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Knicks Notes: Woodson, Jeffries, Anthony

March 24th, 2012 at 7:45pm CST by Daniel Seco

The Knicks are currently battling the Pistons at Madison Square Garden after winning five of their last six games under new head coach Mike Woodson. While the team's fortunes are currently looking more favorable since the departure of Mike D'Antoni, the Knicks' schedule becomes more difficult with upcoming games against Orlando, Chicago and Miami. Let's take a look at the state of the Knicks as they look to improve their playoff seeding heading into the season's final stretch.

Barbara Barker of Newsday says Mike Woodson is the right fit for the Knicks for the rest of the season and perhaps beyond given his previous experience in Atlanta.
While not exactly a favorite of Knicks fans given his propensity to take questionable shots, the news of losing Jared Jeffries to injury for the next two weeks did not sit well with Woodson, writes Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com. The backup center makes his living by playing stellar defense and giving an all-out effort every time he is on the court.
Given the team's quiet approach at the trade deadline, the Knicks' success moving forward will be based on Woodson's ability to get the most out of his players, says Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com. For Woodson, the focal point is Carmelo Anthony, who is averaging over 20 PPG on the season but is shooting below 40% from the field for the first time in his NBA career.

D’Antoni Fallout: Carmelo, Lin, Amare, Phil Jackson

March 15th, 2012 at 8:07am CST by Luke Adams

The Knicks and Mike D'Antoni parted ways yesterday due to "conflicting visions" about the team's future. Part of that conflict may have stemmed from D'Antoni's desire to trade Carmelo Anthony to the Nets in exchange for Deron Williams, an idea James Dolan adamantly opposed. Needless to say, players, coaches, and reporters around the league are talking about D'Antoni's exit from New York, so let's round up a few links on the subject:

Despite reports earlier this week suggesting Anthony was at odds with the Knicks coach, Carmelo says he and D'Antoni "never had any issues." Added Carmelo: "Any disagreements that he had with us as a team we talked it out and we went from there" (via ESPNNewYork.com).
Jeremy Lin on D'Antoni: "What he did for my career, I’m not going to forget what he did for me personally. It’s very emotional. I’m sad to see him go and I owe a lot to him" (via New York Daily News).
According to Amare Stoudemire, not everyone was buying into D'Antoni's system, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post. "It made it look bad," Stoudemire said. "I guess stepping down was the best way for him."
Phil Jackson will be a prime candidate to take over the full-time Knicks job, as Marc Berman writes.
The Knicks shouldn't expect Jackson to come out of retirement to save them, says Ian O'Connor of ESPNNewYork.com.
Knicks GM Glen Grunwald called D'Antoni's decision to step down a "selfless move," says Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com.
Nets coach Avery Johnson was surprised by the announcement, as he tells Colin Stephenson of the Star-Ledger. When Pistons coach Lawrence Frank was told of the news, he called it "ridiculous" and "a damn shame," writes Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press.

D’Antoni Advocated Trading Carmelo For Williams

March 14th, 2012 at 3:45pm CST by Luke Adams

When Mike D'Antoni and the Knicks agreed to part ways today, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports heard the two sides had "conflicting visions of the club's future." TNT's David Aldridge expands on that point on NBA.com's Hang Time Blog, saying that D'Antoni wanted the Knicks to explore trading Carmelo Anthony for Deron Williams.

According to Aldridge, D'Antoni believed such a deal would've been beneficial for both franchises, and that adding Williams to the Knicks would've eased the pressure placed on Jeremy Lin. James Dolan, however, had no interest in dealing Carmelo, and he and D'Antoni agreed to terminate D'Antoni's position after meeting today.

While the idea isn't one that had been rumored at all, it's probably one the Nets would've liked to explore, if Dwight Howard remains with the Magic for next season, as is now expected. If Howard isn't ticketed for Brooklyn this summer, the chances of Williams remaining a Net may take a huge hit.

Dwight Howard Rumors: Wednesday

March 14th, 2012 at 2:46pm CST by Luke Adams

Even after an impressive overtime win by the Magic against the Heat last night, the post-game focus was on the off-court story: Dwight Howard's future. As we covered in yesterday's round-up of Howard rumors, D12 told reporters he'd like the Magic to keep him for the rest of the season and "roll the dice" this summer. Considering earlier Tuesday reports indicated that Howard's long-term plan involves signing with the Nets as a free agent so New Jersey doesn't have to trade core assets, Dwight's suggestion that Orlando roll the dice seemed particularly brash.

