Category: New York Knicks Blog

Iman Shumpert was just happy it wasn’t his left knee.

Shumpert was held out of Knicks’ practice today after suffering a sore right shoulder during a 3-on-3 drill Wednesday. Shumpert said it’s “minor,” and plan is just to rest it right now.

“Nothing major,” Shumpert said. “They just want to make sure that I’m healthy. First time I’ve been healthy so they just want to make sure that I’m healthy before I go back out there.”

Shumpert said there is no plan at this point to have an MRI or an X-ray.

Reported by Al Iannazzone of New York Newsday

New York Knicks President and General Manager Steve Mills announced today that the team has signed guard Chris Douglas-Roberts. We assume this is just a non-guaranteed training camp signing.

In addition, forward Justin Brownlee has been waived.

Roberts, 6-7, 210-pounds, holds career averages of 7.5 points, on 44.2-percent shooting, over 20.3 minutes in 161 games (52 starts) over four seasons with New Jersey, Milwaukee and Dallas. He averaged 2.8 points over 10.5 minutes in six games for Dallas last season, and 17.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.44 steals over 34.8 minutes in 16 games for the Texas Legends of the NBA D-League.

The Detroit, MI native was originally selected by New Jersey following his junior season at the University of Memphis in the second round (40th overall) of 2008 NBA Draft.

J.R. Smith is recovering from knee surgery, then faces an NBA suspension when he returns.

Amar’e Stoudemire is recovering from knee surgery — yes, that’s three in the last year — and faces a restriction on his minutes when he returns.

The New York Knicks have the NBA’s leading scorer in Carmelo Anthony, but after that there are questions about who’s going to put the ball in the basket until their second- and third-leading scorers get back.

They downplayed those concerns Tuesday after their first practice of the season.

“We’ve just got to be patient until we get those guys back, and then when they get back, they’re going to fit right in,” coach Mike Woodson said.

Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press

The New York Knicks announced Monday that the team has signed forwards Justin Brownlee and Josh Powell. We assume they are non-guaranteed contracts that merely add the players to training camp.

Brownlee, 6-7, 219-pounds, was a member of New York’s entry in the NBA Summer League each of last two summers, and averaged 4.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.20 steals over 16.1 minutes in five games this past July in Las Vegas, NV. He played for San Diego of the ABA last season after playing for Maine (NBADL) and in Mexico (Nuevo Laredo) in 2011-12. He averaged 8.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists over 23.5 minutes in 50 games for Maine and 13.6 points and 6.0 rebounds in 10 games for Nuevo Laredo. The Tifton, GA-native played two seasons at St. John’s University, recording 9.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists over 24.5 minutes in 65 games. He began his collegiate career at Chipola Junior College (FL) and City College of San Francisco.

Powell, 6-9, 225-pounds, holds career averages of 3.9 points on 43.9-percent shooting, and 2.9 rebounds over 12.5 minutes in 315 games (28 starts) over six seasons with Dallas, Indiana, Golden State, L.A. Clippers, L.A. Lakers and Atlanta. He spent the 2012-13 season playing in Greece (Olympiacos) and Puerto Rico (Brujos de Guayama), after playing in China (Liaoning) in 2011-12. He went to training camp with San Antonio last season before being waived on Oct. 26. A member of the 2009 NBA Champion L.A. Lakers, he last played in the NBA for Atlanta in 2010-11, averaging 4.1 points and 2.5 rebounds in 54 games. The Charleston, SC-native went undrafted following two seasons at North Carolina State University. He began his professional career playing overseas for two seasons in Italy and Russia before signing with Dallas in 2005-06.

The Knicks could be in a position to have cap room flexibility in 2015 and may make another run at LeBron James, who has three years left on his contract with the Heat but can opt out of the final two seasons in July.

The Knicks have several important issues facing the team, starting with coach Mike Woodson’s contract. Woodson, who played college ball with Grunwald at Indiana, is under contract for this season but has a team option for next season.

Carmelo Anthony can opt out of his contract after the season. J.R. Smith is recovering from knee surgery and has been suspended five games by the NBA for violating the terms of the anti-drug agreement. Amar’e Stoudemire is trying to become a regular contributor again after surgeries on both knees limited him to 29 games last season.

Reported by Al Iannazzone of New York Newsday

Madison Square Garden’s three-year renovation will be complete next month. That means there will be new suites, new concession stands and even two new bridges suspended above the hardwood at the World’s Most Famous Arena next season.

But an important part of MSG will be missing when the doors open for business again in late October. Al Marchfeld won’t be at his customary seat in the press box, greeting fans and reporters with a handshake and warm smile.

Marchfeld, a Garden employee for more than 60 years, died earlier this month. And he left a void that will be nearly impossible to fill.

Marchfeld worked several jobs throughout his long-lasting run at MSG. A diamond-setter by trade, Marchfeld started out as a statistician, and later worked on the Knicks’ game-night staff in the press box.

Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York