New York Knicks Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Central Notes: Monroe, LeBron, Haywood, Allen

February 13th, 2015 at 2:29pm CST by Chuck Myron

Stan Van Gundy insists that the Pistons won’t trade Greg Monroe, citing his hope that the big man will re-sign this summer as well as the team’s playoff chase, as Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News observes. Monroe has a de facto no-trade clause and agent David Falk has said he doesn’t want to be dealt.

“It’s not gonna happen,” Van Gundy said. “I don’t know where Greg’s head will be in the offseason, but we’re still hopeful of Greg Monroe for the long term. And with him going into free agency, you won’t get a lot, maybe a pick. I’m not gonna walk in that locker room and give up a piece like that and then tell the guys we’re trying to make the playoffs. They deserve the chance to ride this out. You never say never to anything, but I can tell you about 99.9%, Greg Monroe’s not going anywhere.”

The Lakers reportedly asked the Pistons about Monroe earlier this month, but it seems like their chance to nab him won’t come until the summer, when he’ll be an unrestricted free agent. There’s more on the Pistons amid the latest from around the Central Division:

Van Gundy also said that he won’t trade a first-round pick but is willing to take on a short-term salary dump from another team, Wojnowski notes in the same piece.
LeBron James expressed fondness for Madison Square Garden today while speaking to reporters for All-Star weekend, as Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com relays (Twitter link). Still, it’d be a stretch to suggest that the Cavs star, who has a player option for next season, has any interest in playing for the Knicks. “If I could have 82 regular season games anywhere they’d be at Madison Square Garden, because it’s the mecca of basketball,” James said.
The Cavs believe Brendan Haywood is “done” as an on-court contributor, as Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal writes in his Final Thoughts column. Of course, Haywood continues to have value thanks to his unique contract, and the Cavs are reportedly shopping him in advance of the deadline.
The Bulls seem like a less likely contender for Ray Allen than they had been, as Sam Smith of Bulls.com opines in his latest mailbag column.

Carmelo Anthony To Miss Rest Of Season?

February 13th, 2015 at 11:24am CST by Chuck Myron

FRIDAY, 11:24am: Anthony told reporters today that he has “not at all” ruled out playing after the All-Star break this season, notes Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv (Twitter links). “I’m going to see, I’m going to try,” Anthony said. “We have a whole week to figure that out.” The Knicks next play a week from today.

THURSDAY, 2:53pm: Carmelo Anthony acknowledged that “it’s very likely” that he will discontinue playing after the All-Star Game because of his sore left knee, adding that the All-Star Game could represent the final time he plays this season, as Anthony said today on ESPN Radio, as ESPN.com transcribes. The Knicks star has been dealing with the pain for months and aggravated the injury in Monday’s game. Anthony said earlier this week that it was growing increasingly likely that he’d undergo surgery that would knock him out for at least eight weeks, and the “prevailing theory” has been that he’d sit out once the All-Star Game was through, as Marc Berman of the New York Post wrote last week.

The deadline to apply for a disabled player exception has passed, and there’s little urgency for the Knicks to play well the rest of the season, since they have the league’s worst record and pole position for the No. 1 overall pick. The suggestion that the team would allow Anthony to play in the All-Star Game, even though it will take place in Madison Square Garden, and then sit out the rest of the season would signal the club’s lack of investment in its win-loss record down the stretch. The Knicks have four trade exceptions, three of which range in value from nearly $2.617MM to more than $5.982MM, but it seems unlikely Anthony’s absence would prompt team president Phil Jackson and company into using them before the trade deadline if they weren’t otherwise going to do so.

It’s already been a lost season in many ways for Anthony and the Knicks after the high-scoring forward re-signed with the team in free agency this summer. The Leon Rose client inked a five-year deal worth more than $124MM that was about $5.071MM less than the max. The 30-year-old has already missed 13 of the team’s 53 games this year, and he’s averaged fewer minutes, points and rebounds per game than he did a year ago.

