Knicks Notes: ‘Melo, Woodson, Felton
LeBron James is impressed with Carmelo Anthony‘s willingness to take less money with the Knicks in order to get more talent around him in New York, he tells Marc Berman of The New York Post. “What I got out of it is, he wants to win,’’ James said. “Everyone says they want to win, but that’s what it’s about.’’ James, who spurned New York for the Heat in “The Decision” four summers ago, made it clear that he was rooting for Anthony, and not the Knicks: “I don’t worry about their franchise. I worry about Carmelo Anthony. I always want him to win and succeed. Obviously he’s been playing great basketball. I don’t like seeing him lose like they’ve been losing, but I really don’t care about the franchise.’’ Here’s more from the team that continues to make headlines for its struggles:
- Coach Mike Woodson‘s next three to five games could be another perilous stretch, a source tells Jared Zwerling of Bleacher Report (via Twitter). The source believes that owner Jim Dolan could make a knee-jerk firing if it appears New York is truly, finally out of playoff contention soon.
- The Knicks tried to trade Raymond Felton to the Magic for Jameer Nelson before the trade deadline, per John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com. The decision by Orlando to turn down the offer made sense at the time, but it looks even better now considering Felton’s recent legal troubles.
- Harvey Araton of The New York Times thinks that the failures and foibles of the Knicks supporting cast around Anthony are drawing blame away from Anthony and owner Jim Dolan, whom Araton believes are equally at fault for the team’s struggles this year. Araton cites the 2011 trade for ‘Melo that stripped the Knicks of valuable assets and ‘Melo’s failure to develop into a player who makes his teammates better as reasons the Knicks haven’t developed into contenders.
D-League Notes: Knicks, Magic, Rice Jr.
The Knicks are planning to create their own D-League affiliate in White Plains next year, replacing the hybrid arrangement they currently have with the Erie BayHawks, according to Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside. If approved by the league, the five-year proposal would give the Knicks complete control over both basketball and business operations with the new affiliate. They only control basketball development with the BayHawks. Here’s more from the D-League:
- The Magic are in talks with a current D-League team to establish a one-to-one hybrid relationship as early as next season, Orlando CEO Alex Martins tells Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando currently shares an affiliation with five other NBA teams. Martins wouldn’t name which team is the potential affiliate, but the Erie BayHawks are a possibility, since the Knicks appear to be moving on.
- D-League president Dan Reed tells Robbins the D-League is looking at expanding soon, likely prioritizing the Northeast region of the country: “We will expand relatively soon, but it will be a measured expansion. We’re not going to grow by 13 teams in a year or two. Our mantra is ‘steady, sustainable growth.’ But we are at the point where it’s time to grow the league based on the stability of the league and the interest that we’re seeing out in the markets.”
- The Wizards have assigned rookie Glen Rice, Jr. to the D-League for a second time this season, the team announced.
- The Warriors D-League affiliate traded Scott Machado to the Blazers affiliate in exchange for the rights to Justin Holiday, per Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). Holiday’s only NBA action to this point was in nine games with the Sixers last year alongside his brother Jrue. Machado also has limited time in the NBA so far in his career, averaging just 3.5 minutes over six games with the Rockets last year.
- Gino Pilato of D-League Digest takes a look at some players who have received NBA contracts this season after playing with the Rockets D-League affiliate Rio Grand Valley Vipers. The team uses an extreme run-and-gun system that outpaces the already fast-paced D-League, and some have wondered whether the system is beneficial to the developing players beyond inflating their possessions and stats. James Johnson, Troy Daniels, and Chris Johnson have all inked NBA deals after spending time with the Vipers in 2013/14.
Knicks Interested In Shannon Brown
The Knicks are showing strong interest in free agent guard Shannon Brown, as per ESPN New York’s Ian Begley (Twitter link). Brown recently completed his second 10-day contract with the Spurs, and we noted on Saturday that New York – along with the Rockets, Heat, and Bulls – had expressed interest.
The 6’4 guard has played in 10 games this season, averaging 2.3 PPG in 10.3 MPG. Brown had been a steady rotation player in Phoenix last season, posting 10.5 PPG on 42% shooting in 59 contests.
Odds & Ends: Shaw, Vesely, Singleton
Nuggets coach Brian Shaw refuted the idea that he hates his roster and vice-versa, writes Chris Dempsey of The Denver Post. Dempsey says that the potentially harmful narrative arose out of a few radio interviews that the rookie head coach had done earlier this week. Shaw addressed the topic earlier today:
“I can’t remember who it was that asked me yesterday; he said ‘Would you have taken this job with the roster, if it was just the guys who are healthy and playing right now would you have taken this job?’…I said ‘Yeah, I most likely would have taken it.’ But the expectation and everything else would have been different, knowing if there wasn’t going to be (Danilo Gallinari, JaVale McGee, and Nate Robinson) for half the season and the situation be what it is…I don’t hate the roster. What I hate is having to beg guys to play. That simple. That shouldn’t be a part of what coaching should be. And circumstances are what they are. None of us asked for it.”
