Knicks Blog

Knicks Blog

Knicks scheduled to open renovated Garden vs. Heat

July 19, 2011 , ι By MARC BERMAN

LeBron James may get a chance to open the renovated Garden after all. The Knicks' season opener is slated for Nov. 2 vs. the Heat at the Garden, though there's a strong chance it will be wiped out by... Read on

LeBron James may get a chance to open the renovated Garden after all.
	 
The Knicks' season opener is slated for Nov. 2 vs. the Heat at the Garden, though there's a strong chance it will be wiped out by the NBA lockout, delaying the unveiling of the spanking-new lower bowl. If it comes off, James will get his first try at trying to erase the stench from his Finals disaster. The Heat are not scheduled to return to the Garden until Apr. 15 -- their second to last home game of the season.
	 
Another notable matchup is the defending champion Mavericks coming to town on Feb. 19 for a 1 p.m. game. The official schedule came out at 2:15 p.m. Tuesday but it is more a paper schedule than a realistic one.
	 The Post reported TuesdayCarmelo Anthony's first return trip to Denver is in jeopardy.
	 
The Knicks play in Denver Nov. 16 and at the Lakers at the Staples Center on Nov. 17 as part of a five-team, seven-day early season trip. Another marquee game is Christmas Day's Boston battle in a rematch of the Knicks' first-round playoff loss.
	 
The lockout began on July 1. The 50-game season of 1999 included six interconference matches.
	 
FULL SCHEDULE
	 
Nov. 2 vs. Miami, 8 p.m.
	 
Nov. 5 at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
	 
Nov. 6 at Detroit, 7 p.m.
	 
Nov. 8 vs. Oklahom City, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Nov. 9 at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Nov. 12 vs. Indiana, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Nov. 14 at Utah, 9 p.m.
	 
Nov. 16 at Denver, 10:30 p.m.
	 
Nov. 17 at Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
	 
Nov. 20 at Phoenix, 8 p.m.
	 
Nov. 21 at Sacramento, 10 p.m.
	 
Nov. 25 at Nets, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Nov. 26 at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
	 
Nov. 28 vs. Washington, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Nov. 30 vs. Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Dec. 2 vs. Milwaukee, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Dec. 4 at Toronto, 1 p.m.
	 
Dec. 7 vs. San Antonio, 7 p.m.
	 
Dec. 9 at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Dec. 10 vs. Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Dec. 12 vs. Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Dec. 13 at Indiana, 7 p.m.
	 
Dec. 15 vs. Philadelphia 7 p.m.
	 
Dec. 17 vs. Clippers, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Dec. 19 vs. Memphia, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Dec. 21 vs. Utah, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Dec. 22 at Boston, 8 p.m.
	 
Dec. 25 vs. Boston, Noon
	 
Dec. 28 at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
	 
Dec. 29 at Portland, 10 p.m.
	 
Dec. 31, at Clippers, 3:30 p.m.
	 
Jan. 2 vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Jan. 4. vs. Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Jan. 6 at Washington, 7 p.m.
	 
Jan. 7 at Nets, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Jan. 9 vs. Houston, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Jan. 12 at Memphia, 8 p.m.
	 
Jan. 13 at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.
	 
Jan. 16 vs. Sacramento, 1 p.m.
	 
Jan. 18 vs. Phoenix, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Jan. 21 vs. Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Jan. 23 vs. Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Jan 24 at Charlotte, 7 p.m.
	 
Jan. 27 at Miami, 8 p.m.
	 
Jan. 28 at Houston, 8 p.m.
	 
Jan. 31 vs. Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Feb. 2 vs. Chicago, 8 p.m.
	 
Feb. 4 vs. Nets, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Feb. 6 vs. Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
	 
Feb. 8 at Washington, 7 p.m.
	 
Feb. 10 vs. Lakers, 8 p.m.
	 
Feb. 11 at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
	 
Feb. 15 at Indiana, 7 p.m.
	 
Feb. 17 vs. New Orleans, 8 p.m.
	 
Feb. 19 vs. Dallas, 1 p.m.
	 
Feb. 22 at Charlotte, 7 p.m.
	 
Feb. 23 at Miami, 8 p.m.
	 
Feb. 29 vs. Golden State, 7:30 p.m.
	 
March 2 at Toronto, 7 p.m.
	 
March 4 at Boston, 1 p.m.
	 