And-Ones: Buyouts, Dragic, Stauskas, Magic

February 12th, 2015 at 10:53am CST by Chuck Myron

Andrea Bargnani, Brandon Bass, Marcus Thornton, Andrei Kirilenko, Willie Green, Randy Foye and Darrell Arthur are all likely buyout candidates if they’re not traded before the deadline, league sources tell Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck. Beck also mentions Tayshaun Prince, who’ll probably strike a buyout deal with the Celtics if he’s not traded, as Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald reported last month. The Bleacher Report scribe also reiterates that Kevin Garnett isn’t seeking a buyout, seconding an earlier report from Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork.com. Here’s more from around the NBA:

The Suns want a first-round pick if they’re to give up Goran Dragic in a trade, as Gery Woelfel of the Journal Times hears (Twitter link). Woelfel suggests that opposing teams will be willing to pay that price and believes the Rockets, who’ve reportedly tried to trade for Dragic this season, will consider going after him again.
There are rumors connecting the Bucks to Kings rookie Nik Stauskas, according to Woelfel (Twitter link). Still, it’s unclear if there’s truly interest from Milwaukee’s end.
James Borrego says the Magic haven’t told him whether or not he’ll be the head coach for the rest of the season, and he takes it as a signal that he’ll remain in place, according to Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel. The timing of the situation and the Magic’s track record don’t suggest they’ll make a move before season’s end, though “it’s widely believed” the team will eventually replace Borrego with a proven coaching veteran, Schmitz writes. Rumored coaching candidate Scott Skiles indeed has interest in the job, but the Magic’s players seem to be supporting Borrego, Schmitz adds.
Blazers GM Neil Olshey is exploring possible trades to help shore up the team’s depth, The Oregonian’s Joe Freeman writes, noting that Thomas Robinson and Will Barton seem unsure if they’ll remain on the team past the deadline. Olshey declared earlier this week that he wouldn’t trade any of the team’s starters and also talked up the value of his bench players in an interview during a game broadcast, as Mike Richman of The Oregonian transcribes.
Former Mavs guard Dominique Jones is drawing renewed NBA interest following an impressive showing in China, tweets Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders. Jones, who last played in the league in 2012/13, averaged an eye-popping 36.8 points per game over 41 appearances in China this season.

Atlantic Notes: Nets, ‘Melo, Kirilenko

February 11th, 2015 at 12:38pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Raptors appear to be in buying mode if they’re to make a deadline move, while the Sixers and Knicks are probably sellers, and the Celtics have already demonstrated their willingness to part with immediate assets with their flurry of trades so far this season. That leaves the Nets, amid persistent rumors surrounding Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson for the past two months. Still, coach Lionel Hollins doesn’t expect that the Nets will make any deadline moves, as Tim Bontemps of the New York Post observes. Here’s more from around the Atlantic while we wait to see if Hollins is correct about what GM Billy King and company do:

Heat team president Pat Riley said he called agent Leon Rose about Carmelo Anthony this past summer when Anthony was already deep into his free agent decision-making, but the Knicks star insists he never personally heard from the Heat, notes Marc Berman of the New York Post.
Andrei Kirilenko‘s wife gave birth to a healthy baby son this week, according to Robert Windrem of NetsDaily (Twitter link), and that’s a signal that movement might be afoot for Kirilenko’s NBA career. Kirilenko, without specifying the issue that’s kept him from playing since November 13th, told reporters in December that it would be resolved by February. The veteran forward has been on suspension while taking leave to tend to his wife for the past few months, and the Sixers have reportedly viewed him as a trade chip.
Xavier Thames, the No. 59 pick in the 2014 draft whose rights belong to the Nets, is joining the D-League’s Fort Wayne Mad Ants, reports Reggie Hayes of The (Fort Wayne) News-Sentinel. Thames had been playing with Baloncesto Sevilla of Spain.

