March 2005 New York Knicks Wiretap

Houston Return To Detroit Appears To Be In The Cards

Jun 30, 2005 3:03 PM

The Pistons have a need for another perimeter scorer off the bench and the plan is to fill that need through free agency.

It is likely that several veteran swingmen will become available this summer, as teams exercise a one-time only option to waive a big-salaried veteran from their tax rolls.

Michael Finley, Allan Houston and Jalen Rose are all expected to be released. Finley and Rose will likely be seeking the mid-level exception. Houston, who is older and in questionable health, will be available for the veteran's minimum.

Houston has told friends, by the way, that Detroit is at the top of his list. He played for the Pistons for three seasons starting in 1993-94. His wife is from Farmington Hills, and he is still close with Dumars and Hunter.

Detroit Nes

Tags: Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, NBA

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Knicks Pick Up Option On Sweetney

Jun 30, 2005 1:53 PM

New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Isiah Thomas announced today that forward Michael Sweetney's option for the 2006-07 season has been picked up by the team.

Sweetney, 6-8, 270-pounds, finished his second season with the Knicks during 2004-05 and averaged 8.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in 77 games. Originally drafted as the ninth overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, the 22-year-old Washington, D.C.-native registered career-highs in almost every statistical category from his rookie season in 2003-04.

New York Knicks PR

Tags: New York Knicks, NBA

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Isiah Reveals Some Draft Night War Room Secrets

Jun 29, 2005 5:55 PM

In a WFAN 660 AM Radio Interview at 5:30 PM EST Today, Isiah Thomas revealed some of his Draft Night plans that he was mulling. Thomas started off by ranking his Draft Board Big Men as: Bogut, Frye, and Bynum, adding an interesting note that he tried to acquire the 10th Pick (as well as a few others) on Draft Night.

Also, Thomas mentioned that he gave a very strong consideration to drafting Chris Taft at #30, but instead opted for David Lee because of the better work ethic. He really loved the four Draft Night additions of Richardson, Robinson, Frye, and Lee, feeling that they?re hard workers and will continue New York?s goal of getting younger, bigger, and more dynamic.

As for the coaching search, Thomas leaked that he has three to four other candidates (including Herb Williams) to consider be fore he makes his decision.

WFAN (NY)

Tags: New York Knicks, NBA, NBA NBA Draft

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Finally Official: QRich Dealt To Knicks For K. Thomas

Jun 29, 2005 12:23 AM

The Phoenix Suns solidified their frontline by acquiring 10-year NBA veteran Kurt Thomas from the New York Knicks today in exchange for swingman Quentin Richardson and the draft rights to Nate Robinson, the 21st pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. The Knicks also traded to Phoenix the draft rights to guard/forward Dijon Thompson, the 54th pick.

Last season Thomas averaged 11.5 points, a career-high 10.4 rebounds (T-6th in the NBA), 2.0 assists and shot .471 from the floor in 35.7 minutes. He joined Suns All-Stars Steve Nash and Shawn Marion as one of only nine NBA players who averaged a double-double (and qualified among the league leaders). The 6-9, 235-pound forward/center was tied for third in the NBA with 661 total defensive rebounds, trailing only Minnesota?s Kevin Garnett and Marion, and his 32 double-doubles ranked 12th in the league.

Thomas, originally selected by the Miami Heat with the 10th pick in the 1995 NBA Draft, owns career averages of 10.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 627 games (463 starts) with three teams (Miami, Dallas, New York). He averaged double figures in points in each of the last five seasons, including a career-high 14.0 scoring average in 2002-03, and has ranked in the top 20 in rebounding in each of the last four seasons. The 32-year-old has improved with age, averaging 12.2 points and 8.5 rebounds in 400 games over the last five seasons after averaging 8.2 points and 6.0 rebounds in 227 games in his first five seasons.

A member of the Knicks? 1999 Eastern Conference Championship team, Thomas averaged 13.7 points and 11.3 rebounds on .479 shooting over his last two postseasons in nine games (2001, 2004) and averaged 6.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in 48 career playoff games with Miami and New York.

Suns Press Release

Tags: New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, NBA

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Richardson/Thomas Trade Might Be "Losing Steam"

Jun 28, 2005 6:16 AM

The Suns? proposed trade of Quentin Richardson and a first-round draft pick to New York for Kurt Thomas "is losing steam," an NBA source said Monday night.

The trade is believed to be in trouble because of questions about the insurability of Richardson's contract. Richardson struggled with back problems at times when he played for the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Suns offered Richardson a six-year deal worth $43.5 million last summer, a deal the Clippers declined to match.

Under the proposed terms of the trade, the Suns also would send the Knicks a first-round pick as early as next year.

They would get Thomas, who can play both center and forward. With the Suns, he could either start at center or back up at both positions.

Thomas, who turns 33 in October, averaged a double-double for the first time this season: 11.5 points and 10.4 rebounds.

He has three years and about $22 million left on his contract.

Arizona Tribune

Tags: New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, NBA

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Knicks Believe QRich Trade Will Be Finalized, Despite Insurance Delay

Jun 27, 2005 3:04 AM

After a Friday review of the insurance documents connected to Quentin Richardson's $48 million contract, the Knicks have discovered they are not insured if he sustains a career-ending, back-related injury, The Post has learned from a Western Conference source.

That supposed minor issue involving insurance injury protection has grown into a big one. The Knicks will not take on Richardson's contract unless it's insured. Insurance picks up roughly 75 percent of a contract in the event of a career-ending injury. Richardson missed 17 games in 2003-004 and three this past season with back spasms.

The Knicks are confident the Kurt Thomas-for-Richardson trade will happen, but the lack of contract insurance stands as a potential deal-breaker. One person familiar with the situation said it could take "a week, two weeks, a month" before being resolved.

