New York Knicks Blog – Page 47 – NBA Blog

Knicks trade Wayne Ellington, Jeremy Tyler to Kings for Quincy Acy, Travis Outlaw

New York Knicks President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has acquired forwards Quincy Acy and Travis Outlaw from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for guard Wayne Ellington and forward Jeremy Tyler. In addition, the Knicks have reduced the protection on the 2016 second-round draft selection acquired by Sacramento, via Portland.

According to the New York Daily News, “Ellington, slated to make $2.77 million this season, was acquired in the June deal from Dallas − along with Jose Calderon, Shane Larkin, Samuel Dalembert and two second-round picks − in exchange for Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton. The 6-10 Tyler, whose $948,000 option had yet to be exercised, averaged 9.7 minutes over 41 appearances for the Knicks last season.”

Acy, 6-7, 225-pounds, holds career averages of 3.1 points, on 50.0-percent shooting, 3.2 rebounds and 12.9 minutes over 92 games in two seasons with Toronto and Sacramento. This past season, he averaged 2.7 points and 3.4 rebounds over 13.4 minutes in 63 games for the Raptors and Kings. The Tyler, TX native played collegiately for four seasons at Baylor University, and was originally selected by the Raptors in the second round (37th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft.

Outlaw, 6-9, 210-pounds, holds career averages of 8.5 points, on 42.3-percent shooting, and 3.2 rebounds in 622 games (98 starts) over 11 seasons with Portland, L.A. Clippers, New Jersey and Sacramento. This past season for the Kings, he averaged 5.4 points and 2.7 rebounds over 16.9 minutes in 63 games. The Starksville, MS native was originally selected in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft directly out of Starkville HS.

Ellington, 6-4, 200-pounds, holds career averages of 6.4 points and 17.9 minutes in 312 games over five NBA seasons with Minnesota, Memphis, Cleveland and Dallas. He was originally acquired by the Knicks in a multiple-player deal with the Mavericks on Jun. 25, 2014.

Tyler, 6-10, 250-pounds, has averaged 3.6 points and 2.6 rebounds over 9.9 minutes in 104 career games with Golden State, Atlanta and New York. The San Diego, CA-native, posted averages 3.6 points and 2.7 rebounds over 9.7 minutes in 41 games for the Knicks this past season after signing as a free agent on Dec. 31, 2013.

Knicks waive Shannon Brown

New York Knicks President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has waived guard Shannon Brown.

Brown, 6-4, 205-pounds, appeared in 19 games for the Knicks this past season, averaging 2.1 points and 7.8 minutes. On Feb. 27, the Maywood, IL native signed the first of two 10-day contracts and then signed for the remainder of the season on Mar. 20.

Jason Smith Knicks deal is reportedly for one season

Here’s New York Newsday with an update on the contract of new Knicks center Jason Smith:

The Knicks made it official and signed 7-foot center Jason Smith Friday.

Smith inked a one-year deal for the $3.27 million taxpayer midlevel exception, giving the Knicks six players who are at least 6-10 under contract.

A former first-round pick of the Heat in 2007, Smith has averaged 6.0 points and 3.5 rebounds over six seasons with Philadelphia and New Orleans.

Knicks sign center Jason Smith

New York Knicks President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has signed center Jason Smith

Smith, 7-0, 240-pounds, holds career averages of 6.0 points, on 47.2-percent shooting, and 3.5 rebounds over 16.7 minutes in 331 games (65 starts) over six seasons with Philadelphia and New Orleans. This past season for the Pelicans, he averaged 9.7 points, on 46.5-percent shooting, and a career high 5.8 rebounds over 26.8 minutes in 31 games (27 starts).

The Greeley, CO native was originally selected by the Miami Heat 20th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft as a junior out of Colorado State University, before having his draft rights traded to Philadelphia that night.

Phil Jackson says Andrea Bargnani can step up for Knicks

Here’s the New York Daily News reporting some optimistic thinking from Phil Jackson:

Unable to move the expiring contract of Andrea Bargnani so far this summer, Phil Jackson instead attempted to talk up the No. 1 overall pick from 2006 during a televised interview on Monday.