Eastern Notes: Sanchez, Hornets, Anthony

February 10th, 2015 at 6:12pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Orlando Sanchez remains with the D-League affiliate of the Knicks and continues to seek an NBA contract, agent Brian J. Bass tells Hoops Rumors (Twitter link), even though the owner of Cangrejeros de Santurce, a Puerto Rican team, says Sanchez has signed with his club, as Sportando’s Emiliano Carchia relays in a pair of tweets.

Here’s more from the East:

The Celtics have recalled guard Andre Dawkins from the Maine Red Claws, their D-League affiliate, the team has announced. Dawkins has appeared in seven games for the Red Claws this season, and he is averaging 16.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 36.3 minutes per game.
Hawks coach and acting GM Mike Budenholzer indicated that dealing Adreian Payne to the Wolves was about creating roster flexibility, and that the trade should be taken on its own merit, Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (Twitter links). Budenholzer also said that no other trades are imminent, Vivlamore adds.
Hornets GM Rich Cho said that he doesn’t think that Charlotte “gave up a ton” to acquire Troy Daniels and Mo Williams from the Timberwolves, Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer tweets. The Hornets shipped Gary Neal and the Heat’s 2019 second-round pick to Minnesota to complete the trade.
Cho also indicated that the Hornets would continue to be active up until the trade deadline, but that there was no specific need that the team would try and address, Bonnell adds (Twitter link).
Carmelo Anthony said that the chances of him undergoing surgery during the season on his injured knee are growing increasingly likely, Keith Schlosser of SNY.tv writes. The Knicks’ star also relayed that the procedure would keep him out a minimum of two months, which would likely sideline ‘Melo for the remainder of the season, Schlosser adds.

Mavs Favorites To Ink Amar’e Stoudemire

February 10th, 2015 at 2:25pm CST by Eddie Scarito

TUESDAY, 2:25pm: The Warriors “would definitely have some interest” in Stoudemire if he buys his way out of his Knicks deal, writes Tim Kawakami of the Bay Area News Group.

FRIDAY, 11:29pm: If Amar’e Stoudemire opts to pursue a buyout arrangement with the Knicks, the Mavericks would be considered the front-runners to sign the oft-injured big man, Tim MacMahon and Marc Stein of ESPN.com report. Stoudemire has said that he’s unsure if he would indeed seek a buyout from New York, and he will use the upcoming All-Star break to make his decision.

“All possibilities at this point are still open,” Stoudemire said regarding the possibility of a buyout. “The door is still open for that. But at the same time, I am with the Knicks now. I got to stay optimistic about things and what we are doing here. I can’t really focus on the future because it’s not here. We still have a couple weeks left before it’s all said and done. It’s a decision I have to make with my family to figure out the best scenario for the near future.”

The Mavericks are still interested in inking Jermaine O’Neal, and are prepared to clear the necessary roster space to sign both players, the ESPN scribes add. Dallas’ roster count is currently at 14 players, which means that the team would need to release a player or make an unbalanced trade in order to add both men to the team. The Mavs have been shorthanded in the frontcourt since dealing away Brandan Wright in the trade that netted them Rajon Rondo from the Celtics, which makes both O’Neal and Stoudemire extremely valuable pieces to Dallas.

The ESPN duo also report that Dallas will still be seeking to add a big man on a 10-day deal while O’Neal continues to try and work his way back into NBA shape. It should be noted that while the Mavs are reportedly the frontrunners to ink O’Neal, the player hasn’t publicly announced which team he intends to join, and has only hinted at making a return to the NBA.

Stoudemire, who is in the final season of a five-year, $99.7 million contract with the Knicks, is averaging 12.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.0 block in 24.9 minutes per contest. The 32-year-old is currently nursing an ankle injury, but he has played well this season for a floundering Knicks team.

The Knicks reportedly engaged in internal discussions about a buyout for Stoudemire earlier this season, and team president Phil Jackson spoke with the Sixers this summer about a trade, but no deal was struck. With Stoudemire earning $23,410,988 this season, finding a trade partner prior to the February 19th deadline will likely be an impossible task, Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports opined. The final day that Stoudemire could be waived and still be eligible to appear in the postseason for another team is March 1st.

