Knicks · Knicks will sign JR Smith and cut Balkman (page 3)

Ira wrote:Confirmation

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/New-York-Knicks-close-to-signing-JR-Smith-021612

The Knicks will officially add free-agent shooting guard J.R. Smith to Linsanity on Friday, making the hottest team in the NBA a deep team as well.

According to multiple sources, Smith, who played in China during the lockout and became eligible to sign an NBA deal on Wednesday, will be at the Garden on Friday night but won't make his debut until Sunday against the Mavericks.

The Knicks have to cut a player to make room for Smith and Renaldo Balkman, who has been out of the rotation since early January, is the expected candidate, according to a source.

Coach Mike D'Antoni was never a big fan of Balkman, a throw-in to the trade with the Nuggets for Carmelo Anthony. Balkman has one remaining year at $1.8 million and could have been an amnesty casualty if the Knicks were still going for 2012 cap space

Ironically, if Smith had been eligible to be signed two weeks ago, the Knicks probably would have cut Jeremy Lin for financial reasons because his contract wasn't guaranteed and he hadn't convinced D'Antoni he belonged in the mix.

The Knicks pursued Smith for a couple of weeks, and D'Antoni said they would be "very aggressive" in offering their $2.5 million cap room exception on him as they were looking to add his 3-point shooting ability.

Even their seven-game win streak and perfect chemistry created by the stunning emergence of Lin didn't sway the Knicks from going after Smith.

Smith, a former star at St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, can be an explosive scorer and deepens the Knicks' backcourt depth, especially if point guard Baron Davis never makes it back. Landry Fields is red hot and not in danger of losing his starting shooting guard slot.

that's not confirmation. that's Berman's Post article repackaged for FoxSports.com (same company -- NewsCorp.). Notice the "NewsCore" at the top of the article. That's basically NewsCorp.'s own wire service, where all the various NewsCorp. products can share their stories with each other.

nyk4ever wrote:

DurzoBlint wrote:

martin wrote:

rp wrote:I don't really think Davis is coming back if they let go of Balkman over Bibby.

Bibby kept in case Lin gets hurt. Or Davis.

Balk worthless.

Balkman is not worthless. Are you die hard enough to have watched EVERY GAME. If you are, then you know that when Balk was getting play earlier in the season, he performed well, rebounded, defended and had a few put backs. He's definitely more productive than Bibby who has shown that A: He is no longer a viable ball handle. B: He can't hit the broadside of a barn anymore.

You cut the least valuable player on the team and Balk has proven when giving playing time that he will be the more productive of the two.

NOW, with that said, I believe Balk will be the one cut

him and andrew are die hard enough to pay for, run, and constantly work on this site. nuff said.

your point is ass off point as the one your defending. He made an incorrect statement and what are you, his bodyguard.

DurzoBlint wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:

DurzoBlint wrote:

martin wrote:

rp wrote:I don't really think Davis is coming back if they let go of Balkman over Bibby.

Bibby kept in case Lin gets hurt. Or Davis.

Balk worthless.

Balkman is not worthless. Are you die hard enough to have watched EVERY GAME. If you are, then you know that when Balk was getting play earlier in the season, he performed well, rebounded, defended and had a few put backs. He's definitely more productive than Bibby who has shown that A: He is no longer a viable ball handle. B: He can't hit the broadside of a barn anymore.

You cut the least valuable player on the team and Balk has proven when giving playing time that he will be the more productive of the two.

NOW, with that said, I believe Balk will be the one cut

him and andrew are die hard enough to pay for, run, and constantly work on this site. nuff said.

your point is ass off point as the one your defending. He made an incorrect statement and what are you, his bodyguard.

Join the Balkman fan club if you would like. Bibby is worth keeping if one of Lin/Davis gets hurt.

What role does Balkman have? He hasn't been productive for a team since NIIT.

Bibby and Balkman don't play the same role on team, so there is no direct comparison for them.

Allanfan20 wrote:Careless move but if this doesn't kill Shumps and Fields minutes, then I am OK with this. I can see more coach fighting happening if Smith shows a lack of effort on defense and Novak starts playing.

The best players should get the most minutes. In defensive situation (end of closer games) we will see Shump for sure. We just have to see how things work out. I think Walkers minutes will be mostly gone. They did try trading him instead of cutting Balkman.

ONly his contract kept him here.

Give Dolan credit, its not a lot of money but Balky will still count on our cap next year even if bought out.

earthmansurfer wrote:

Allanfan20 wrote:Careless move but if this doesn't kill Shumps and Fields minutes, then I am OK with this. I can see more coach fighting happening if Smith shows a lack of effort on defense and Novak starts playing.

The best players should get the most minutes. In defensive situation (end of closer games) we will see Shump for sure. We just have to see how things work out. I think Walkers minutes will be mostly gone. They did try trading him instead of cutting Balkman.

