Tag Archives: Knicks news

Knicks Sign Josh Powell (Training Camp & Roster Update)

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The Knicks have signed PF Josh Powell to a non-guaranteed training camp contract. Powell is strong, athletic, and a good rebounder. Powell last played in the 2010-2011 season as a 28 year-old, averaging 4 points, 2.5 rebounds, in 12.1 minutes per game, which translates to a healthy “per-36” line of 12.3 PPG and 7.5 RPG. 

New York has 3 more spaces left on their Training Camp roster, which currently consists of Ray Felton, Pablo Prigioni, Toure Murry, Beno Udrih, Iman Shumpert, J.R Smith, Tim Hardaway Jr, Chris Smith Carmelo Anthony, Metta World Peace, CJ Leslie, Andrea Bargnani, Amar’e Stoudemire, Kenyon Martin, Powell, Tyson Chandler, and Jeremy Tyler. 

Felton, Prigioni, Udrih, Shumpert, J.R, Hardaway, Carmelo, Metta, Bargnani, Stoudemire, Martin, and Chandler will definitely be on the roster, leaving Leslie, the injured Tyler, Chris Smith, Powell, Murry, and 3 other yet-to-be determined training camp invitees to compete for the final 3 roster spots on Coach Woodson’s team.

-Tommy Rothman

Jared Jeffries Retires from NBA

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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 

 

LeBron To Knicks In New “Path to Greatness” Mode of NBA 2K14

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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

Bernard King Inducted into NBA Hall Of Fame

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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

BREAKING: JR Smith Suspended 5 games for Recreational Drug Use

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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. 

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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

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This is another frustrating off-court setback for J.R, who has had disciplinary issues through his career. 

-Tommy Rothman

 

Jeremy Tyler has Fracture in Foot, out 8-10 Weeks

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Knicks PF Jeremy Tyler was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his foot Thursday and will be out for 8-10 weeks, meaning he will miss all of training camp and at least the first week of the regular season. This is a minor blow for the team (which needs frontcourt depth) and a big blow for Tyler (who needs minutes). For Knicks fans, it is yet another frustrating injury. Eternal cynic Frank Isola put it best:

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This injury could lead to Tyler’s release, or at least open it up for consideration. The foot fracture may have been a driving reason behind the Knicks’ decision to invite PG Toure Murry to training camp today . If Tyler is on his way out, it opens up a roster spot for Murry (and leaves the Knicks with another spot to give to a big man).

I still expect Tyler to make the team, but the competition is about to ramp up a bit.

-Tommy Rothman