“He’s overlooked. We think he’s going to really do well in the system we have,” Jackson said of Bargnani on MSG Network during the second quarter of the Knicks’ 95-72 Summer League victory over Charlotte. “We have a couple of guards he likes to play with, Jose (Calderon) and Pablo (Prigioni), and I think he’s going to be a surprise and a pleasant one for our fans.”

Bargnani, obtained from Toronto last summer, averaged 13.3 points over 42 games with the Knicks last season before suffering a season-ending elbow injury in January. The seven-foot Italian is owed $12 million in the final year of his contract.

Yes, new Knicks coach Derek Fisher thinks team can make playoffs

Yes, any coach of an NBA team pretty much has to say that his team is a playoff squad. Still, it’s fun to see the exact response to such a question. Here’s the New York Post reporting:

With Carmelo Anthony officially on board, Knicks rookie coach Derek Fisher guaranteed the Knicks will be a playoff team this season, and will eventually compete for a championship with Anthony as the “anchor.’’

The Knicks missed the playoffs during a miserable 37-45 campaign last season that nearly led Anthony out the door. Anthony had told confidants he didn’t want to ever experience a season like that again.

“My opinion is, based on our roster and who we’re going to become, we can compete for playing in the playoffs and playing for a championship in the Eastern Conference,’’ Fisher said Monday after the Knicks’ summer-league victory over Charlotte, in his first remarks since Anthony’s signing became official. “When that happens, putting dates on it, that’s not my job.’’

Carmelo Anthony will stick with Knicks

Here’s ESPN.com reporting that Melo will stick with the Knicks:

Carmelo Anthony has reached a deal to remain with the New York Knicks.

The team announced Sunday that it had re-signed Anthony, but did not disclose terms.

The contract will be for more than $122 million but less than the five-year, $129 million max figure, a source told ESPN The Magazine’s Chris Broussard on Saturday.

“After three months of questions around Carmelo Anthony’s return to the New York Knicks we are now happy to know that we have the cornerstone of what we envision as a ‘team of excellence,'” Knicks president Phil Jackson said in a statement. “… [Knicks general manager] Steve Mills and I have assured Carmelo through our conversations, that we share the vision and the determination to build this team.”

Phil Jackson still waiting to hear from Carmelo Anthony

Here’s the New York Post with a Thursday evening update on Knicks free agent Carmelo Anthony:

Knicks president Phil Jackson spoke with bravado in saying he expects a positive outcome will be reached with Carmelo Anthony, though he still has not heard officially from the superstar free agent.

Jackson said he expected an answer Thursday — but also expected one the previous two days and didn’t get a commitment. Jackson added he also has been in conversations with free-agent power forward Pau Gasol, selling him on New York.

“I felt really good about my conversation with Carmelo,’’ Jackson said during the Knicks summer league practice. “We really struck a chord the two of us and feel overly passionately about what we’re trying to get accomplished. It’s his ability to stay, be patient, lead and watch us develop a winner. There’s no instantaneous winner that we think is going to happen to the Knicks right now, but we’re going to be a lot better.’’

No Carmelo Anthony free agency decision yet

Here’s the Los Angeles Daily News Blog with an update on Knicks free agent star forward Carmelo Anthony:

When will Carmelo Anthony decide where he will play?

As of Wednesday night, a source close to Anthony insisted “there is no decision yet.” The source then added it is “still up in the air.”

Neither the Lakers nor the Knicks have been informed on where Anthony will play. But a New York Daily News report quoted an unnamed friend who said Anthony plans is expected to announce announce on Thursday that he re-signing with the Knicks.

Carmelo Anthony likely to re-sign with Knicks

Here’s the New York Daily News reporting that unless something changes, Carmelo Anthony is expected to stick with the Knicks:

Carmelo Anthony is prepared to spend the prime years of his career in New York, the Daily News has learned.

A person close to Anthony told The News on Wednesday that barring a last minute change of heart Anthony will re-sign with the Knicks after “agonizing over this” for the past week.

“He will have something for everybody on Thursday,” said the friend who was with Anthony before Anthony’s scheduled workout with Kevin Durant and Kevin Love in Los Angeles on Wednesday. “He is really torn because this is the biggest decision of his career. But he wants to get it done in New York. He told me he believes in Phil.”