Really hope you're right about Shump playing at the end of the game and I hope JR shows some maturity to understand the situation. I wonder if we could see all 3 on the floor at once when Lin and Melo are on the bench 1. Shump 2. JR 3. Fields. MDA does like to go small

I'm OK w/ Balkman getting cut because as bad as Bibby is, he can handle limited minutes without hurting the team like TD has done all season.

At least Bibby gives it his all. He may have nothing left but he leaves it on the court. I am happy we cut Balk instead of Bibby. Bibby is a better leader and better vet and has winning experience.

earthmansurfer wrote:

Bibby does add some stability but so did our old PG who in now on Orlando, can't say his name without feeling sharp pain go through my body. His name rhymed with Doo Doo.

If Davis is not coming back I wouldn't mind Duhon or Anthony Carter

Erniecat wrote:
But I'd rather have "too much" depth than not enough depth, especially in a crazy condensed season like this.

yes its all on how the coach juggles the minutes. The top teams in the east philly, atl, indiana all have depth and not multiple superstars. We now have depth and superstars which puts us right there with miami, chicago if not ahead come playoff time

martin wrote:

DurzoBlint wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:

DurzoBlint wrote:

martin wrote:

rp wrote:I don't really think Davis is coming back if they let go of Balkman over Bibby.

Bibby kept in case Lin gets hurt. Or Davis.

Balk worthless.

Balkman is not worthless. Are you die hard enough to have watched EVERY GAME. If you are, then you know that when Balk was getting play earlier in the season, he performed well, rebounded, defended and had a few put backs. He's definitely more productive than Bibby who has shown that A: He is no longer a viable ball handle. B: He can't hit the broadside of a barn anymore.

You cut the least valuable player on the team and Balk has proven when giving playing time that he will be the more productive of the two.

NOW, with that said, I believe Balk will be the one cut

him and andrew are die hard enough to pay for, run, and constantly work on this site. nuff said.

your point is ass off point as the one your defending. He made an incorrect statement and what are you, his bodyguard.

Join the Balkman fan club if you would like. Bibby is worth keeping if one of Lin/Davis gets hurt.

What role does Balkman have? He hasn't been productive for a team since NIIT.

Bibby and Balkman don't play the same role on team, so there is no direct comparison for them.

WOW, Your memory is short. He was getting PT earlier this season and produced. Bibby produced in like one game....ALSO, if you read the entire post, I said I expected BALKMAN to be the one cut. I only disagreed with your assessment of him being garbage. I even put the smiley face on it so, you and the body guard need to relax.

DurzoBlint wrote:just imagine when teams try to zone us. Put smith/novak on one side and Melo on the other and let Lin bust the shyt out of that zone.

Word. And if Fields can start hitting that corner 3 at anything approaching respectable...

subzero0 wrote:...if you dont believe me just look at what DeMarcus Cousins did to the Kings.

What did Cousins do to the Kings? They haven't been good in years.

DurzoBlint wrote:

martin wrote:

rp wrote:I don't really think Davis is coming back if they let go of Balkman over Bibby.

Bibby kept in case Lin gets hurt. Or Davis.

Balk worthless.

Balkman is not worthless. Are you die hard enough to have watched EVERY GAME. If you are, then you know that when Balk was getting play earlier in the season, he performed well, rebounded, defended and had a few put backs. He's definitely more productive than Bibby who has shown that A: He is no longer a viable ball handle. B: He can't hit the broadside of a barn anymore.

You cut the least valuable player on the team and Balk has proven when giving playing time that he will be the more productive of the two.

NOW, with that said, I believe Balk will be the one cut

I will never forgive Balkman for what he did to my gamepicker last game...GOOD RIDDANCE!!

GodSaveTheKnicks wrote:

DurzoBlint wrote:just imagine when teams try to zone us. Put smith/novak on one side and Melo on the other and let Lin bust the shyt out of that zone.

Word. And if Fields can start hitting that corner 3 at anything approaching respectable...

I am so, so happy for Fields. The guy could have hung his head and sulked but, he showed real pride, continued to work and now other teams covet him.

Allanfan20 wrote:Durzo, Balkman made good plays and there were other times when he played with his head up his ars, such as when he fouled Kobe while he took a 3 from 35 feet away from the basket. The guy looked disinterested out there a lot of times.

At least Bibby gives it his all. He may have nothing left but he leaves it on the court. I am happy we cut Balk instead of Bibby. Bibby is a better leader and better vet and has winning experience.

there is truth to that, it's that that even though Bibby gives his all, nothing from nothing still leaves nothing :) I have grown to hate seeing Bibby taking up space.

I do agree with Martin saying we do need the extra ball handling and guard insurance. Who is Balk insuring since he's not even backing up Melo as he did earlier this season.