Knicks Training Camp Set to Begin
October 1, 2007 – 10:35 pm 
Well today is media day, which will be followed with the opening of training camp for the Knicks in South Carolina.
There are many questions on Knicks fans minds right about now. What kind of shape will Eddy Curry be in when he shows up for camp? How will Isiah implement the dominant Zach Randolph to compliment–and not get in the way of–Eddy Curry? When will Isiah even get to join the team since he’s still in court and faces possible suspension by the NBA if found guilty of any charges of sexual harrasment?
But the most obvious question going into the 2007 training camp has to be: who is going to get cut from the team? There are about 17 or 18 players going into camp, with only 15 possible spots to keep. Isiah has added Jared Jordan in recent days, that makes two jared’s (Jeffries) and three JJ’s (James) and six SF’s (Chandler, Balkman, Jeffries, Quentin Richardson, Demetris Nichols, Lee) going into camp.
The candidates to be cut/traded include:
Nate Robinson — My money is on Nate being ousted from the team. He improved his play in the summer league, but the essence of Nate is a wild player, and that’s not what Isiah needs coming off the bench in the form of a guard. He ruined Channing Fyre’s career in NY.
Jerome James — Experts agree his size coming off the bench is needed, however his work ethic and desire to compete were basically nonexistant last season. He averaged a fair amount of blocks before coming to the knicks, it seems the only time he raises his hand now, it is to signal to Coach Thomas that he wishes to come out of the game for a breather.
Malik Rose — One of the only knicks with any real playoff experience, a solid post defender, and the only current player with NBA championship rings. He’s aged and may not be the Malik that San Antonio misses, but this team needs a Malik for obvious reasons.
Jared Jordan — Odds are against him to make the team because of the number of guards already on the team. His skill at the NBA level is relatively unproven, though Isiah never fails to spot young talent deep into the draft.
Allan Houston –Probably isn’t going to be with the knicks in South Carolina, but rumors have been swirling that the knicks will offer him a contract to hire him for his shooting ability from years ago.
Mardy Collins–Played great at the end of last year but secretly had surgery on his knee. The acquisition of Jared Jordan may imply that Isiah is still looking for his backup point guard.
Fred Jones–Everyone thinks Isiah will keep Fred because Isiah previously brought Fred into the Pacer organization. Fred is athletic, a good defender and basically a prototype Isiah Thomas player. Chances are good he’ll be a Knick this year.
Demetris Nichols–although Isiah wanted Nichols, he was supposed to be shipped off to Europe this year and become a Knick next year, so who knows what Isiah will do with this talented small forward from Syracuse. He’s got the shooting and defense you’d think would be a perfect fit for the Knicks, yet there does not seem to be any space on the roster to keep him, unless Isiah wants to buyout one of his more expensive mistakes–I mean contracts.
that said, here are the 15 I think should make the cut.
1. Stephon
2. Quentin
3. Jared Jeffries
4. Zach Randolph
5. Eddy Curry
6. Mardy Collins
7. Jamal Crawford
8. Wilson Chandler
9. Renaldo Balkman
10. David Lee
11. Fred Jones
12. Malik Rose
13. Randolph Morris
14. Demetris Nichols
15. Jared Jordan
Sorry to Nate and Jerome James.
9 Responses to “Knicks Training Camp Set to Begin”
Jordan morr valuable than nate? I can’t agree with that. Nate is very valuable in that against certain teams he poses a very difficult matchup. This could be particularly valubale in the playoffs if the matchup is right. I also like Jerome ove Malik just because of big man insurance. You can’t teach 7 feet.
Also starbury, just added you to my newly-formed “Knicks wing” of my blogroll..
By MODI on Oct 9, 2007 at 4:56 am
hey thanks MODI for stopping by and for the add, I will certainly do the same with your famous blog.
I hear you on Nate and Jerome. The roster is a puzzle–only Isiah seems to know how it will all fit. My wish for a pass-first fundamental point guard off the bench to spell Marbury some rest was answered last year with Mardy Collins, but his secret knee surgery had some of us thinking Isiah took Jared Jordan for “insurance,” in case Collins didn’t bounce back.
Nate is a hell of a scorer, and he can bring the ball up, but he has yet to prove he can run an offense and get people involved, because for two years he has been a freelance two guard that is best creating for himself. I can totally see him averaging close to 20 a game if he got more minutes on any team in the league, yet I can’t ever see him averaging 7 assists and 2 steals. I hope I am wrong, because I like Nate, always have.