Knicks To Pursue Jackson, Butler, Matthews

February 10th, 2015 at 11:24am CST by Chuck Myron

The Knicks plan to target Reggie Jackson, Jimmy Butler and Wesley Matthews, among others, this summer, league sources tell Michael Scotto of SheridanHoops. Scotto also hears the team will go after Greg Monroe, echoing an earlier report. A pursuit of Matthews would be contingent on the team missing out on Butler, Scotto adds, but Butler is a long shot at best. The Bulls are poised to make a max offer to the soon-to-be restricted free agent and executive VP of basketball ops John Paxson has already said he’ll match any offer sheet he signs. Scotto also names the Knicks as a potential free agent suitor for Draymond Green, though Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob has hinted that he intends to retain Green, who’s also due for restricted free agency, and all signs point to the Warriors matching any offer for the third-year forward.

There are conflicting reports about the likelihood that the Thunder will trade Jackson before the deadline, but the Knicks came close enough to trading for Jackson last month that he thought he was on his way to New York, and the Knicks are likely to make another go at trading for him. Jackson, too, is in line for restricted free agency, but he’s apparently open to signing his qualifying offer, which would give him a discounted salary in exchange for unrestricted free agency in 2016. In any case, the Knicks probably don’t have the assets to make a play for Jackson at the deadline, as I wrote when I examined Jackson’s trade candidacy, so a free agent pursuit makes more sense.

Matthews, the only unrestricted free agent aside from Monroe whom Scotto mentions, has expressed a desire to return to the Blazers based on their winning ways, which contrast sharply from the performance of the 10-42 Knicks this season. Marc Berman of the New York Post mentioned Matthews as an example of the sort of second-tier free agent whom Berman says many believe the Knicks will target this summer, couching the report amid a piece on the team’s plan to go after Tobias Harris, yet another restricted free agent.

The Knicks have a little more than $32.717MM committed for next season against a projected $66.5MM salary cap, leaving room for multiple so-called second-tier free agents. Scotto hears from several GMs who estimate Green will receive salaries anywhere from $10MM to $14MM. Some teams reportedly believed at the beginning of the season that Jackson would command between $13-14MM. It’s unclear just how much it would take to sign the others the Knicks are eyeing, aside from Butler, who appears in line for the max from the Bulls.

Atlantic Notes: Nets, Grant, Stoudemire

February 9th, 2015 at 9:58am CST by Chuck Myron

Andrea Bargnani is available to play tonight for the Knicks, as Newsday’s Al Iannazzone notes (Twitter link), and if the former No. 1 overall pick whom the Knicks are reportedly trying to trade makes it into the game, it’ll be just his third appearance all season. New York is also considering a buyout deal with Bargnani, though it seems such a move wouldn’t happen unless he’s still a Knick once the trade deadline passes. Still, it’ll be difficult for the Knicks to find a taker, as Eddie Scarito of Hoops Rumors wrote when he examined the big man’s trade candidacy last month. Here’s more from the Atlantic:

The NBA is mandating that Mikhail Prokhorov sell his 45% stake in the Barclays Center if he’s to sell his 80% share of the Nets, as Daniel Kaplan and John Lombardo of SportsBusiness Journal report in a subscription-only piece. A source close to the owner told Kaplan and Lombardo that the requirement will complicate the sale, which Prokhorov reportedly intended to encompass only his majority ownership of the team. The league reasons that the team’s lease at the arena is burdensome and a drain on the club’s finances, as the Barclays Center makes a profit while the team loses money, as Robert Windrem of NetsDaily explains.
Jerami Grant tumbled in last year’s draft because teams were concerned about his offensive abilities, tweets Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress, but the 39th overall pick has revamped his shot and turned into a rotation player for the Sixers, as Jake Fischer of Liberty Ballers examines.
The Knicks would gain roster flexibility and Amar’e Stoudemire would have a chance to play for a contender, so a buyout deal would make sense for both parties, argues Marc Berman of the New York Post.