Here are some more miscellaneous news and notes to pass along this evening:
- Forward Jan Vesely intends to continue playing in the NBA rather than returning to Europe after his rookie scale contract runs out at season’s end, agent Alex Raskovic tweets.
- Chris Singleton will hit unrestricted free agency after the Wizards declined his fourth-year option before the season, so he knows his next contract is at stake as he attempts to fill in for an injured Nene Hilario, as J. Michael of CSNWashington.com examines.
- The Thunder were prepared to give up their own 2014 first-rounder in a deadline deal, but Zach Lowe of Grantland hasn’t heard any suggestion that they were ready to part with the first-rounder the Mavericks owe them. That Dallas pick will likely come higher in the draft order.
- Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown was complimentary about Earl Clark, who is reportedly finalizing a contract to join the Knicks: “He’s a good player…He’s going to help (New York), especially in that system playing pick-and-roll and spreading the floor.”
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Atlantic Notes: Nets, Felton, 76ers
The Nets didn’t end up taking on Jordan Hill and the $17MM tax hit he would have cost them, but their expenditure in the deal to add Marcus Thornton prompted “a lot of angry eye-rolling” from other teams, writes Grantland’s Zach Lowe. Brooklyn’s lavish spending could push the league into another work stoppage in 2017 in an effort to cut off the Nets’ spending, Lowe adds.
Here’s what else we’ve gathered from around the Atlantic Division tonight.
- Attorney Michael McCann, in a piece for SI.com, lays out the Knicks’ options amid legal trouble for Raymond Felton. The 29-year-old point guard – facing two counts of weapon possession – posted bail earlier this afternoon and will be due in court next on June 2nd, tweets ESPN New York’s Ian Begley. It’s also worth noting that according to the law under which he was charged, Felton could avoid jail time even if he’s convicted of his felonies, says Scott Cacciola of the New York Times (Twitter link).
- A panel of ESPN experts weigh in on the future and current state of Knicks basketball – discussing Felton’s situation, what organizational changes need to be made, and if Carmelo Anthony should leave New York.
- 76ers head coach Brett Brown tells Tom Moore of the Bucks County Courier Times: “You’re going to see a lot of people come in here over the last 25 games” (Twitter link).
- Brown also tells Moore (via Twitter) that 6’8″ forward Hollis Thompson is a “keeper.”
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Knicks Pursuing Earl Clark
3:44pm: Knicks coach Mike Woodson and GM Steve Mills have spoken with Clark, sources tell Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, who says there’s a “strong possibility” that Clark signs with the team (Twitter link).
2:18pm: The Knicks are going after the recently waived Earl Clark, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. It’s the latest of a string of reports connecting the Knicks to free agents. The Knicks have considered signing Ike Diogu, have been monitoring Lester Hudson, and they’re interested in Tiny Gallon. Today they auditioned Dahntay Jones. The Knicks won’t rule out a pursuit of Jimmer Fredette, either, and while the team would like to add shooting, its primary focus appears to be strengthening its defense, which isn’t Fredette’s strong suit.
Clark became a free agent this weekend after the Sixers waived him Friday, less than 24 hours after acquiring him via trade from the Cavaliers. He averaged 5.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per game this season in the first of a two-year, $8.5MM deal he signed with Cleveland this past summer. The Cavs are on the hook for only half of that money, since the second season was non-guaranteed. The former 14th overall pick had a strong midseason stretch for the Lakers last year, but he’s otherwise failed to live up to expectations.
The Knicks created two roster openings Monday when they waived Metta World Peace and Beno Udrih in buyout arrangements. They can offer only the minimum salary, and since they’re about $17MM into the tax, they’re set to pay $3.25 in tax for each dollar they spend on filling their two open spots.
Knicks Work Out Dahntay Jones
3:05pm: Bartelstein says he’s been in contact with multiple teams about Jones, as Fred Kerber of the New York Post notes.
1:12pm: Ten-year NBA veteran Dahntay Jones is working out for the Knicks today, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com. The team is seeking a perimeter defender to fill one of its two open roster spots, according to Stein. The Knicks also reportedly have their eyes on Tiny Gallon, a power forward from the D-League.
Jones, 33, was in camp with the Bulls this fall, but there hasn’t been much NBA interest in him since. He split last season between the Mavs and Hawks, starting 19 games but averaging just 3.4 points in 13.0 minutes per contest. The former 20th overall pick’s most productive season was in 2009/10 with the Pacers, when he notched 10.2 PPG in 24.9 MPG.