March 6 at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
	 
March 7 at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
	 
March 11 vs. Philadelphia, Noon
	 
March 12 at Chicago, 8 p.m.
	 
March 14 vs. Portland, 7:30 p.m.
	 
March 16 vs. Nets, 7:30 p.m.
	 
March 20 vs Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
	 
March 21 at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
	 
March 24 vs. Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
	 
March 26 vs. Milwaukee, 7:30 p.m.
	 
March 28 vs. Denver, 7:30 p.m.
	 
March 30 at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
	 
March 31 vs. Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
	 
April 4 at New Orleans, 8 p.m.
	 
April 5 at Orlando, 7 p.m.
	 
April 8 vs. Chicago, 1 p.m.
	 
April 10 at Chicago, 9:30 p.m.
	 
April 11 at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.
	 
April 13 vs. Washington, 7:30 p.m.
	 
April 15 vs. Miami, 1 p.m.
	 
April 17 vs. Boston, 8 p.m.
	 
April 18 at Cleveland, 8 p.m.

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Amar'e, Knicks players not allowed at owner's July 4 bash

July 06, 2011 , ι By MARC BERMAN

Amar’e Stoudemire wasn’t permitted to attend James Dolan’s July 4th extravaganza at the Knicks owner’s North Shore home. None of the Knicks players could attend because of lockout rules preventing... Read on

Amar’e Stoudemire wasn’t permitted to attend James Dolan’s July 4th extravaganza at the Knicks owner’s North Shore home.
	 
None of the Knicks players could attend because of lockout rules preventing Knicks ownership, management, coaches and PR staff from talking to their players.
	 
Stoudemire was one of the guests of honor last July 4th at the Dolan-fest, along with Ringo Starr, harkening back to that frantic period when Dolan was courting Stoudemire to pair with LeBron James.
	 
Tuesday marked the one-year anniversary of Stoudemire agreeing to terms and made his famous proclamation at an impromptu press gathering by the Garden: “The Knicks are back.’’
	 
It was a bold, brassy statement, especially with the sense James wasn’t heavily considering New York. But Stoudemire made it happen anyway. His signing prompted Carmelo Anthony to clamor for his exit from the Nuggets, suddenly wanting to return to his Brooklyn roots and getting his wish in a trade-deadline deal. And it prompted the Chris Paul toast at Anthony’s wedding about a union of all three. It’s still in play for 2012 with the Hornets point guard set to become a free agent after next season.
	 
No, the Knicks didn’t win a playoff game this spring, swept by the Celtics, mostly because of Stoudemire’s freak back injury. But Stoudemire truly backed up the boast. He’s in Las Vegas with his family now, vacationing during the lockout. He can look back proudly on his year and his boast.
	 
*
	 
As we reported Wednesday, the Knicks finally did not have to pay a luxury tax this July after being one of the tax-paying leaders for many years. The Players Association and league are finishing up the final audit this week. The Knicks’ payroll finished 2010-11 at $67 million — $9M over the cap mostly due to the Carmelo trade. But they fell $3 million lower than the luxury-tax threshold. What did it get president Donnie Walsh for saving Dolan all that tax money while getting the Knicks in the playoffs? It surely didn’t get Walsh his final $5 million option year in which Dolan could have exercised last spring instead of trying to negotiate an awkward extension. Dolan didn’t want Walsh to have the full $5 million during a lockout season. After all the money Walsh saved Dolan with his responsible payroll cuts, Walsh deserved a $5 million bonus.

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Calipari's Kentucky extension won't stop Knicks rumors

June 28, 2011 , ι By MARC BERMAN

As long as powerful agency CAA still thinks it runs the Knicks, John Calipari will be linked to the team as their president/coach for 2012.Monday’s announcement of Calipari and Kentucky agreeing to... Read on

As long as powerful agency CAA still thinks it runs the Knicks, John Calipari will be linked to the team as their president/coach for 2012.
	 
Monday’s announcementof Calipari and Kentucky agreeing to an eight-year “contract extension’’ does nothing to quell his desire to return to the NBA.
	 
Though Calipari told confidants he would go to the NBA only in a dual role as president/coach, it would be unlikely Knicks owner James Dolan would consider him for both positions. However, it is not inconceivable for Calipari to be considered as head coach once Mike D’Antoni’s contract is up after next season, especially with CAA’s Mark Warkentien helping call the shots and CAA's Chris Paul on the Knicks' 2012 point guard radar. Warkentien was instrumental in the Knicks picking Kentucky center Josh Harrellson in the second round of last week’s NBA Draft.
	 
