Knicks · Wojo: Knicks finalizing deal with Clark (page 1)

The New York Knicks are finalizing an agreement with free-agent forward Earl Clark, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

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The Knicks are seeking a defensive presence in Earl Clark. (USA TODAY Sports)
The Knicks also are trying to sign another defensive-minded player before meeting the Miami Heat on Thursday in Miami, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

[Also: Sources: Kings finalizing buyout agreement with Jimmer Fredette ]

After acquiring him in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, Philadelphia released Clark, 26, and he cleared waivers to become a free agent.

The Knicks created two roster openings Monday when they agreed to buyouts with Metta World Peace and Beno Udrih.

Clark, who is 6-foot-10, averaged 5.2 points and 2.8 rebounds for the Cavaliers this season. His best pro season was 2012-13 with the Los Angeles Lakers, when he averaged 7.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, earning him a two-year, $9 million deal with Cleveland during the summer.

Clark was the 14th overall pick by the Phoenix Suns in the 2009 NBA draft .

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View Comments (26)

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--knicks-pursuing-free-agent-forward-201502035-nba.html

Max Marcilla ‏@Max_Marcilla · 3h
#Knicks sign forward Earl Clark.

Good pickup. Hope they signed him with an option for next year.

Now go get Jimmer.

W/e just sign Jimmer Jammer

he is not that good and is going to a place that lacks coaches that teach the game at a high level.

5th team in 4 years....this guy is a keeper especially since the Knicks are so good are bringing along young players.

yellowboy90 wrote:he is not that good and is going to a place that lacks coaches that teach the game at a high level.

He's big, athletic and can jump. He can guard several positions, rebounds and can block shots...and can score some to. Haven't seen him play much but sounds like he doesn't need the ball and will fill up all the stat lines. He cost nothing and could be a good complimentary player to Melo. Am i wrong here?

Dude is only 26 with good size and athletic ability. I watched him play under MDA and he was actually really good for a while there. MDA found a nice role for him. He has more skills than you might think given his lackluster career so far. He's got a good overall feel for the game but just isn't spectacular in any one way. Good role player IMO. He actually should fit well with Melo. We have to think in terms of guys that can play on the floor with Melo. They have to be able to shoot and do the little things. If you haven't watched him play extended minutes it's hard to see any value in him, but seeing him play over the course of a season I can see him being useful. It depends on who the new coach is gonna be. If we stick with Woody i'm not sure we could fully develop him into a solid role player. I see him as an athletic Copeland or Shawne Williams type.

nixluva wrote:Dude is only 26 with good size and athletic ability. I watched him play under MDA and he was actually really good for a while there. MDA found a nice role for him. He has more skills than you might think given his lackluster career so far. He's got a good overall feel for the game but just isn't spectacular in any one way. Good role player IMO. He actually should fit well with Melo. We have to think in terms of guys that can play on the floor with Melo. They have to be able to shoot and do the little things. If you haven't watched him play extended minutes it's hard to see any value in him, but seeing him play over the course of a season I can see him being useful. It depends on who the new coach is gonna be. If we stick with Woody i'm not sure we could fully develop him into a solid role player. I see him as an athletic Copeland or Shawne Williams type.

I like the Cope/Shawne comparison. I haven't watched him as much as you but that was my take as well

We need a SF/PF to compliment Melo
One that can REBOUND, DEFEND multiple positions, SCORE INSIDE OUT especially in any 1v1 scenarios, beat his man off the dribble of his shot is defended in a 1v1 scenario, hit a wide open 3pter, and constantly defend the harder defender with good mobility
This is a steal, if it is the same Earl Clark on the Laker's last year, hopefully Cleveland was just a mess as Deng and others are saying
We need to be able to PUSH THE TEMPO for easy baskets, Earl Clark is a step to it, especially if we can upgrade our PG position

I don't know if he will resign with The Knick's or not however, we haven't had a LEGIT SF since Shawne Williams/Fields, closest was Novak and he is NOT a SF either
With this signing it would make sense for Earl Clark and the Knick's if they believe they can continue to contend, for Clark, he should get plenty of PT to showcase for his next contract

It is part of the reason why our DEF sucks every night, with the lack of DEFENDER's/WEAK DEFENDER's,MISMATCHES, and a Philosophy that is flawed/broken
Doubt we can get a TEAM option on Clark but I would like to see how we play with a LEGIT SF, as MWP is no longer a SF or PF with his lack of physical abilities and lack of speed/mobility/athleticism
I have been saying we were lacking a legit SF, preferably a SF/PF for 2 years now, along with a PG that can stay in front of his man, penetrate/finish and facilitate, and hit a wide open 3pter
This would change a lot of our holes and weakness's if we can address both issues, something that should have been done last season or at least this preseason
MWP was done, I said he was not worth the rest of the MLE as I preferred James Johnson as a vet min player instead, in addition to not using the MLE for Pablo

Great signing by Mills, is he CAA
Hoping he wasn't a fluke when he broke out last season on the Laker's and Dantoni's system
Now with a LEGIT SF, we can at least get an idea if we would be much better with Clark

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/...

