Via NY Post:

According to Douglas, newcomer Kelanna Azubuike is not yet working at Westchester and still is doing offcourt rehab after missing most of last season with a torn tendon in his left knee. It’s looking more doubtful the shooting guard will be 100 percent when training camp opens on Sept. 25.

The following is a guest piece from avid TKB reader and huge Knicks fan, Zachary Story.

Mozgov is For Real

I mean yes it was against Ivory Coast, the 41st ranked country according to the FIBA World Rankings (http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/even/rank/rankMen.asp), but Timofey Mozgov “The Russian Yao”, put up one of the better games i have seen in this FIBA World Championship.. Putting up 19 points, 5 boards, 1 block, and shooting 8-10 form the field in only 21 minutes, carrying Russia to a 72-66 win over Cote Ivorie, in what was a very close game right up to the end..

From the videos that I have seen which Tommy has posted, you get a good feel for how Mozgov controls the paint and alters players shots, with his large frame and athleticism .. But today I got a real feel for his skills as a scorer, as he was relied upon heavily down the stretch. Regardless of the fact that it was a fairly decrepit Ivory Coast squad, it was still a pressure-packed game with Russia fighting to stay alive in this World Championship… Hopefully Russia gets a chance to square off against the Americans in this tournament, so we can see how he plays amongst the world’s best…

Via HoopsWorld:

As he looks for that NBA opportunity, several teams have shown significant interest in his services.

“Sacramento was in the mix but they’re not interested anymore since they signed Pooh Jeter. My agent is talking to the Suns, Knicks, Cavaliers, and Bulls. We’re trying to see what situation will be the best for me to just get on the team and give a contribution,” he said.

Timofey Mozgov and the Russian National Team take on Turkey at 1:50 PM. Watch on ESPN3 here.

with Amar’e, it’s just a matter of effort, work
ethic, and opportunity.  We’re talking about a man who suffered a
potentially career ending injury and subsequent micro-fracture surgery
in 2005, then averaged a career high in rebounds in 2006 and made the
All-NBA first team in 2007.  He’s a warrior.  As I’ve said before, the
injury concerns are overblown.  People bring up Tracy McGrady, but he
had micro-fracture surgery in 2009 and most of his injury problems
stemmed from his back.  Normally, if there’s going to be some huge
decrease in production after the surgery, the player will just never
regain the athleticism, quickness etc. they previously possessed. 
Amar’e already has, and has actually put up better numbers on better
percentages. 

In terms of being injury “prone,” I’m not sure that’s a term that
applies to Amar’e.  The micro-fracture surgery occurred five years ago,
and he’s shown no signs of bad knees since then.  Ask Anthony Tolliver. 
And in three out of the last four seasons he’s missed a combined three
games.  That one season he got poked in the eye, which was a freak
injury to say the least.  Now he wears goggles.  Prone?  That sounds
like Chris Bosh who is pretty much a safe bet to miss at least 12 games
every season or Carlos Boozer who has missed 31+ games three times in
his career, and who played 37 games two years ago.  That’s more
indicative of a proclivity to get injured, at least to me.

Was Amar’e overpaid?  Yes, but there are three, maybe four players in
the NBA worth max money.  Amar’e contract ends when he’s 32, and it’s
not like the contract takes away from the Knicks flexibility going into
the future.  They just have a star to build around.  It was the
necessary move, and a large majority of Knicks fans agree.  We’re
talking about a guy who has career averages in the playoffs of 25, 9,
and 2.  I expect Amar’e's rpg and bpg to go up in NY.  Why?  Because
Jared Jeffries averaged a block last year.  Because David Lee averaged
11 rebounds last year without boxing out once.  He should average about
ten rebounds per game, because the Knicks will be one of the worst
rebounding teams in the league, and he’ll average close to 2 blocks
because he does that every year.  And scoring, well, that’s never been
an issue…

Via New York Magazine:

I mean after that. Between the day free agency started and the day that you signed, did you talk to Isiah Thomas?
No. I didn’t talk to him once.

…So, to be clear, you didn’t talk to him at ALL during this negotiating process with the Knicks?
Nope.

So Isiah Thomas’ pull with free agents is being overrated, just like his draft record.

Via ESPN:

Even though Isiah Thomas nixed his consultant gig with the Knicks, it sounds like he’s already doing some “consulting.” According to a team source that spoke with the New York Daily News, Thomas has told James Dolan that Carmelo Anthony will be a Knick next year. It’s safe to say that no matter what official role Thomas has with the team, he’ll always be in the news for advising the boss.

His return is inevitable…

Via Fox Sports:

Since the best players would undoubtedly seek to play in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Miami and Boston, the future of the NBA could easily consist of a handful of exceptional teams along with two dozen or so bottom-feeders. Not only would there be a boring lack of competitive balance throughout the majority of the regular season, but also small-market teams would be in jeopardy

This is being discussed on PTI now. So is it better to just allow Miami to win championship after championship? As immature as it sounds, they started it. They’ve created a standard of star players teaming up, and I truly believe this is a new era in the NBA. Teams want to win and compete, so it’s only reasonable that franchises will try to construct teams that can defeat Miami by any means. These are three guys in their primes not the twilights of their careers like Boston.

Plus, there is already an imbalance in the NBA. 8 teams have won championships since 1980, and the Lakers have won 1/3 of those. Whether it’s been the Lakers, Bulls, or Spurs, the NBA is a league used to dynasties. Teams like the Knicks have been left out.

Via Sun Sentinal

“If there was an opportunity for me to return,” he told the magazine, “and those fans welcome me back, that’d be a great story.”