Problem is, the Suns are not required to make Richardson available for a physical until the deal is consummated. Hence, the Knicks likely have no means of getting insurance on their own.

The trade is not expected to go down before tomorrow's draft at Madison Square Garden, but it does not effect the Knicks' draft strategy. Multiple sources have told The Post the center-starved Knicks will take 6-11 Arizona pivot Channing Frye with the eighth pick if he slips past Utah at No. 6 and Toronto at No. 7. The Knicks believe he will.

NY Post

Tags: New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, NBA

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Babcock Will Be Active On Draft Night

Jun 25, 2005 4:19 PM

Raptors general manager Rob Babcock may be the busiest GM on draft night, as he weighs several trade possibilities.

"We're looking at several high school players," he said. "You have to weigh their talent level now and what they might become ... against someone else. Those are all part of the things you look at."

The most highly touted high school player ? Houston's Gerald Green ? worked out in Toronto yesterday, although the Raptors didn't get a complete look at his skills. On the advice of his agent, the 6-foot-8 guard-forward refused to work out against any other players and planned to do only individual drills.

"You'd rather evaluate him against other guys, but they have their reasons," said Babcock.

One of the more intriguing trade possibilities involves the New York Knicks.

The Knicks covet Arizona centre Channing Frye with the No.8 pick and Frye has refused to even work out for the Raptors and several other teams.

"It doesn't mean we can't take him," Babcock said of the 7-foot Frye. "We've evaluated him a ton."

It opens the possibility that Babcock could take Frye at seven, deal him to New York along with another Raptor or two with bad contracts in return for whoever the Knicks take at No.8 and an expiring contract or two.

"There's a lot of chess match-like stuff you have to look for," said Babcock. "Who's bluffing, who's really thinking what."

Another rumour rumbling around the NBA final was that the Los Angeles Lakers, looking to move up, were offering No.10 and a package of suspect players for No.7 and Jalen Rose.

"We've made some calls, we've received some calls," said Babcock.

The Star

Tags: Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Q-Rich Health Issues Are Slowing Down The Trade

Jun 25, 2005 2:58 PM

The New York Knicks are holding off on the Quinten Richardson/Kurt Thomas trade after the Phoenix Suns failed to furnish insurance papers on Richardson, specifically in regard to a back injury he sustained while playing for the Los Angeles Clippers, a paranoia no doubt coming as a result of the Allan Houston debacle.

The back injury caused Richardson to miss 17 games in the 2003-04 season while with the Clippers.

The Knicks were still waiting for the paperwork as of Friday.  Without the insurance papers in their hands the deal will not go through.

Knicks officials have declined to comment publicly on the proposed deal, and yesterday, Isiah Thomas, the team president, cancelled a scheduled conference call with reporters for a second straight day.

New York Times

Tags: New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, NBA

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Houston May Very Well Be Done In NY, But He Will Not Retire

Jun 25, 2005 2:44 PM

There has been much speculation that the New York Knicks will buy oft-injured shooting guard Allan Houston out of his lofty contract exercising the one-time only provision in the new CBA.  However, according to Houston?s agent, William Strickland, has said the sharpshooter has no intention of retiring.

"Given that amnesty provision, it increases the chances that something could happen," Strickland said over the telephone. "But I do not believe that Allan will retire. He's worked too hard to get back. He still wants to play."

Houston will have to prove himself healthy and if he is successful, he could be a good fit for any team in need of a shooting guard off the bench.

New York Daily News

Tags: Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, NBA

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Ferry Decision Expected Today

Jun 24, 2005 11:17 AM

Now that the San Antonio Spurs' season has drawn to a close, Danny Ferry is expected to give Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert an answer today on whether he'll become the team's next general manager writes Brian Windhorst of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Two people close to Ferry said Thursday that he still wasn't 100 percent sure he would take the job, but was leaning that way.

If Ferry does accept the position, it might increase the chance the team will re-sign center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Ilgauskas and Ferry have been close friends since they were Cavalier teammates. It is also believed coach Mike Brown and LeBron James have told ownership they'd like to see Ilgauskas re-signed.

The Cavaliers were potentially dealt a setback in the free-agent market Thursday, when the Phoenix Suns sent guard Quentin Richardson to the New York Knicks for forward Kurt Thomas.

The move clears the deck for the Suns to match any offers for Joe Johnson, whom the Cavaliers were targeting as a free agent.

In addition, the team had previously been in talks with the Knicks about trading Drew Gooden for Thomas.

According to league insiders, the Cavaliers also have been actively trying to trade swingman Jiri Welsch before next Tuesday's draft, either to acquire a pick or a free up salary-cap space.

Akron Beacon Journal

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, NBA

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The Deal Is Done: Richardson Traded For Thomas

NY Post

NYTimes: Kurt Thomas Learned Of Trade From Site Report

New York Times

Will The New CBA Mean The End Of Houston In New York?

New York Daily News

Quentin Richardson Traded To Knicks For Kurt Thomas

RealGM

Brown Will Interview With The Knicks After Game 7

Beacon-Journal

Laimbeer Acknowledges Possibility Of Coaching Knicks

MSG Network

Allan Houston: ?I?m Making A Lot Of Progress?

New York Daily News

Frye Expects To Be In The Lottery

Yahoo!

Marko Leckis Impresses Knicks

Sporting News

Laimbeer Has A Second Interview With Isiah

ESPN

Isiah Doesn't Expect To Have A Coach In Place Until After Draft

NY Times

Carlesimo Told To Hang Tight

New York Post

Mohammed Has Proved To Be The Spurs X-Factor

Aaron Bronsteter/RealGM