Zach Lowe of SI.com called Howard's post-game speech the low point of the ongoing saga, while Ken Berger of CBS Sports reported that some Magic executives were privately disgusted with the star center's comments. We expect plenty more updates to pour in as the day goes on, so we'll track them all here, with the latest items up top:

The Knicks are intrigued by the possibility of acquiring Howard, but won't offer Carmelo Anthony, since James Dolan "loves him," tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports. I'd say that takes New York out of the running, since the Magic wouldn't be nearly as interested in an Amare Stoudemire/Tyson Chandler package.
There are no legs to the rumor that the Magic are working on a three-team deal to bring in Josh Smith (linked below), tweets Jarrod Randolph of RealGM.com.
According to ESPN.com's Chad Ford, the Nets would be open to offering the Magic anything they want for Howard, with the exception of Deron Williams.
Orlando still seems to be entertaining deals that could bring in help around Howard, as Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld reports that they're eyeing the Hawks' Josh Smith. The Magic would need to get a third team involved, perhaps the Timberwolves and Michael Beasley. Given Orlando's lack of tradeable assets, acquiring Smith seems like an extreme long shot to me.
The Magic are telling teams they intend to move Howard if they don't receive a commitment beyond this season from Dwight, according to ESPN.com's Chris Broussard. We have the details here.
Nets sources insist the team would give up assets in the next 24 hours if it meant landing Howard, but Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld explains why New Jersey may not be motivated to make a substantial offer. If Howard and Williams sign in Brooklyn this summer, the pair would want a third significant player to join them, and the Nets may be considering saving its trade chips to acquire that player.

Magic Seeking Commitment From Dwight Howard

March 14th, 2012 at 12:41pm CST by Luke Adams

The Magic are telling teams they will trade Dwight Howard by the deadline if Howard doesn't make a commitment to staying in Orlando past this season, sources tell Chris Broussard of ESPN.com.

"Dwight's dreaming if he thinks Orlando won't trade him without a commitment,'' a source told Broussard. "He needs to make some small commitment to them. They're saying it can't be one way.''

Although the Magic would prefer to lock Howard up long-term, they would settle for D12 opting into the final year of his contract and staying for 2012/13. However, Howard hasn't shown that he's even willing to do that, leading to increased tension between the team and Howard's camp. Sources tell Broussard that the Magic are "incensed" with agent Dan Fegan, who they feel is leading the charge to convince the star center to leave Orlando.

The Magic were also upset over Howard's "roll the dice" comments after last night's game, and according to Broussard, Orlando has essentially invited teams to make their best offers. The ideal situation for the Magic would be creating a bidding war the Nets and Lakers, Broussard writes in a separate piece. Orlando would also be interested in a package of Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler, but there's no indication the Knicks would make such an offer, particularly without assurances about Howard's long-term future.

You can find the rest of today's Howard updates here.

Carmelo, D’Antoni, Knicks At Odds

March 14th, 2012 at 10:10am CST by Luke Adams

10:10am: Anthony says he doesn't want to be traded and that he supports D'Antoni, tweets Iannazzone.

9:45am: Al Iannazzone of Newsday hears most Knicks players aren't upset with D'Antoni, and are more bothered by Anthony not buying into the coach's system (Twitter link).

8:44am: Leon Rose, Anthony's agent, tells Frank Isola of the New York Daily News that reports of his client wanting out of New York are "total nonsense" and "laughable" (Twitter link).

7:29am: With the Knicks in the midst of a six-game losing streak, still winless in March, there's at least one team executive who would like to trade Carmelo Anthony, according to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. But MSG Chairman James Dolan doesn't intend to trade any Knicks today or tomorrow.

"He said he's not trading anyone," said a source who has direct contact with Dolan. "He said it's up to the coach to figure it out."

For the coach, Mike D'Antoni, "figuring it out" may not be so easy. Chris Broussard of ESPN.com reports that D'Antoni has lost the Knicks' locker room during the team's current losing streak.

"The players like Mike as a person," a source said. "They think he's a good guy. But he doesn't have the respect of the team anymore."

According to Broussard, players are questioning D'Antoni, complaining about playing time, and confused about the coach's offensive and defensive schemes. Sources close to the situation tell Broussard that some players, including Anthony, have strayed from the system, mixing in some of their own plays with D'Antoni's and creating a "mess."

"Half the team is trying to do what coach says and the other half is doing something different," one source said. "Then it spills over to the defensive end because players are (ticked) off about somebody taking a bad shot."

During the Knicks' current slide, plenty of observers have questioned whether Anthony and D'Antoni can coexist on this Knicks squad, speculating that one will have to go sooner or later for the team to reach its full potential. Marc Berman writes about this topic in his latest column for the New York Post, noting that the player and coach talked last night in an attempt to work things out. However, before that discussion, 'Melo told a confidant that he might prefer a trade out of New York, and only wanted to remain a Knick if D'Antoni didn't return next season, according to Berman.

I can't imagine the Knicks will blow things up before tomorrow's trade deadline. The current coaching staff and roster should have until the end of the season to try to right the ship, but the team could definitely consider major changes this summer if the situation doesn't improve.

