunity to get into a rotation. Why he has absolutely NO SHOT of getting into THIS rotation is confusing.

“earned” is a trick code word when it comes to NBA players. They have guaranteed contracts. there is no real provision to make sure that they “earn” the contracts they are given.

Im sur Eddy wants to play.. they key issue where — and what didnt come out in the article — is Why does Eddy feel the coach wont “give him a chance”? and should he get that chance given the pipe dream of a playoff appearance is all but over.

If he can play run him out there for 20 a game and see if he can “earn” a trade to a situation where he can start with the infamous clean slate

Knicks4life

You mean besides 11 mil in cap space next year?

Jack D

If you hate the Knicks so much then gtfo of here

BiggieSmalls

i havent read anywhere that Curry is looking for a new contract. He has one more year at 11.2 mil left on his existing deal.

Do you really think there is a team out there that would take Eddy Curry for the vet minimum (guaranteed!!) given all that has gone on in the previous 2 plus years, his current knee injury, and the fact that he MAY never get on the floor in a knicks uniform and see real game time to show case himself.

Jack D

Sure the Knicks have a bad record. But I read this blog because I’m a Knicks fan. What’s your excuse?

Jack D

I think once the Knicks’ roster improves (by the summer), his position will get figured out on its own.

Jack D

Meaning that it’ll fall into place nicely. Hopefully

Knicks4life

Yeah I honestly do.

I’m even less of a Curry fan than you but if a team could go over the cap to sign a guy like Curry for one year at the veteran’s minimum I think they would do it. Virtually no risk.

Jack D

And his excuse to collect the money and essentially screwing us over is that he “VOWS” to be healthy enough to play. Disgrace. Granted any human on this face of the earth would take the 11 mil, but c’mon Eddy, don’t feed us the same bull**** over and over.

VOR

Am i reading some of these post right? A lot of you Cats spit in this Cats face and then you want him to do you a favor? Also the word “earn” his money was used, There are a lot more fatter Cats in that city not earning a lot more money than Curry. At least we’ve seen him seating for his money, those other fat Cats are sweating they don’t get caught-that is before they get to Hell!

Jack D

I think Eddy Curry, a fat lazy man-child, is perfectly content getting paid 10-11 mil to not play. I think he would even prefer it over actually getting bought out and then playing on a team for the vet min.

Knicks4lyfe8

i cudnt agree more. nate’s instant offense is hard to find. if we keep him around for the same contract he has now, i would be really happy.

if your a nate hater…stop watching the knicks…the man is the only tough player we have on this team…getting blocked by shaq and then going back swatting his shot is like a anything you can do i can do better kinda thing. havnt seen that since the 90′s.

GO NATE!!!

BiggieSmalls

i could see him getting invited to a summer league team to show his fitness and then getting a training cap invite on a show me contract..

but commit dollars and a roster spot? I’ll believe it when i see it..

perhaps Eddy and his agent can go out this summer and look for such a guaranteed legaue minimum deal in a place where he can get a shot at PT– with Donnie’s permission — and then bring it forward and see if Donnie will do a buyout for the $$ difference.

But we all know how Donnie Walsh feels about buying players out of contracts.

Hydr0

Sure the Curry situation is extremely frustrating to fans. But we have to look at it the same way we look at not having a 1st round pick this year. It’s not Curry’s fault that Isiah signed him for $11.2 million next year just like it’s not Marbury’s fault that we traded this year’s pick for him.

Besides, we never offered Curry a buyout. How can the writer be upset that he didnt’ take something we didn’t offer him? He has no choice but to excersie the option. I can’t get upset at Curry about that. I think we would all do the same. At least this shows that Curry is not a complete idiot.

love the title btw…hilarious

Jack D

i said this above, that I think Eddy is perfectly fine getting paid and not playing. Lazy people want to do nothing, right? That’s essentially what Eddy’s doing.

BiggieSmalls

So by our own admission any human on the face of the earth would take the money.. but you can call Eddy a disgrace?