For multiple games on the Laker's, when given the opportunity with injuries to Gasol/Howard/Jordan Hill

Earl Clark put up about 10-20pts, 7-14 RB's, 13pt, a pair of both combined steals and blocks, something we can surely use, especially with REBOUNDS/DEF in addition to his size/athleticism/versability

He is someone I think we can use LONG term, beyond this year and 2015, I hope we can someone sign James Johnson for a 2year vet min deal fully guaranteed if needed/partial guaranteed if NOT

Adding a PG that can stay in front of opponents PG's, ability to penetrate/finish, facilitate, and hit a wide open 3pter would do wonders, Bobby Brown would be my target for this year
I don't think he would sign anymore more than a 1year deal to finish the season to showcase himself to his journey back to the NBA

Are they worth using the MLE to keep both players? I am not sure or if we should just use the MLE to upgrade our need of PG with players like

Sessions
Collison
Bayless

Vasquez (RFA)

Mo Williams

Nate Robinson (injury with player option for next season so he likely wouldn't opt out, unless he recovers and a team shows interest with him in a longer term deal than his 2.1m for next season)

For this season, Ben Gordon or Jimmer if we can choose?
The way we play with a spread OFFENSE, with little ball movement, it would make sense to add shooters to spread the floor with Melo, a reason why AB worked well when Tyson Chandler was not in the mix, we played completely different even though JR Smith was far from where he was last season and even right now in the start of this season

We will NOT be a good defensive team, NOT with the team we have right now, however, we can put a lineup that can rebound and score, though there isn't much games left...

Our best shot blocker and defender at PF/C is Kmart, along with his mobility on both OFF and DEF, he also has a connection with Melo for the alley hoop with passes, in addition to his ability to rebound and finish for easy baskets
Chandler is just too a bit older and slower, he is unable to fight for position, and recover on DEF the way Kmart does

I think it's a good move in that we really missed what Cope gave us. Clark is a bit like him only a better rebounder and defender. He's more mobile longer and taller. We should NEVER have let Cope get away, but in the end if we can get something similar out of a younger and more versatile Clark, so be it. Now let's get this PG thing fixed.

I don't see a player option in Cole Alrich, he doesn't get any PT and doesn't seem to be in the long term development plans either
Tyler should be getting more minutes despite the injuries to both AB and Kmart, I think we should just cut Alrich and find another player that can be part of our future plans with TEAM options, even someone like

Players focused on FURTHER DEVELOPMENT with TEAM OPTIONS (that can be part of our future plans or future non guaranteed deals in trades)

Chris Johnson (ex Twolve)
Ivan Johnson
Ike Idougi
Justin Hamilton
Jordan Henriquez

and many other players/positions like

Ebanks

Shawnee Williams, Stephen Jackson, Warrick

or a PG or Combo G like

Ben Gordon/Jimmer

Aldrich's 8 minutes last night - Knicks 11-0 run. You won't see that in the stat line but he was the best defender on the court.

This kind of reminds me of the Isiah years where all players use NY, NYK's, and the media to spur interest in the league

Though Clark would probably get many minutes with our lack of a SF/PF outside of Melo,

IF CLARK can get on Woodson's good side like JR Smith previously did

nice move.. now I hope he plays.. there is finally a knick I can root for this year.. we need to go out and get his college teamate terrance williams.. I mean why not. lets make this one big audition....time to start new..

So he can't shoot the three, score the ball, not a good rebounder, is pretty good on D, but has logged a ton of bad minutes in different stops yet this is a good pick up. I guess you know what you will get but he is not a good player.

yellowboy90 wrote:So he can't shoot the three, score the ball, not a good rebounder, is pretty good on D, but has logged a ton of bad minutes in different stops yet this is a good pick up. I guess you know what you will get but he is not a good player.

Can't really complain considering he is not over 32 years of age or greater, his not on his downhill, and it would be for the VET MIN
I don't know about you but I am sick of watching a SG play SF in addition to all the other mismatches we have

He has not played well this year but who in Cleveland has had a good season so far?
Even Irving had multiple poor games this season and he has ALL STAR/STAR potential
Cleveland has been a mess for majority of the year, if he was playing well, we would not have a shot at him anyway...

Fans are desperate. The Knicks could add Mo Taylor or Michael Sweetney and fans will get giddy. Expectations are at an alltime low