Category: New York Knicks Blog

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David Lee to have elbow infection surgery, may miss two weeks

Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle reports:

Golden State Warriors power forward David Lee did not travel with the team to Milwaukee on Friday, instead returning to the Bay Area for surgery to clean out an infection from the inside of his left elbow.

The Warriors said the surgery will be performed by Dr. Frank Chen, but they were unable to release a timetable for Lee’s return. Early estimations are that Lee will miss about two weeks.

Lee was injured in Wednesday’s victory over the Knicks, when his elbow caught Wilson Chandler’s face on a rebound and knocked out two teeth. Lee completed the game with a three-layered tape job that couldn’t completely restrain the blood from coming to the surface and his best game of the season (28 points, 10 rebounds).

Former NC State player Gavin Grant wanted by police

WTVD (ABC) reports:

Warrants have been obtained charging 25-year-old Gavin Troy Grant with first degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

The attempted robbery happened on September 24 around 10 p.m at an apartment on Crossroads Arbor Way.

Police say two suspects forced their way into the apartment and assaulted two people who were inside.

The victims fought off the suspects, who fled before being about the complete the robbery.

One of the victims in the case is former NC State baseball player Domonique Rodgers.

Rodgers was arrested four hours after the incident for running a marijuana operation at his house.

Gilbert Arenas to make season debut tonight against Knicks

Sports Network reports:

gilbert arenas

Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas is set to make his season debut Friday against the New York Knicks, according to the team’s Twitter feed.

The post said, “A quick update from New York. Gilbert Arenas will play tonight!” Arenas practiced Friday morning and was earlier considered a game- time decision.

Arenas has missed the Wizards’ first three games of the regular season with a strained tendon in his right ankle and strained right groin.

Magic at Knicks game postponed due to MSG asbestos-related debris issue

The Orlando Magic at New York Knicks game scheduled for tonight (November 2) will instead be played another night, and it’s possible  that additional games in Madison Square Garden may have to be relocated.

Here is the information sent out by the Knicks:

Following last night’s Rangers game, during overnight maintenance of Madison Square Garden, which included cleaning asbestos-related materials in the attic above the ceiling, some debris fell into the Arena.

Out of an abundance of caution, we are postponing tonight’s Knicks v. Magic game. We will be working with the city and independent experts, ATC Associates and GCI Environmental Advisory, to evaluate and determine the most appropriate course of action. As the safety of our customers and employees are our top priority, we will not reopen the Garden until we are absolutely assured the Arena is safe.

Ticketholders are advised to retain their tickets, and return to nyknicks.com for rescheduling information. We will announce information about future events as soon as they have been determined.

Madison Square Garden apologizes for any inconvenience.

Eddy Curry only Knick not introduced in home opener

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports:

Eddy Curry only Knick not introduced in home opener

Eddy Curry was excluded during Saturday’s elaborate player introductions during the home opener — the lone Knick not presented. But the embattled center still plans to make his return to practice today.

Curry has not practiced since the second day of training camp when he strained his hamstring. A Knicks official said Curry was in the locker room during intros and the game.

It is unclear whose decision it was to not be introduced. The other 14 players were introduced separately amidst a laser-light production. Curry, whose expiring contract is a trade asset, likely would have been booed heavily.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Curry isn’t thought of as an actual player at this point. Instead, he’s just a contract who for several seasons has been hurting the team’s salary cap situation. Hopefully this changes, but no one is holding their breath.

Prudential Center in Newark will host 2011 NBA Draft

The Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., has been selected to host the 2011 NBA Draft, scheduled for June 23, 2011, NBA Commissioner David Stern, Chairman and Managing Partner, Devils Arena Entertainment, Jeff Vanderbeek, and the Honorable Cory A. Booker, Mayor for the City of Newark, announced today at the Prudential Center before the New Jersey Nets’ home opener against the Detroit Pistons.

This marks the second time the NBA Draft is being held in New Jersey.

“We are delighted to bring one of the NBA’s premier events to Newark,” said Stern. “The Prudential Center is a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose arena that will be a great host for another exciting NBA Draft.”

“Hosting the draft is further affirmation of Prudential Center as a home for the NBA,” said Vanderbeek.  “In fact, this season the Rock will host more basketball games at the NBA, WNBA and college levels than all but two other arenas, Madison Square Garden and STAPLES Center.”