The situation is what it is.. I wish Eddy would have been in shape all these years and never got injured.. but that is the past..

if he is healthy and can contribute on the court.. why cant he get some burn to show himself off in teh last 35 games?? — like we’ve been doing with JJ all year.

Jack D

he’s not getting traded. he’s not getting traded. and he’s not getting traded.

Jack D

I have no idea what you just said.

Hydr0

agree, a team giving guarenteed money and a roster spot to an unproven guy like Curry would be as crazy as a team signing a guy like Jonathon Bender this year. I mean really who would do such a thing……oh…..um…..wait as sec……..damn this season! lol

Jack D

Yes I have every right to call him a disgrace. Becuase he feeds us the same bull**** over and over, not because he’s taking the money. And he’s not getting any “burn” this season. That’s just not realistic. And aside from us showcasing JJ, he actually contributes to the team unlike Eddy. We would play EC strictly to showcase him.

Jack D

Let me clarify my comment above. I didn’t call him a disgrace because he’s taking the money.

Jack D

But i’m sure they can move Okafor for something of value. I get your point, but I just can’t see it happening.

harris

It shows you how silly it was for D’Antoni to have been playing Jonathan Bender over Curry, after Curry had gotten himself in shape and was ready to play. It was important at that point to let Curry have a chance to demonstrate his abilities so that there was at least a chance of enticing him to agree to a buyout down the road. Now that seems unlikely because no other team will consider offering him enough to make a buyout proposal sensible for him. Another great decision by Mike D’.

Mucha

I don’t criticize Eddy Curry because he’s not willing to opt out.

But his lack of professionalism is disgraceful – what was he thinking? The fact that he worked hard to get back into shape is NOT remarkable whatsoever. But this scrub believes that he deserves playing time because he did what regular people and NBA players do EVERYDAY.

Jack D

he actually got fouled by shaq. I’m surprised they didn’t call that.

BiggieSmalls

i think Eddy was in shape to play this year.. but he got hurt.. is that the “disgrace”?

JJ got hurt the previous two years.. was that a “disgrace”?

I think eddy could contribute if put in the right situation.. of course im looking for strictly a “show case” of Eddy.. At this point the season is over for all intents and purposes — there will be no playoff run..

Mucha

I disagree.

I don’t know how many 10-point leads Mike D’Antoni has compromised because he tried to play Eddy Curry. Turnovers, poor shot selection, poor defense… Terrible.

Jack D

Eddy is DONE. I never called JJ a disgrace because he has something to contribute, so I don’t know what your talking about. He got in shape then got hurt. He ALWAYS gets hurt! How conveinent for one of the laziest players in the NBA. Eddy is a disrgace. Period. Moving on.

harris

Yes, but they should have played him anyway. What’s the difference? The team is still lousy-by the end of this year they will be the second or third worst team in the conference record wise. I could understand if thy were giving minutes to Jordan Hill, and they didn’t want Curry to interfere with his development. But it wasn’t Jordan Hill who was getting those minutes-it was a guy who had been out of the league for 3-4 years with knee problems, and who has no future with the team. Playing Curry would have changed nothing about the team’s fortunes this season-and maybe they would have gotten luck if he had actually showed something. This
is a guy who is still in his mid 20′s, and who did average almost 20 points a game three years ago. There’s no way they were ever going to be able to trade him, but a buyout was a possibility.

starksoakmase

i don’t think anyone wants to pay Okafor the 12.5,13.5 and 14.5 mil he is owed in 2012,2013 and 2014.

Knicks could get him for the same reason Memphis was able to get Z-bo. and dont forget the economy and the new CBA. New Orleans may be sellers by then, looking to dump salary.

BiggieSmalls

that would be ONE lead.. And i think that was more a function of the coach trying to force feed the ball into the post to Eddy every time down the court.. After shooting volumous amounts of three pointers previously.
To abrupt a change,..Perhaps this coach is uncapable of integrating a pure post player into his offensive schemes.. Arguably one of the reasons why he left PHX>

poor defense is a team wide issue… I just dont think what we saw for 8 or 10 minutes early on is what we should make the judgement on..

