| Making The Cut Authored by Edward Cranklin - October 14, 2007 - 2:23 pm
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Isiah Thomas and his staff will have to cut the roster down to fifteen, the maximum number of players a team is allowed to have under contract. So the big question remains – who will be cut?
Of the twenty players currently on the roster, eleven are guards. The first two players to be cut from the team could be Walker Russell Jr. and Roderick Wilmont. They were brought into the mix solely for the purpose of having more bodies at camp. They know their role, and that is just to add some competition at training camp.
One player I foresee getting cut is center Jerome James. This is quite the dilemma for the team because if James is cut, that would leave the team with Eddy Curry and Randolph Morris at center. James, sat out most of last season with injuries, and is barely participating at training camp this year. James is guaranteed $5.8 million and has another year left on his contract. The Knicks could buy out his contract for somewhere in the ballpark of six, or if they’re feeling generous seven million. The way I see it, the big man is never going to get another contract of that magnitude. It’s going to be veteran’s minimum for the remainder of his career, so he might as well get the money while he can.
Maybe he can get another gig with the Globetrotters.?
Now it comes down to the final spot. It has been rumored that Fred Jones is currently beating Demetris Nichols out for that spot, but a lot of people are also singing Nichols’ praises. Last year, Jones averaged 6.5 ppg, along with 1.8 rpg, and 1.7 apg. He is expected to earn $3.3 million this year, which is the last of his expiring contract. I really don’t see a spot for Jones on this team. Not with likes of Jamal Crawford, a healthy Quentin Richardson, and Summer League MVP Nate Robinson.
Teams that are looking to take contracts off the books could be interested in Jones. The Knicks could move him for a future second round draft pick, or something similar. Atlanta or Indiana, who let him walk two summers ago, could be possible destinations for the former Slam Dunk Champ.
Several teams who are in the process of rebuilding might be interested in Nichols. If the former Syracuse star were to be moved I could see him going to Indiana, or Memphis. I really believe that the Knicks will keep Nichols over Jones. You have the choice between a 6’8” guard/forward or a 6’2” combo guard, whose better position is the 2. To me, this is a no-brainer. Move Jones, keep Nichols.
I see the Knicks sending Jared Jordan overseas for a year. It’s a great option not only for the Knicks, but for Jordan as well. He would be shaped into a professional point guard. Europe is as great a place to learn the position as here in the D-League (Maybe even better).
Jordan happens to have been the first player to lead the nation in assists for two years since Mavericks Head Coach Avery Johnson.
Houston coming back to the Knicks is like Sylvester Stallone making a sequel to Rocky V; he just couldn’t end his story like that. Houston will make the Knicks roster, although they are deep at the shooting guard position, because he will definitely help the younger guys like Robinson, Mardy Collins and Nichols. Houston obviously won’t have a heavy load to carry with the team this time around. I see him getting 10-15 minutes a night, and being someone who will come in for certain situations.
There is also the unfortunate reality of Allan Houston. What if he isn’t the Allan of old? He is a very humble, mature guy, and I believe that he doesn’t want to ride the bench and not see minutes. He understands that this is a business, and team has to do what is best for them. I think it is a great move by the team to give him another shot, because he does deserve it, but if he can’t perform he has to expect to ride the bench.
For the moment, the focus is on getting this team ready for this season. The Knicks have high expectations for this year, and if they don’t reach the postseason there might be major changes made to this roster in the future. But for now, we can debate about Jerome James, Jared Jordan, and Fred Jones vs. Demetrius Nichols. |
