New York Knicks Blog – Page 54 – NBA Blog

Knicks may say goodbye to Metta World Peace, Beno Udrih

Here’s ESPN New York reporting on the Knicks, who may part ways with some players that aren’t essential pieces of their rotation. (Then again, a few players actually in the rotation are also not essential pieces of the rotation, but that’s another story.)

The New York Knicks are in discussions to cut ties with forward Metta World Peace.

World Peace wrote on Twitter that his agent and the Knicks are working on a buyout.

League sources confirmed to ESPN New York that the team is in discussions with World Peace’s representatives to work on a buyout or outright release.

The Knicks, league sources said, are also in talks with Beno Udrih’s representatives to work on a release or buyout for the veteran point guard.

World Peace, a Queens native, signed with the Knicks over the summer. He inked a two-year deal worth approximately $1.6 million per season with a player option in the second year.

Despite rumors, Knicks keep Iman Shumpert

Here’s the New York Post with an update on pretty much every aspect of Iman Shumpert’s basketball existence:

Iman Shumpert avoided a trade and a serious knee injury at Thursday’s trade deadline.

The 21-33 Knicks stood pat at the deadline and announced just after it passed Shumpert’s MRI exam showed he had a sprain of his left MCL and would miss “approximately two weeks.’’

Shumpert sprained his MCL early in his 2011-12 rookie season and returned in two weeks. Still, the uncertainty surrounding the most recent injury may have been a factor in the Clippers passing on Shumpert Thursday despite serious talks with the Knicks, who were hot after point guard Darren Collison.

Now they are stuck with each other. And the Knicks also are stuck with point guards Raymond Felton and out of-the-rotation Beno Udrih, and Metta World Peace. The Knicks failed to deal Udrih despite coming close with Denver.

Iman Shumpert hurts knee in Knicks win over Pelicans

Here’s the New York Daily News reporting on Iman Shumpert, who got hurt tonight — but hopefully the injury is minor:

The Knicks’ chances to make the post-season were always shaky, but now they might have taken a major hit when Iman Shumpert re-injured his chronically-troubled left knee in the team’s 98-91 victory in the Smoothie King Center.

Early in the third quarter, the Knicks’ starting small forward drove the lane against the Pelicans’ Anthony Davis and suffered what the team called a sprained left knee. The team didn’t announce how long he’s out, but he’s had several surgical procedures on his left knee. He originally injured it when he blew out his ACL during the 2012 playoffs against Miami when he was a rookie.

Shumpert’s injury could alter the Knicks’ trading plans, with the NBA deadline Thursday at 3 p.m. His name has been linked to recent trade tadks with the Clippers, but those likely ended when he went down to the floor after the knee buckled. During the ensuing timeout, he had to be helped off the floor by teammate Jeremy Tyler and went straight to the locker room to be examined by team medical personnel.

Knicks hope to trade for point guard

The New York Knicks are 20-33 this season, and not getting much from point guard Raymond Felton (10.3 ppg, 5.8 apg on 40% shooting and just below 30% from three-point range). They are reportedly looking to make a move. Here’s ESPN.com reporting:

The Knicks and Clippers have been discussing a deal centered on sending Iman Shumpert and Raymond Felton to Los Angeles in exchange for Darren Collison and Reggie Bullock, sources confirm.

In order to make the deal work financially, other players may have to be involved. One name that has been discussed is Clippers small forward Jared Dudley.

Talks at this point are not in advanced stages, with one source describing the deal as “a possibility.” The teams have been talking since Friday.

A source with knowledge of the talks told ESPN that the Clippers have been reluctant to part with Bullock, their first-round draft pick from last year, who is being asked to play a larger role with starting guard J.J. Redick lost indefinitely to a back injury. Adding Shumpert would help somewhat, as he would slide into Redick’s starting role and allow Sixth Man of the Year candidate Jamal Crawford to go back to his reserve role.

Carmelo Anthony sets NBA All-Star game three-pointer record

Here’s the New York Post reporting on Knicks star Carmelo Anthony, who had a memorable All-Star weekend in New Orleans:

It was an eventful All-Star weekend for Carmelo Anthony off the court in New Orleans, where he declared he’d take “a pay cut’’ to re-sign with Knicks if he likes their roster plans. Anthony then made his on-court experience a memorable one by setting an All-Star Game 3-point record.