Wouldnt you like to see Eddy out there now that the playoff run is all but over and the trade deadline is 10 days away?.. No that we can trade him now.. but he aint going anywhere if all anyone has to look at is those few games early on..

Free Eddy Curry.

BiggieSmalls

i never said that EC getting in shape this off season was remarkable in any way..

I led the charge so say “Big Deal.. he is supposed to be in shape”..

But if the goal is to move him or get him in a position to get a min contract somewhere then PLAY him. otherwise dont even write a story about him.. as he will be on the roster and an expiring deal all next year.

BiggieSmalls

you sound like its personal between you and Eddy..

Now I can see how the coach feels.

rocky

why would a guy with massive $ problems opt out of nearly 12 mil
next year to MAYBE get a vets-minimum ‘ tract someplace else?
Eddie might be silly but would you opt out of a guaranteed 12 million
so you might get 4 mil and some Playing Time elsewhere?

With the Knicks sucking I hope DAntoni gives him a chance to show
what he’s got. We know Eddie Curry has dominated in various spots in his spotty career. SInce D Ant has given up on the run and shoot and gone to halfcourt sets, Eddie would probably thrive. Nothing to lose trying to use Eddie, he’s not going anywhere.

Jack D

When most people here believe that a 11 mil player cannot receive even ONE mil from any team, i would consider it a disgrace.

Jack D

yeah but that would hurt our cap even more. granted okafor can play, but i rather have lee

BiggieSmalls

Today.
In Reality.
Given everything that has gone down to date.
I think the best solution to the situation is to ride Eddy like a rented snow mobile for the last 30 something games.

Send him out there for 20 plus minutes a night. Have the offensive genius coach design some real plays for him and let him show what he got.

Then.

Donnie tells him and his agent to go out this off season and find a team willing to give him vet min guaranteed (1 million dollars) and you buy him out for 10.2 mil and send him on his way..

Nothing personal.. let bygones be bygones..

Jack D

well the story is already written. And we’re not playing him. Because he offers NOTHING to this basketball team.

x-man

Maybe Isiah will get the paperclip coaching job and take Eddie off of our hands. LA will have Showtime and Slowtime using the same home court.

What ever Eddie is or has doing, our teams has no real plans to get rid of him other than letting his contract run out it seems. Instead of trying to showcase JJ as the next Durant shooting 3s, we could maybe put Eddie on display because on the defensive end, he;’s about as effective as Lee minus the rebounds. In the offensive end, Eddie could run over a few defenders to soften things up for Lee.

However, when is decent shape, Curry can (at least he used) score in the post.

Jack D

exactly

Boots

Curry has a right to his money “earned” or not. That is what the contract says. I’m not going to kill him for that. As stated up top, his statements may be posturing or a negotiating statement to leverage a better buy-ot, and he has a right to do that. it doesn’t preclude the Knicks playing hardball with him if that is their decision.

The shame is that Curry is a nice guy. He’s more articulate than many players when you hear him speak, so I assume that he is an intelligent person. The question seems to be his judgement of the circumstances surrounding his ability to play for a new contract. If he is resistant to a buy-out, then I’d treat him like one of the rookies.

Wait until after the deadline when hopefully there will be fewer expirings on the bench, after any hope of the phantom goal of making the play-offs is unarguably gone, and then play him as much as he can be played. see what he has, if he can play, fine. Make a decision based on that. Whether he is tradeable, playable next year, or realizes that he just can’t fit into the system here will become apparent. Then the situation will be more clear. Nothing is going to happen between now and the deadline, so the Knicks should stay focused on the next two weeks and put Curry on the backburner until March.

VOR

@ Mucha- Curry was just “venting” man, that’s what most of us do everyday on this blog.

HaS

Also to be fair, this coach is allergic to utilizing a post offense. It was clear to me that he only played Curry because he felt the need to showcase him per Walshie’s orders.

