Former Knick Jared Jeffries retired from the NBA today and rode off into the land of former Knicks, taking a front office job in Denver. Jeffries, who served multiple stints with the Knicks during his career, will go down as a legend when it comes to drawing charges and being “scrappy”, but will also be remembered as perhaps the worst offensive player of all time.
-Tommy Rothman
NBA 2K14 has a new mode called “LeBron’s Path to Greatness”, in which the user takes control of LeBron James’ career after this upcoming season. As is the case in real life, James can opt-in to his contract with the Heat, or sign with another team. The two choices in this mode are “Continue Heat Dynasty” and “Fantastic Journey”. In the first option, James stays in Miami. The latter option has James signing with the New York Knicks as Carmelo Anthony leaves for the bulls and the Wizards draft a kid touted as the next LeBron James (probably based off of Andrew Wiggins). After a few years in New York, LeBron heads back home to Cleveland. The user is responsible for LeBron’s Destiny. Will James win championships everywhere he goes, or flame out and finish his career with a “disappointing” 2 rings?
What makes this mode pretty weird is that LeBron himself (the cover athlete for the game) is the one narrating the game, as the voiceovers of the story lines are done in his voice. Can you imagine a superstar for an NBA team going into a studio and reading aloud a passage in which he leaves his teammates, for mass consumption? I am sure Pat Riley is thrilled.
Anyway, it is cool to see that NBA 2K14 is getting creative, even though they have no real competition on the market.
And it will be fun to have control over LeBron’s “career”. It would be a shame if he… signed with the Bobcats…
In real life, it appears that LeBron is giving the Knicks some consideration. Salary cap wise, if he opts out of his contract after this season, the Knicks would have to get very creative if they wanted to sign the best player in the league. but if LeBron opts in, plays one more year, and then becomes a free agent NEXT year, the Knicks would have a very good shot at signing him.
-Tommy Rothman
We better have re-signed Swizz Beatz…
Former Knick Bernard King was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame today. King played for the Knicks from 1982-1987 and established himself as one of the greatest pure scorers the team– and the league– has ever seen. King holds the Knick record for points in one game with 60, and is very popular amongst NBA fans despite having his career derailed by knee injuries.
Congrats, Bernard!
-Tommy Rothman
Well, we all saw it coming, right?
In the least surprising breaking story of all time, JR Smith has been suspended for failing THREE drug tests for recreational substances such as Marijuana. Smith’s was already in danger of missing the first few weeks of the season with a knee injury. His suspension will begin the first game he is physically able to play, so if he is ready to come back 2 weeks after opening day, he will have to wait an extra 5 games after that.
The Knicks recently gave Smith a new contract, and he has wasted no time in showing why the Knicks were able to get such a bargain on the mercurial Smith. One person who is not happy? The fictional Mike Woodson twitter account
This is another frustrating off-court setback for J.R, who has had disciplinary issues through his career.
-Tommy Rothman
The Miami Heat made a strong push for Toure Murry, but the D-League Stud and Summer League Standout will be joining the New York Knicks in training camp in an attempt to win a roster spot. Murry looked very good in Vegas, and has produced throughout his career (at the lower levels), but has an uphill battle ahead of him as the Knicks already have several guards under contract. One person Murry will be competing with is Chris Smith, who signed with the Knicks on a non-guaranteed contract with a training camp invite this week. Murry also has to compete with free agent guards such as Rip Hamilton (who the Knicks might have interest in). And of course, Murry also needs to compete with bigger players, because the Knicks only have one roster spot left and definitely need more depth in the frontcourt. It’s always nice to keep somebody away from the Heat, and Murry has promise, but whether he makes the team remains to be seen
-Tommy Rothman
New York Knicks Memes 