Knicks · ESPN NY: Knicks Could Cut White To Add PG (page 1)

By Jared Zwerling

Earlier this week, Mike Woodson said that he would meet with GM Glen Grunwald after the Knicks' road trip to discuss the roster, which is not only banged up but also hurting for points.

While Amar'e Stoudemire and Rasheed Wallace are out for the rest of the regular season with a right knee debridement and fractured left foot, respectively, the team scored a season-low 63 points in a blowout loss to the Warriors on Monday night.

The Knicks' immediate need is in the frontcourt, but here's the problem: There are no good big men to sign. As one seasoned agent put it, "It's pretty much desolate." The dismal field includes Tony Battie, Josh Boone, Brian Cook, Dan Gadzuric, Troy Murphy, Ben Wallace, Hassan Whiteside and Sean Williams.

The most intriguing free agent is Henry Sims, who was recently released by the Hornets on a 10-day contract after playing for the D-League's Erie BayHawks. But a source close to the Knicks said that if the team released or bought out a player -- possibly James White as Woodson is too committed to Wallace -- they would likely not sign a big. That's especially because the Knicks don't want to spend time this season developing the rookie Sims. They're in veteran mode.

Instead, the source said, the Knicks would be interested in a younger, but experienced, backup point guard. That player would build on Raymond Felton's aggressive play in transition and half-court sets to start games. While Jason Kidd and Pablo Prigioni are wise floor generals, they simply don't have the consistent speed and quickness to get into the paint and make plays.

The Knicks sometimes lack offensive balance from their first to second unit, and without Stoudemire for the long haul, they're going to need more perimeter penetration to create more shot opportunities. Not to mention, Carmelo Anthony's right knee is still bothering him, so his teammates need to make things easier on the Knicks' star. The number of his routine isolation grind-outs must diminish.

The source said that point guard Delonte West makes the most sense for the Knicks. Also available is Sundiata Gaines, 26, who averaged 5.1 points, 2.2 assists and one steal in 14 minutes per game last season for the Nets, but he's not regarded as highly in NBA circles. Another option could've been Jannero Pargo, but he's signing a 10-day deal with the Bobcats.

The 29-year-old West would be the best option at the one spot. Averaging 9.7 points, 3.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game in his eight-year career, he can score and dish off pick-and-rolls, blow by defenders in the open court and finish, shoot from the outside and swarm his man all over the floor.

West has been absent from the league this season after getting suspended by the Mavericks in October for "conduct detrimental to the team." Since then, he had been acquired by a D-League team, but didn't play in any games. But the Knicks could present an easy adjustment for West who would be surrounded by comforting vets, and he knows Kidd well from Dallas last season. In fact, when West would play backup point, Kidd would occasionally be his running mate, knocking down 3-pointers.

Could that two-man lineup carry over well to the Knicks?

nyk4ever wrote:those who were clamoring for delonte west might get their wish...

I'm one of them. Too bad he wouldn't be playoff eligible though, right?

sealy wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:those who were clamoring for delonte west might get their wish...

I'm one of them. Too bad he wouldn't be playoff eligible though, right?

too bad indeed however this is kind of like looking for someone to take home at 1:45am

nyk4ever wrote:those who were clamoring for delonte west might get their wish...

No.

Just.... no.

While West probably have the better 3point shot and is a small combo guard *for SG* that doesn't have much ability to penetrate/facilitate
He was a pretty good defender though, just hope he stayed in shape, vs Pargo playing in and out this season *probably in much better shape*

not making the playoffs is a real possibility at this point with Chandler and Melo added to the injuries...

With all these injuries, especially after Chandler's injury, I do not understand why Camby shouldn't be playing 20-30minutes per game

SupremeCommander wrote:

sealy wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:those who were clamoring for delonte west might get their wish...

I'm one of them. Too bad he wouldn't be playoff eligible though, right?

too bad indeed however this is kind of like looking for someone to take home at 1:45am

I've had a few memorable nights start off that way Supreme. Delonte is a legit NBA player...the fact that teams continue to take chances on him is a testament to his talent. If someone told me they were trading White for West earlier in the season, I'f be all for the move. But make no mistake. West is crazy.

BigDaddyG wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:

sealy wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:those who were clamoring for delonte west might get their wish...

I'm one of them. Too bad he wouldn't be playoff eligible though, right?

too bad indeed however this is kind of like looking for someone to take home at 1:45am

I've had a few memorable nights start off that way Supreme. Delonte is a legit NBA player...the fact that teams continue to take chances on him is a testament to his talent. If someone told me they were trading White for West earlier in the season, I'f be all for the move. But make no mistake. West is crazy.

he certainly is nuts - but he also boned LeBron's mom and I like having that ace up the sleeve should this team make it to the ECF

just for the record, I think he's the best available at 1:45am. If this were the offseason I'd like the team to look elsewhere. B ut it ain't and I'm willing to take a flyer on the dude

yellowboy90 wrote:I believe any player that was cut by a team before March 3 is eligible. So Delonte would be playoff ready.

I think you are correct.

As for Pargo- didn't be get s***y with us in that game we played vs the hawks at the end of last season?

smackeddog wrote:Problem is we need help at every position- Amar'e is out, Melo is injured, who knows what's going on with Tysons knee, Camby hasn't played in 2 games and Sheed is out. It's tough to figure out what we need to do.

As for Pargo- didn't be get s***y with us in that game we played vs the hawks at the end of last season?

Prigs and kidd are a nightmare against speedy pgs and bigger sg.

I would rather go younger since who ever they sign won't see much PT

NOBODY DOES BUSINESS LIKE WE DO BUSINESS!

Just goes to show how bad Felton is....

3G4G wrote:So we're looking to add Crazy to Craziness....

NOBODY DOES BUSINESS LIKE WE DO BUSINESS!

Just goes to show how bad Felton is....

I don't like people describing people with a diagnosis of bipolar as 'crazy'- there's a lot of stigmatisation around mental health and I don't think you understand how you contribute to that with that kind of language.

smackeddog wrote:

3G4G wrote:So we're looking to add Crazy to Craziness....

NOBODY DOES BUSINESS LIKE WE DO BUSINESS!

Just goes to show how bad Felton is....

I don't like people describing people with a diagnosis of bipolar as 'crazy'- there's a lot of stigmatisation around mental health and I don't think you understand how you contribute to that with that kind of language.

I'm not making fun of Delonte what I'm saying is he has a condition that's sensitive and adding it to our already chaotic environment plus the city in general is probably not a good mix.

I like Delonte's skillset but I do not like how unstable he is and the fact the reason he was dismissed from the Maevricks, because he was talking crazy things in the locker room against/to players and those within the organization.

But that's how we work, we want everyone else's failed projects or problem situations.... thinking when they come here everything will be all copasetic

So you can get off your good foot now

RonRon wrote:I think Jannero Pargo fits in much better with what Woody is doing
Pargo signed a 10day deal with Bobcats for the injured Sessions

While West probably have the better 3point shot and is a small combo guard *for SG* that doesn't have much ability to penetrate/facilitate
He was a pretty good defender though, just hope he stayed in shape, vs Pargo playing in and out this season *probably in much better shape*

not making the playoffs is a real possibility at this point with Chandler and Melo added to the injuries...

Andrew wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:I believe any player that was cut by a team before March 3 is eligible. So Delonte would be playoff ready.

I think you are correct.