Why would you put a player onto the floor and then immediately run the entire offense through him? Let the man go in run up and down the floor, rebound, play defense, box out etc. and then reward him with a touch or two once he gets a rhythm. 5 mins in the first half for a few games is not going to cut it.

There aren’t many players who can come back from an extended absence (let alone several injuries AND falling out of game shape) and come right in and get their timing back without playing through some rust initially.

Some players, even the good ones, can’t find a rhythm when entering a game off the bench. That’s why there is an award (6th man of the Year) for it, it’s not as easy as it looks. Everyone can’t be a “Microwave”, it takes a special athlete to be able to do that.

This coach has his own agendas and when they don’t benefit the team, I have a problem with it. Benching Nate for 14 games, playing Duhon 35 mins a night when he clearly doesn’t have his mojo or his mojito or whatever he was missing for 48 games which was clearly a double standard and continuing to play _avi_ at Center while not holding him accountable for defending the paint .

I’m done with this guy and I’m over the hype.

x-man

I hear ya but if it’s all for 1 million dollars, why not just give Eddie a cake now with 11.2 million and sing “Happy Birthday’ and “It’s not so hard to say goodbye”?

BiggieSmalls

you understand the primary reason he cant get a contract this off season?

he has been hurt and has played maybe 10 games the past three years.

Did he gain weight? yes
did he lose it? yes.

he just had arthroscopic surgery a month ago.. how is that his fault?

Its a shame that Isaiah gave him that contract and gave up all he did to get a player with two heart conditions. (the real heart and the proverbial heart)..

When he was dominating under Larry Brown he looked like that contract could be a bargain ..

Dominant big men are very very rare.. I wish this coach could figure out how to utilize one so his value could at least be propped up.

VOR

@ Boots- Your comments on the matter should stand as the most sensible one given!

x-man

It would be about showcasing him so that he could offer something to other teams. What part of strategic you don’t get? lol

If we wanted to,w e could give Eddie some time to play for another contract……someplace else. It’s not like we’re going anywhere. Play our youths and those we won’t to give minutes so we can trade them and etc. It’s runway time now. Strut and show your stuff!

HaS

“i think that was more a function of the coach trying to force feed the ball into the post to Eddy every time down the court.. After shooting volumous amounts of three pointers previously.”

I swear I feel we’ve had a Vulcan mind meld on several occasions here (Pause, just in case lmao).

Jack D

big i understand that he lost the weight. but do u really think he rehabbed hard after his injury? And he shouldn’t have gained all that weight in the first place. Eddy has nothing to show for, healthy or not. Sorry.

Mucha

I know BIG.

It was just a reply to “there is no reason to kill Curry” or “I wouldn’t kill Curry over these comments”.

I don’t criticize Eddy Curry because he’ll not opt out of his contract. But his comments regarding the fact that Mike D’Antoni’s not willing to play him are disgraceful. There’s a reason to kill Curry over these comments IMO.

Jack D

He will be “free.” In 2011

dogmanx23

I think if we get Lebron/Lee we should keep eddy for his expiring contract. That $11M could get us something very nice come the off-season or next years deadline.

If our 2010 plans don’t happen then buy him out or just send him home. He will never step foot on the court wearing a knicks uniform.

ds2488

Has, me and you are in agreement a fair amount but are you even being serious with this claim: “Why would you put a player onto the floor and then immediately run the entire offense through him? Let the man go in run up and down the floor, rebound, play defense, box out etc. and then reward him with a touch or two once he gets a rhythm”

Everything you just mentioned is stuff that Eddy curry doesn’t do. The only point in playing him would be to run the offense through him because he brings nothing else to the table. Seems unfair to me. While I agree he benched Nate for too long, I would love to be back in those days when we were 9-5 over 14 games.

Jack D

I agree! But we’re NOT playing Curry! The showcasing is over. There is nothing to “show.” JJ at least contributes to this team

BiggieSmalls

i dont know how he rehabbed.. i expected him to balloon up to 340 after the knee operation..

but this story leads me to believe that he is ready to play only a month after the surgery.