“Newark, New Jersey, is a basketball City,” said Mayor Booker.  “We are proud and honored to host one of basketball’s most significant annual events here in the Prudential Center. It will be a fantastic event, in our great City, helping to wrap up what is expected to be a tremendous year of basketball in Newark.”

The NBA Draft became a public event in 1979, and was held in various venues in New York City through 1991. It was held in Portland in 1992, followed by Detroit (1993), Indianapolis (1994), Toronto (1995), East Rutherford, N.J. (1996), Charlotte (1997), Vancouver (1998), and Washington D.C. (1999).

The Prudential Center, which opened Oct. 25, 2007, is located in downtown Newark and is the temporary home of New Jersey Nets. It also is the home arena of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and Seton Hall University’s Men’s Basketball.

The Theater at Madison Square Garden, which has hosted the NBA Draft for the last several years, is unavailable to hold this year’s Draft due to the ongoing transformation of Madison Square Garden.

NBA investigating Knicks draft workout-related conduct

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports:

The stain of the Isiah Thomas reign continues.

On the eve of the Knicks’ season opener, the NBA said it is investigating reported allegations team brass staged illegal workouts with draft prospects, including Wilson Chandler, across the past four years — a probe centering on East Coast scout Rodney Heard and senior VP Glen Grunwald. Both are Isiah hires who still work for the club.

If found guilty, the Knicks could face fines, suspensions — and at its harshest — loss of a future draft pick. It also could put the status of Heard and — more importantly — Grunwald into question. Team president Donnie Walsh admits he has looked to hire Chris Mullin as general manager but says he does not have a opening because of Grunwald’s spot.

If the NBA finds allegations true, it also could mean Thomas’ chances of rejoining the Knicks in a prominent role will be compromised. Some of the alleged violations also occurred during Walsh’s watch.

Knicks exercise options on Danilo Gallinari, Anthony Randolph and Toney Douglas

New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that the team has exercised fourth-year options on forwards Danilo Gallinari and Anthony Randolph, as well as its third-year option on guard Toney Douglas.

Gallinari, 6-10, 224-pounds, has averaged 12.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in 109 games (76 starts) over his first two NBA seasons. Originally selected by New York with the sixth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Gallinari was selected to play in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and compete in the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest at 2010 NBA All-Star Weekend in Dallas last season.

Randolph, 6-11, 225-pounds, has averaged 9.2 points and 6.0 rebounds in 96 games over his first two NBA seasons with the Golden State Warriors. Originally selected by the Warriors with the 14th overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft following his freshman season at Louisiana State University, Randolph was acquired by New York, along with Kelenna Azubuike and Ronny Turiaf, from Golden State in exchange for David Lee on Jul. 9, 2010.

Douglas, 6-2, 185-pounds, averaged 8.6 points, 2.0 assists and 19.4 minutes in 56 games during his rookie campaign with New York in 2009-10. The Jonesboro, GA-native was selected by the L.A. Lakers in the first round (29th overall) in the 2009 NBA Draft and had his draft rights traded to New York in exchange for cash considerations on draft night, Jun. 25, 2009.

Future Brooklyn Nets arena gets vodka sponsor

Today Stolichnaya, a pioneer in the flavored vodka category, and Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, the sales and marketing arm of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, announced that Stolichnaya is embarking as a Founding Partner in a five-year alliance with the Barclays Center, the planned state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue, and with NETS Basketball. The opening of the Barclays Center in late spring/early summer of 2012 will mark the return of major professional sports to Brooklyn for the first time since 1957, and Stoli will become the official vodka partner of the Barclays Center.

“This partnership represents Stoli’s first long-term foray into professional sports and we look forward to an exciting and successful partnership with the Barclays Center and NETS Basketball,” said Andrey Skurikhin, Partner at SPI Group, the Stolichnaya brand owner. “Stoli is a pioneering brand in the spirits industry and celebrates the same spirit of innovation that characterizes the development of the Barclays Center and the revitalization of the NETS. We look forward to engaging with our consumers in this much anticipated, exciting new venue.”

“We are thrilled to become partners with the most innovative and historic brand in the spirits industry,” said Brett Yormark, president and CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “The Barclays Center continues to align with renowned companies which seek to build their brands in the heart of world commerce. Stoli has made a major commitment to the Barclays Center and we look forward to building its brand with a year-round marketing platform.”

As part of the agreement with the Barclays Center, Stoli will receive numerous entitlements, including category exclusive branding throughout the new arena and the branding of six bars.