As for Jerome, yes he is 7′1″ and a big body at close to 300lbs, but his work ethic is the worst and I wouldn’t want him on the plane and in the locker room with Eddy. yes this team needs a backup center, but Jerome has showed me nothing in two years. Might as well ask Herb Williams to go out there and play 4 minutes a game, considering Jerome’s contributions to the team since he came here.
How can Jerome James be insurance when he is rarely ever healthy enough to play?
We need some warriors on this team.
By Starburyfan on Oct 9, 2007 at 5:41 am
“How can Jerome James be insurance when he is rarely ever healthy enough to play?”
You may have a point.
“Might as well ask Herb Williams to go out there and play 4 minutes a game, considering Jerome’s contributions to the team since he came here.”
You may have a point.
By MODI on Oct 9, 2007 at 6:45 am
Star,
Too lazy to make a site–that’s why it will be easier for me to “over it” than a guy like you who wants to see change and then does something about it.
The “medical retirement” is a nice little trick played on the insurance companies by the BIG BAD NBA. Those guys never like to pay out on those million dollar policies–it is a billion dollar industry. When you think about it, all you have to do is sit out 3 years and then have a miraculous “comeback”. The first guy who was going to test it in our modern CBA era is Jayson Williams but then he had that horrible “accident” and killed his chauffeur. AH20 will test it and make it because he’s an H-class player. I did an analysis of the H-class playa at the “wacky world” in the past. Too lazy to dig it up. In short, it describes a guy you and I would want our daughters to marry.
A preview story may be too premature as we’re not sure what IT will do with the roster. We’re just bloggin’ here. The Kobe and Artest to the East stories are Fantasy League scenarios no matter how much DVJ and Peaceman will them.
KFL
By Steady on Oct 9, 2007 at 4:20 pm
Steady,
Was playing around with the timestamp, that’s why your most recent comment is in the middle. sorry about that. But I figured it out so we should be good now going forward.
Thanks again man for hitting up my site, and for letting me know about the timestamp problem. it is a very cool feeling to know it is being read!
My girl wants to go to the Knicks-Israel game on thursday, haven’t decided yet.
I’ll have to find out when open practice is too, that’s always fun, and this year I have a decent camera so I can post here! Should be good times this year, I can tell there was some optimism at the wacky world before they insulted us.
Prediction, this comment will also probably be misplaced because the original post was the wrong time. But for the new posts it should work just fine. SHOULD.
By Starburyfan on Oct 9, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Hey Starburryfan,
Just stoping by for a look see. You know that I always say you tell on yourself by the company you keep. I’ll camp here for a minute as “I get over it”. Now I see why Tman was reluctant to post over there. Don’t ever lose the passion–it keeps us alive.
KFL
By Steady on Oct 9, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Steady,
Thanks for checking out my site, first MODI now you–only two of the best knicks bloggers out there! I’m honored by your presence.
Hey, this is going to be a good season for us. Zach and Eddy, Steph is ready to ball, and Jamal put some muscle on to drive to the basket more often, plus infinite options off the bench.
By Starburyfan on Oct 9, 2007 at 11:43 pm
Starburyfan,
You might want to consider the time-date stamp revision. Maybe you’re using an offshore server? I can certainly relate to that now that I’m back on ET.
You may recall my previous posts at the “wacky world” when I mentioned that Bigs are rare commodities so therefore keeping JJ as an insurance is worth it. Then someone else described it properly that his contract was “sunk” cost–economics for money already spent. I’m just bloggin’ here but I think we may see medical retirement for JJ before he gets shipped West to Portland. I know we owe Portland for Zach but that deal was made more by the billionaires as opposed to the GMs. Further speculation is that ECity may be moved West in a Kobe deal involving the pumped JC you mentioned earlier. You know I don’t covet OTPs. Steady as IT goes.
KFL
By Steady on Oct 10, 2007 at 12:22 am
That would be crazy steady. Kobe, Artest or LeBron, Nike would love for those guys to be in the knicks market. who am I kidding, I would love for those guys to be in the knicks market.
JJ and medical retirement, and then we get AH20 back from medical retirement!? too funny.
the time stamps are off will try to fix it, sorry about that.
you, me, MODI, we should all write preview stories for our knicks and post them. do you have a Knicks website too? let me know I’ll include a link to it here.
By Starburyfan on Oct 10, 2007 at 12:30 am