Jack D

exactly, and big why can’t you understand that.

Mucha

“When he was dominating under Larry Brown he looked like that contract could be a bargain ..”

I agree – he was one of the most talented/promising players in the NBA.

“Dominant big men are very very rare.. I wish this coach could figure out how to utilize one so his value could at least be propped up”

I think Curry’s a lost cause. D’Antoni has done a great job with D Lee (offensively), a poor job with Gallo, a great job with Jeffries… but he can’t do anything with Curry I mean he tried (ISO’s etc) to but the experiment was a disaster.

Jack D

agree. Cause if we get Lebron and still have Lee we won’t be in rebuilding mode, so we can get a long contract (a good player lol) for Eddy.

BiggieSmalls

LOL.. i just read your post..

great minds think alike.

but seriously.. it sounds like plain common sense observations.. not rocket science.

the coach did pound the ball into Eddy the moment he got on the floor… I agree it seems like he was doing it to spite Donnie and setting EC up to fail.. no way after that lay off you can just roll into the post and start getting buckets.

x-man

That’s my pt. Should the showcasing be over? I would argue that EVERYONE on this team should be on the runway in their athletic lungerie. It is really time to see who moves forward and who we can get rid of to upgrade this roster next year.

Anymore talk about playoffs this year is b.s.!

Jack D

but its a whole big circle, with Curry telling us he can play, hes ready, he vows to his fans. It all leads to one thing: Eddy winding up hurt again and setting himself back 5 months. Let’s just get over the fact that we’re not gonna play him. There is no more showcasing. That ship has sailed. It’s over. I don;t personally know how the rehabbing went either, but im ASSUMING not that well! It’s been too long for us to have any more hope with him

starksoakmase

Oh me too. I meant that they resign Lee and make the curry for okafor trade during next season, i dont think they will be too good next year.

BiggieSmalls

im not sure how hard the coach tried.. as HaS said above..

the coach just ran him out there and fed him the ball after he sat for 2 plus years.. then when it didnt work he almost immediately pulled him and EC sat again..

I’d like to see 25-35 games from Eddy to see if he can get his groove back and possibyl save us a few mil this summer

other wise send him home like they did with Darko and then no one can interview him

paulempson

Im going to go with a different thought process….

Eddy lost the weight .Right ? He wasnt really allowed to play and then knee problem.

Now , we all know he is already in debt and he probably needs to make that money so he is going to eithetr want court time or just take the money thats left knowing his career is over

Now summer is a long way away. Donnie can talk to Curry and say straight up ” You know what we are doing here and we could really use your cap space and you really need to play for someone else to get the stigma of everything thats happened here and get back to having some confidence. I will play you rest of this reason but I want a buy out ”

If they dont move JJ this year , I look for NY to use both expiring”s next year

It can be amazing this year cuz all FA’s will know NY has enough for 2 max

But ya take what you can get

Boots

If Coach felt that he had to “center” the offense around Curry, he could have had Curry set up in the high post, and run the Pick and Roll with him. Curry has good hands and reasonably nimble feet. Find a way to use Curry within reasonable confines of the regular offense.

To set him up in the low post when nobody on the court can make a good entry pass or has even tried up to that point in the season, was a situation programmed for failure. It made both Curry and the player attempting the entry pass look bad.

HaS

I’m pretty sure it was 8-6.

Eddy hasn’t been a good rebounder, but setting goals for a player is how you get the most out of them. Reward them for doing the things they don’t do very well and directly relate his playing time to that.

For instance, if _avi_ sits when he’s playing terrible defense (similarly to how he sat when the team came back from a tremendous deficit against the Cavs) and give other players his minutes, he will be that much more determined with more effort on that end of the floor when he gets in. Hill had 0 rebounds when he subbed for Lee and yet the team made an incredible comeback to cut the lead to 3.

