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Steve Novak never wanted to be traded by the Knicks, never wanted to leave New York. But the sharpshooter was the key piece in the deal that brought the Knicks new starting power forward Andrea Bargnani.
“I didn’t expect it,” Novak said after the morning shootaround. “ You understand this is the business we’re in. New York felt like home. It was a place I love to play and I miss. I miss those guys. It’s not easy being traded. But there’s no doubt Toronto is a great city and good place to be.”
Novak had his two best seasons with the Knicks – he led the NBA in three-point accuracy in 2011-12 – and was a fan favorite. But for the second straight postseason he was ineffective because defenses wouldn’t give him any room to shoot and ultimately Mike Woodson didn’t give Novak much playing time.
Reported by Al Iannazzone of New York Newsday
Novak was part of the package of players and draft picks that brought Andrea Bargnani to the Knicks and sent him to Toronto in July.
And it’s clear he’s still rankled by the way his career ended, with him riding the bench, fully healthy, in the second round of the playoffs against Indiana, despite pleas to Mike Woodson that he’s ready to play. Soon he was traded to Toronto, a decision that left a bad taste in his mouth.
“It wasn’t like a rift [with Coach Woodson],” Novak said on Friday following his team’s shoot-around at the Air Canada Centre before the Raptors hosted the Knicks. “Obviously he knew the whole time that I wanted to play. I told him when I got healthy- don’t not play me because I’m hurt. I’m ready. And he went another way.”
Reported by Mitch Abramson of the New York Daily News