Atlantic Notes: Knicks, Covington, Johnson

February 8th, 2015 at 10:39am CST by Arthur Hill

Steve Kerr rejecting team president Phil Jackson’s offer to become the coach of the Knicks was the first sign that Jackson and his 13 championship rings aren’t enough to sell people on New York’s chances of winning, opines George Willis of the New York Post. Willis argues that if Jackson can’t convince an inexperienced coach to come to the Knicks, it doesn’t bode well for the team’s chances of attracting stars to the Big Apple. The Knicks have more than $32.717MM in commitments against a projected $66.5MM salary cap for next season.

Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:

Langston Galloway is starting to feel comfortable on the Knicks, as he tells Steve Serby of the New York Post. “Yeah, I mean I’m trying to prove that every day, that I belong. It’s not easy to try to do that, but each day I just try to build off of the last, not look backwards but keep moving forward. I’m trying to stay up here for the rest of my career. You can’t look at it as a long process, but just taking it day by day, and I feel I can prove that I belong, and continue to stay up here,” said Galloway. The point guard is averaging 11.4 points and 3.1 assists per contest in 14 games for New York this season.
Robert Covington‘s perimeter shooting may make him a long-term asset for the Sixers, writes Tom Moore of Calkins Media. Going into Saturday’s game, Covington was hitting 38.4% from beyond the arc and leading Philadelphia with 94 made three-pointers. Covington signed a four-year, $4.2MM contract with the Sixers in November.
James Johnson‘s versatility has impressed the Raptors as he makes a case for more playing time, writes Ryan Wolstat of The Toronto Sun. Johnson, who seems equally comfortable as a small forward or power forward, returned to the court Friday after missing four games with an injury. He scored 16 points in 19 minutes on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting night. “You work on your game,” Johnson said of his time off. “You stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.” Johnson is signed for $2.5MM this season and another $2.5MM next season.

Chris Crouse contributed to this post

Knicks Notes: Stoudemire, Galloway, Draft

February 7th, 2015 at 8:02pm CST by Arthur Hill

Amar’e Stoudemire isn’t emotional about the possibility that tonight could be his last home game in a Knicks uniform, telling Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com, “I haven’t thought about that at all.” (Twitter link). Stoudemire, 32, is considering a buyout and is expected to make a decision during the All-Star break. He is in the last season of a five-year, $99.7MM contract and is making more than $23.4MM this season.

There’s more regarding Stoudemire and the Knicks:

A buyout would have benefits for the team and for Stoudemire, Begley writes in a separate piece. It would cut the Knicks’ luxury tax bill, which currently stands at $6.4MM, and open a roster spot for a younger player such as Orlando Sanchez or Thanasis Antetokounmpo from the Knicks’ D-League affiliate in Westchester. A buyout would allow Stoudemire to leave the last-place Knicks to play for a contender, with the Mavericks rumored to be the front-runner if he hits the open market. But the Warriors could be in the running because of Stoudemire’s ties to head coach Steve Kerr and assistant Alvin Gentry from their days in Phoenix, reports Frank Isola of The New York Daily News (Twitter link).
Langston Galloway believes he made the right decision to pass up offers in Europe for a chance to prove himself in the D-League, according to Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders. After going undrafted out of St. Joseph’s, Galloway received what he called “significant” offers to play in Italy, Germany and Spain. “But I talked to my agent and my parents and I thought the best decision was to stay and try and develop in the D-League,” Galloway said. “Even though it’s not a prestigious league, I knew I could build on my game every day. Westchester gave me the opportunity.”
While Knicks fans have been frustrated by all the losing this season, they are in a much better position for the future than the cross-town Nets, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. Brooklyn, he notes, will have no cap room this summer and will almost certainly be exchanging its draft pick with the Hawks, who could have the 30th overall choice. The Knicks, tied for first in Hoops Rumors’ latest Reverse Standings, are in the running for the top pick and Duke phenom Jahlil Okafor, and will have cap room to chase Kevin Durant in 2016.