When a player boxes out sometimes it’s the teammate who gets the rebound. _avi_ gets several empty rebounds a game. He at times allows his man or the man driving the lane to shoot so that he can get an early read on the potential rebound. Effort like that from arguably your best player is a cancer and for the coach to allow (and in some ways reward) that play is self-destructive to a team.

the oak

I think he is talking about his pet cat making money

Hydr0

Biggie, do you think that saving $1 million in cap space this summer is more valuable than eddy’s $11.2 expiring contract next season? I can’t see a reason to buy him out until after next year’s trade deadline. The options you have with a large expiring contract next year seem more valuable to me than $1 million in cap space this summer.

Knicks4life

Curry is a sad situation that is completely self inflicted.

I can’t believe some of you actually want him to play. I saw all i needed to see from him this season.

I would rather see him waived . . . today.

Qaspec

Even if the Knicks buy out Eddy Curry the amount of the buyout still counts against the cap next year. If the buyout is 10Mil then the team saves about 1m for the cap.

Buying out Curry does nothing for the Knicks except open up a roster spot and save maybe a million dollars (if Curry Agreed). It’s better than nothing. Making the most out of a bad situation, when the most isn’t really much.

Mucha

Curry with the P&R? Seriously?

He can’t run and he can’t jump!

Qaspec

I’ve played and coached basketball and I’ve never heard of or seen an “empty” rebound. Every rebound has an impact on the game no matter how trivial it may seem in support of your Anti DaviD Lee position.

Qaspec

The argument to “showcase” him would be fine if he had anything to showcase. His problems with his weight and refusal to take care of his body like a professional athlete led to his numerous injuries. Even what we considered as Curry getting back in shape he was still overweight. With the weight, injuries, time off the court, lack of heart, lack of pride and likelyhood of re-injury I don’t get what he’s gonna “showcase”.

Qaspec

Because some posters want to kill the coach no matter how ridiculous the argument. If Phil Jackson, Doc Rivers or Popovich were coach of this team Eddy Curry still wouldn’t get any run. He is the last player on this team deserving or or capable of getting burn.

italian stallion

The problems with Nate are very clear. Aside from the maturity and decision making issues, he’s a SG is an undersized PG’s body. He can have games like he had last night every once in awhile, but the rest of the time he’s average on offense and gives up way too much defensively. He’d be an OK 6th man if he had a very limited spark plug role.

joetheknick

Waiving Curry does the Knicks no good. You are still on the hook for next year and his salary still counts against cap space. Either you play him until he is traded or you let him rot on the bench. Not a pretty picture. I would rather play him.

italian stallion

If the Knicks are willing to offer Curry a buyout, he’d be crazy not to take it. His career is over if he doesn’t get on the court soon. If the Knicks offer him a couple of million less than he’s owed, they would save a couple million on the cap next year and Curry would become a low risk signing for a couple million for some team that feels like feeding him. He would net the same or possibly even more money, the Knicks would be rid of him, and he would get a shot at resurrecting his career. I think this is actually in the Knicks court.

BiggieSmalls

i really dont care either way.. its expiring next year.. the chances of Donnie doing a deal with the expiring next year isnt that great.. but i hear ya that buying him out takes away that option..

good point. but does keeping him around to get interviewed by Berman and Isola make more sense.

paulempson

As stated above , that would be his wish. He’s praying for that . get all his money and blame NY.

Look at it this way …… he knows if he doesn’t play he has no shot at any decent money come 2011 . There is always teh possibility that he has a decent year next year and we can get rid of him as he will be playing for another deal.

thats worth it rather than waiving him.

Rest…agree 100% . I cant stand the guy as a player

HaS

Empty rebound is probably the wrong term, I apologize.

When a player’s only concern is to rebound the basketball when on the defensive end it can and often does hurt the team. Unless you are so enamored with _avi_ as an offensive player that you choose to turn a blind eye, anyone can see that he often barely tries to challenge a shot, take a charge or protect the basket in any way, shape or form. He is always looking to garner the miss on the defensive end rather committing to his rotations.