Anthony’s smile, which rarely has been seen this season, were in abundance in the Big Easy. The Knicks superstar admitted he would have a tough time enjoying All-Star Weekend because of the club’s 20-32 record, but he still had a blast — even if he fell short of winning the MVP. Kyrie Irving of West Orange, N.J., won it with 31 points and 14 assists.

Anthony scored 20 of his 30 points in the first half and hit a huge 3-pointer with 1:04 left to key the Eastern Conference’s 163-155 come-from-behind All-Star Game shootout victory over the West at New Orleans Arena. He finished with eight 3-pointers, breaking the record of six, co-held by LeBron James and Mark Price.

Metta World Peace getting little playing time on Knicks

With a 20-31 record, the New York Knicks are having a rough season, and they’re doing so while Metta World Peace mostly watches from the bench. Could he help? Tough to say, but here’s ESPN New York with more:

Clearly, World Peace isn’t going to turn the Knicks’ season around. But he may have put up some resistance against Kevin Durant on Sunday. Durant put up 41 points and none of the Knicks called on to guard him — Carmelo Anthony, Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith — could do much to stop him.

Maybe Metta could have helped?

Either way, World Peace continues to take his benching in stride. A recent report suggested that he’s “open” to a trade (of course he’s “open” to being traded; he wants to play). But World Peace responded to the report on Twitter by writing that he’d never talked about wanting a trade and that he’s happy with any amount of playing time that he gets with the Knicks.

Knicks wanted to sign Andrew Bynum

Here’s the New York Post reporting on center Andrew Bynum, who the Knicks reportedly tried to add to their roster. The talented Bynum has struggled with injuries and some head issues. But when healthy and focused, he’s a force in the middle.

The Knicks made a strong late push to sign center Andrew Bynum before he chose the Pacers, his agent told The Post Saturday.

Knicks personnel director Mark Warkentien tried to arrange a meeting with Bynum and the Knicks staff, but it never materialized.

“The Knicks were very aggressive in the end,” his New York-based agent David Lee told The Post. “In the end, they did everything they could.”

The Knicks only had the veteran’s minimum to offer, which pro-rated would have been $550,000.

Knicks assign Toure Murry to D-League

New York Knicks President and General Manager Steve Mills announced today that the team has assigned guard Toure’ Murry to Erie of the NBA Development League.

Murry, 6-5, 195-pounds, is averaging 2.9 points and 1.2 assists over 8.1 minutes in 28 games for the Knicks this season. He is expected to be in uniform tonight when the BayHawks take on the Springfield Armor at MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA at 7 p.m.

Andrea Bargnani has no idea when he will return for Knicks

Here’s the New York Post reporting on Knicks forward Andrea Bargnani, who is out injured. His team, however, is doing just fine lately, and pounded the Cleveland Cavaliers for their 4th straight win:

Andrea Bargnani, in breaking his silence, showed off his new black elbow brace, admitted his injury was “terrible’’ and said a timetable for his return from rehab is tricky because the ligament is completely torn…

Bargnani spoke for the first time and said he doesn’t want to commit to a return date. An elbow surgeon interviewed by The Post said usually 3-to-6 weeks of therapy will do the trick.

Bargnani said his doctors are talking to him more cautiously but confirmed there’s no plans for surgery.

“I have no idea [on a return date],’’ Bargnani said. “It’s a ligament broke and you see how it heals and how strong the arm gets. You got to make sure it’s 100 percent. I really don’t know the timeline.’’

Knicks assign Cole Aldrich, Toure Murry, Jeremy Tyler to D-League

New York Knicks President and General Manager Steve Mills announced today that the team has assigned center Cole Aldrich, guard Toure’ Murry and forward Jeremy Tyler to Erie of the NBA Development League.

This may be a very brief assignment, and may just be for workout reasons. According to several reports, all three players may be back with the Knicks a day later.

For the Knicks this season, Aldrich, 6-11, 245-pounds, has recorded 16 points and 45 rebounds over 95 total minutes in 21 games and Murry, 6-5, 195-pounds, is averaging 3.0 points and 1.1 assists over 8.2 minutes in 27 games.

Tyler, 6-10, 250-pounds, averaged 18.0 points and 10.2 rebounds in six games for the BayHawks early this season, and is averaging 4.4 points and 2.5 rebounds over 8.6 minutes in 10 games for the Knicks.