Atlantic Notes: Carmelo, D’Antoni, Celtics

March 13th, 2012 at 9:22am CST by Luke Adams

After losses by the Knicks and Nets early in the evening, a Celtics victory in Los Angeles kept the Atlantic Division from going winless last night and pulled Boston within 2.5 games of the 76ers. Here's the latest out of the Atlantic:

It seems "inconceivable" that Carmelo Anthony and Mike D'Antoni will both be back with the Knicks next season, says Marc Berman of the New York Post. While a trade deadline move is unlikely, Berman hears from a source that Anthony is disgruntled, and the relationship between player and coach "appears to be deteriorating."
An injury to Marquis Daniels was one reason Celtics GM Danny Ainge acquired Jeff Green at last year's deadline, so do this year's injuries to Jermaine O'Neal and Chris Wilcox mean another deal is coming? "It’s similar but I don’t feel like we have to do anything, other than get another big body," Ainge told Paul Flannery of WEEI.com. "But I don’t think we have to make a trade at all."
Ainge and the Celtics will proceed with caution at this year's deadline, writes Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe.

Atlantic Notes: Carmelo, Smith, Celtics, Humphries

March 12th, 2012 at 12:07pm CST by Luke Adams

Here's the latest out of the Atlantic, where the 76ers' Sunday win extended their division lead to three games:

Carmelo Anthony wasn't on board with the Knicks' signing of J.R. Smith, a source tells Marc Berman of the New York Post. While Anthony's public comments indicated he was behind the move, Carmelo "was not gung-ho and was 'hurt' Knicks upper management tossed his advice out the window," according to Berman.
WEEI.com's Paul Flannery examines how the Celtics might fill the void in the middle, following Jermaine O'Neal's wrist injury and Chris Wilcox's heart condition.
Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News writes that Kris Humphries was cryptic when asked if he'd waive his no-trade clause for the right deal: "Would you jump off a bridge? It depends how high it is. It depends on if there’s a drowning baby in the water…. Cause if you jump in the summer, the water was warm enough, you know it’s deep underneath." Humphries' point, I believe, is that his decision would vary depending on where the Nets intended to send him.
The Nets' MarShon Brooks isn't worried about the trade deadline, as he tells Colin Stephenson of the Star-Ledger.

Knicks Notes: Anthony, Douglas, McMillan

March 9th, 2012 at 10:11am CST by Luke Adams

The Knicks wrap up their four-game road trip in Milwaukee tonight, hoping to salvage a win after losses in Boston, Dallas, and San Antonio. In the meantime, here are a few Friday morning Knicks links:

Unlike Tyson Chandler, who Mike D'Antoni called the Knicks' "most irreplaceable player," Carmelo Anthony has looked very replaceable lately, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.
Howard Beck of the New York Times argues that blaming Anthony for the Knicks' recent struggles is too easy. An overcrowded rotation means certain players may not be getting the minutes they require to be effective, says Beck.
Toney Douglas is one player who has been a casualty of the Knicks' increased depth, and Berman writes that Douglas is trying not to think about the upcoming trade deadline. "I want to be a good teammate," Douglas said. "I don’t want to talk about that or deal with that. I can control what I can control. That’s me working out, being ready. I don’t want to get into all that."
If the Knicks were to deal Douglas, they'd likely want a couple of second-round picks, says Berman.
Moke Hamilton of Sheridan Hoops thinks current Blazers coach Nate McMillan is a good candidate to be the next coach of the Knicks.

Odds & Ends: Howard, Morris, Anderson, Knicks

March 7th, 2012 at 11:31pm CST by Alex Lee

While there haven't been any big Dwight Howard rumors so far today, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel indicates that there has been a "shift in tone" in how Howard's desires are perceived. As we documented yesterday, the rumors are running wild, seemingly due to Howard's ambivalence. Here is what else is going on around the league on this Wednesday evening:

Brian Schmitz from the Orlando Sentinel takes a look at the some of the hardships facing the Magic leading up to the trade deadline, including their tough schedule and inconsistency.
Eddie Sefko from the Dallas Morning News says (via chat), should Dwight Howard not get traded by March 15th, he considers the Mavericks the heavy favorites to land both Howard and Deron Williams. He also mentions Gerald Wallace and C.J. Miles as potential complimentary fits around Dirk Nowitzki, Howard and Williams.
According to Yahoo's Marc Spears, Lakers assign rookie guard Darius Morris to the NBDL D-Fenders. Mike Bresnahan, Lakers beat writer for the L.A. Times, adds that Morris is still counted on the roster and will continue to get paid as a Laker.
Chris Bernucca from Sheridan Hoops examines some of the recent deadline deals, and their impact on the league today.
Magic forward Ryan Anderson has been trying to block out the Dwight Howard rumors, says Brian Schmitz from the Orlando Sentinel. Anderson knows he could be packaged with Howard, or traded to get Howard help.
Mike D'Antoni recognizes that the Knicks are struggling with Carmelo Anthony and Jeremy Lin on the floor, but D'Antoni thinks it's a solvable problem, writes Frank Isola of the New York Daily News.