You can compare it to a player who gets a lot of steals by simply gambling on defense instead of staying in front of his man, for each steal he may give up 2 layups.

Choose your own terminology, but it can be a deceptive stat as I think _avi_’s rebounds are more often than not. His numbers were awesome for several games and yet the team continues to lose. Last night he sits and the team actually mounted a respectable comeback against LeBron and Co. last night.

He’s a loser and isn’t worth anything about 8 mil per. If you and others chose to make excuses for him that’s fine, but I KNOW he could play much better on defense and if he can’t he should be a role player off the bench.

HaS

“He can’t run and he can’t jump!”

They say the same thing about _avi_ on defense and he does pretty well in the P&R.

LOL but seriously Curry’s hands are undeniable and when in basketball shape he does have quick feet. The point is he shouldn’t enter a game and be asked to dominate the ball and have the offense run through him after such an extended layoff.

_’antoni has an agenda (as do most coaches, we saw this with Larry Brown) and he definitely put Curry in a position to succeed. Period.

HaS

But seriously Qaspec, it’s about the coach holding the players accountable. There is no leadership so the coach has to take the helm and assume that role. He doesn’t. _avi_ is just the easiest target in that regard.

harris

To call David Lee a “loser” is really a little much. It’s obviously fine if you don’t like the guy. The fact is that he’s been playing out of position at center, and can’t be expected to match up well against legitmate centers. That is not an excuse-it is reality. When a guy is averaging over 11 rebounds a game, he should be given significant credit for that. There are not that many players in the league who give you that. He’s also the most reliable guy on the team offensively., both with hs scoring and his ability to move the ball. He’s not good defensively, but on this team he’s not anywhere close to being amongst the worst. If you believe he’s overrated, I can understand it, but this stuff with his name, and all the criticism, is really ridiculous. He is the least of the Knicks’ problems.

Last night the guy could hardly move, as he was limping aroung for most of the night-and yet I hear no mention of that. The reason that game got closer in the end was because the Cavaliers lost interest, not because a particular player on the Knicks was out of the game. Besides, it wasn’t David Lee who was getting embarrassed by Lebron. How about a comment about Wilson Chandler’s “d” last night?

Also, there’s no way Lee doesn’t get more than 8 million a year with his next contract. Considering what he gives a team, any contract in the range of 10-11 million is completely deserved, and the likelihood is that he will make more.

x-man

A dude with that size who had skills to post up and put the ball in the hoop should still have some skills unless there is no desire.

what in the heck we have to lose by giving this dude some PT to see if he is serious about playing?

Do ya think Harrington is gonna throw a fit that his wrists hurt from under use?

If I was a coach, I would be talking Eddie up to Eddie for starters and doing what rick Pitino use to do with Mark Jackson. Curry would think he was the next coming of a better offensive Shaq. As soon he showed alittle of this on the court, I would listen to any other GMs and tell them this radio Shaq can be yours.

x-man

Curry is getting the money no matter what so why is the incentive for him to take less money if you think his career is over?

If the Knicks made moves to make this a business venture instead of the bs.s that they seem to do, Curry would be given some PT when he has proven he can run up and down the court without twinkies falling out of his pockets.

What better way to prove to Curry that he can indeed play in the league than that? Maybe then he would take into consideration of what you stated.

x-man

Come on Harris, Lee is dogging it on defense period. He could be a much better all around b-ball player if this coach sat his butt on the bench like last night until he decided to put out the effort on defense.

Lee rarely gets his hands up (although I did see him put his hands up last night and this was the night he was benched..imagine that. Maybe the coach made him pay for that.lol)

You don’t seem to get that many of us what Lee to succeed and we know that Lee played better defense in college and under Isiah tenure. Lee has improved his offense and digressed on the defensive end. Make Lee play some defense and he could be a 12 million guy if he keeps improving.

Boots

I don’t know that he has to do too much running to get from the top of the key to the front of the rim.