That year was the first of a four-year, $10.6MM deal for the Mark Bartelstein client, who’s never gone a season without playing in the NBA since entering the league out of Duke in 2003. The Knicks have only the minimum salary to offer Jones or any other free agent.
Knicks Interested In Tiny Gallon
The Knicks are taking a “hard look” at D-Leaguer Tiny Gallon, tweets Shams Charania of RealGM. There’s no workout scheduled, but it appears there’s a decent chance Gallon will receive an audition soon, Charania’s report indicates. The Knicks, with a pair of open roster spots after waiving Metta World Peace and Beno Udrih, are reportedly seeking defensive upgrades.
Gallon is a 6’9″ power forward for the Delaware 87ers, the D-League affiliate of the Sixers. The Bucks drafted him out of Oklahoma in the second round in 2010 and brought him to camp, but they waived him. The Celtics picked him up soon thereafter, but he failed to make the opening-night roster with Boston, either. He’s otherwise been out of the NBA ever since, but he’s impressed with Delaware this season, averaging 18.4 points and 9.4 rebounds in 26.4 minutes per game.
The Sixers have maintained a dialogue with Gallon all season, so perhaps the Knicks will face competition for his services, though that’s just my speculation. The 23-year-old turned down an offer from China recently so he could remain in close range of NBA scouts.
Knicks Rumors: Fredette, ‘Melo, World Peace
It’s a “no-brainer” that Carmelo Anthony will re-sign with the Knicks, Metta World Peace believes. Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com and Frank Isola of the New York Daily News have more from the former Ron Artest, whom the Knicks waived Monday in a buyout arrangement, and there’s news about Anthony’s future as well as we look at the latest on the struggling Knicks:
- The Knicks haven’t ruled out pursuing Fredette, but the team will focus on upgrading its defense as it looks to fill its pair of open roster spots, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
Earlier updates:
- No one with ties to the Knicks believes Anthony will leave the team this summer, writes Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, who notes that Anthony’s agent, Leon Rose, spoke with Knicks GM Steve Mills and assistant GM Allan Houston on Monday night.
- World Peace says the Knicks never gave him a fair chance to play, but he adds that he never demanded more minutes. “My thing was I want to play two more seasons,” World Peace explained to Isola. “If I’m not playing this year I’m definitely not going to play next year, so I should probably go somewhere else. I wanted to win here. When you’re married to a city like New York City, just because (people don’t agree) doesn’t mean you turn your back on the city. My agent told me Steve Mills said that he understands why being moved would be a good thing.” World Peace, who was on a two-year contract with the Knicks, has previously said he wants to play five more seasons.
- The Knicks are seeking three-point shooting, as we noted earlier today when a report linked them to Jimmer Fredette, who’s close to a buyout from the Kings. The team may also be in need of a point guard stemming from Raymond Felton‘s arrest on gun charges Monday night. Acting union executive director Ron Klempner is nonetheless already indicating that the Knicks would face resistance if they tried to discipline Felton at this point, as Marc Berman of the New York Post reports.
Knicks, Metta World Peace Agree To Buyout
MONDAY, 3:59pm: The Knicks announced that the buyout is now official.
2:01pm: The buyout is expected to become official today, USA Today’s Sam Amick tweets.
SATURDAY, 5:29pm: World Peace and the Knicks have come to a buyout agreement, according to Al Iannazzone of Newsday (Twitter link). It’s unclear when the buyout will become official and World Peace will hit waivers.
10:28am: The Knicks are working with Metta World Peace‘s agent on a buyout of his contract, the veteran announced today via Twitter. The small forward signed a two-year deal with the Knicks after the Lakers amnestied him last summer. He was being paid approximately $1.6MM this year, and had a player option for next year at nearly $1.7MM that will also be accounted for in the buyout negotiations. He will likely seek out a contending team to finish out this year, although none have been reported as interested this early in the process.
He had hoped that his time in New York could be a fairytale ending for his career, playing professionally for the first time in his home state. However, he hasn’t been a major part of coach Mike Woodson‘s rotation, playing by far the least minutes of his career at 13.4 a game. His reported disappointment in his reduced role led to some trade speculation on his end, although the Knicks never appeared to have any serious takers for the 34-year-old. Metta World Peace shares an agent with Beno Udrih, who is also working out a buyout agreement with the Knicks. Both are represented by Marc Cornstein of Pinnacle Management Corp. as you can see in our Agency Database.
After a nine-year prime stretch of his career when he averaged 18.7 points per game with the Pacers, Kings, and Rockets, the former Ron Artest was relied on more for his defensive prowess in four years with the Lakers from the 2009/10 season through last year, never scoring more than 12.4 PPG in a season. This year, he’s scored just 4.8 PPG in limited minutes.