He’s a big who can catch the ball, a talent that is not universal among bigs. He is quick with his spin and first couple of steps.

As for jumping, he doesn’t have to backwards tomahawk it, perish the sight, he just has to make his usual short shots and short jumpers that he can make. Rebound-wise, if he works on his positioning . . . Hey, they have to get around him.

He can be taught to pass inside out, and he’ll do that as often as Lee or Harrington does; no damage to the existing mode of play.

If he can’t do it, it points out to him that his skills don’t fit in this system and would fit-in better elsewhere.

paulempson

Why get surgery then? Obvioulsy there is some truth to the fact that EC was pulled due to injury. They are stuck with him and he is even more useless as an injured , heart risk fat center with poor work ethics.

I think NY is playing it safe.He is actually quite possibily more valuable to NY next year than we might know.

If Karl isnt back in Denver , carmelo is that extra max player we might get . maybe a 4 or 5 next summer with a player like johnson and then another max in 2011.

UNless he gives them a decent buyout ( remember , he hasnt been in shape for years ) , no chance DW gives him all that money and let him go elsewhere

Lot of scenarios here folks.

paulempson

and who here believes Lebron is leaving the league best Cavs ( record wise ) to come to NY which suck right now ???

Please …..its like the biggest pipe dream

Mucha

2010-2011 Cleveland Cavaliers minus LeBron James :

- Mo Williams
- Anderson Varejao
- Delonte West
- Daniel Gibson
- Jamario Moon
- Anthony Parker
- JJ Hickson
- Leon Powe

2010-2011 New York Knicks :

- Jordan Hill
- Toney Douglas
- Danilo Gallinari
- Wilson Chandler
- Eddy Curry
- Jared Jeffries

+ $7 million capspace for 1 player

I don’t think the Cavs’ supporting cast is significantly better – if better – than the Knicks. I think the Knicks are more talented but if the Cavs reach the Finals this year I think he’ll stay in Cleveland.

Hustle

Any sympathy I had for Curry is now gone.

Oh well, look on the bright side, we have a huge expiring next year.

x-man

Yep, there are lots of scenarios and we had better get one of them that makes this team significantly better.

But dude, there’s no chance at a decent buyout because no player will accept anything less than maybe a 1 or 2 at max to bee bought out.

So even in your scenario, we are stuck with Curry and that is why I say build him and up (lot weight wise) and give him some PT. If Curry sees that he can indeed contribute, we might be able to get him to leave for a buyout of even a small amount.

x-man

It’s not about my beliefs! Our GM had better believe it or make something happens that improves this team big time.

I believe in the Mets,Jets and Knicks so I have not much left to give!

traps9

“Ignorance is your new best friend…….”

krayziehustler

each one of you here would do the same and pick up the option, i dont blame him

NoVaCaInE

Neither would NO D LEE. All 3 coaches you mentioned stress defense!

bmathews77

It really sucks that the Knicks are stuck with Eddy Curry. Honestly I wish they could just negotiate a buyout with him. The Knicks are not going to play him and he knows he’s not wanted but he’s not going to walk away from all that money. The Knicks are not a financially strapped organization. They’ve been paying the luxury tax for a long time. Just negotiate a buyout and take the financial hit. He’s a waste of a roster spot!

Jack D

I doubt we buy him out. Aside from Walsh not being a fan of buy-outs, it would be prudent to see if we could get any value for his expiring contract. This will be best if we land lebron, so that we can add another big FA in 2011.

rocky

why is the answer to every miserable bench player not getting PT “Buyout”?

why buyout Curry? he used to be able to play, sometimes really well,
a buyout doesn’t help our cap. darko wanted a buyout, hughes wanted a buyout, steph got his money, it seems on the knicks the list is endless.

how about this,
I propose Dolan buy out my fanship. For two hundred thousand or a life
time of free cablevision I would promise to never criticize the knicks again,
we could just go our separate ways

buyout? sheesh!

IDunnoMyName

If Law makes that shot against Memphis, he is a different player. Forever.

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