Kentucky did not hold a separate press conference to announce Calipari’s extension. Calipari gave his 7-minute allotted slot on the SEC conference call instead before it got cut off prematurely.
	 
The most telling line during his abbreviated call was this one:
	 
“Obviously there’s buyouts and all that kind of stuff in there,’’ Calipari said.
	 
Late in his scheduled segment, a reporter asked if this extension gives high school recruits confidence he will be around a long time. There was no response.
	 
Calipari apparently was cut off from the call, according to the moderator. He never called back, with the SEC moderator saying they would move on to the next coach.
	 
Before Calipari got cut off, the 52-year old said, “I’m not going to be coaching into my 70s. I will not have a won-loss record on my tombstone.’’
	 
Will he be coaching Kentucky when he’s 60, when the contract ends? Don’t bet on it. The time is just about now to make the switch to the NBA. His time as head coach of the Nets in the late '90s should be a distant memory by now. It is almost time for him to get another shot.

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Shumpert 'all smiles' after Knicks' pick

June 24, 2011 , ι By MARC BERMAN

Iman Shumpert, the Knicks' burly new point guard out of Georgia Tech, said he was privately wishing the club would take him with the 17th pick in Thursday's NBA Draft, but kept it a secret.
	 
Shumpert flew in from Chicago on Friday morning to meet the New York media after the Knicks granted him his wish, selecting him over Florida State's Chris Singleton.
	 
Unlike Singleton, who was selected next by Washington at 19, Shumpert was not invited to the green room at Prudential Center.
	 
“I’m all smiles,’’ Shumpert said at the Knicks practice facility. “This can’t be life. This can’t be real.
	 
“I wanted New York to pick me,’’ Shumpert added, positively beaming. “I wanted New York to take me at 17. I didn’t want to tell anybody. I didn’t want it not to happen. I was quiet about it, but I wanted to come here.’’
	 
Asked why New York, Shumpert said, “The coach, the history, the city. Being able to learn from those veteran guys in Chauncey (Billups), (Amar'e) Stoudemire and Carmelo (anthony). That opportunity doesn’t come every day.’’
	 
Though defense is Shumpert's forte, his Westchester workout in early June allayed fears with the Knicks that he was not a good perimeter shooter. However, he shot 27 percent from 3-point range in college and scouts say he tended to be inconsistent.
	 
“I feel I can shoot,’’ Shumpert said. “I don’t see it as a weakness. I don’t think people are going to play off me. Do I have to shoot it better? Of course. But I can shoot from different spots on the floor.’’
	 
Shumpert said he felt his workout was most noteworthy because of the connection he felt he had with coach Mike D’Antoni.
	 
D’Antoni said he feels Shumpert’s versatility at 6-5 was most important, able to play point guard, shooting guard alongside starter Billups or Toney Douglas, and in a three-guard tandem with Landry Fields and Billups.
	 
“His best qualities is defensively and his athleticism,’’ D’Antoni said of Shumpert. “But there are a lot of great things about him. His workout was one of the best we’ve ever had here. And we’ve been drafting high.’’
	 
The Knicks allowed 107 points per game and Donnie Walsh wanted to add a defensive player before stepping down as president July 1.
	 
Shumpert said he developed his defensive mentality because of his two older brothers.
	 
“If I was going to play with my brothers and play on their team in a pickup game ... I can’t be getting scored on or I can’t play because I was the young guy,’’ Shumpert said. “It was something I developed: a pride of not getting scored on.’’
	 
The Knicks also selected Kentucky 6-10 center Josh Harrellson after buying the 45th pick in the second round.

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Knicks' Stoudemire still bothered by back

June 15, 2011 , ι By MARC BERMAN

Nearly two months since he pulled his back muscle during the Knicks’ first-round ouster by the Celtics, Amar’e Stoudemire said he still hasn’t recovered 100 percent and is still doing rehab.
	 
That showed the depth of the injury in which Stoudemire tried to play through during Games 3 and 4 during which he was severely limited and the Knicks were swept – the only club not to win a playoff game who advanced to the postseason.
	 
“It’s still a little sore,’’ Stoudemire said during a promotional appearance for Excedrin at Chelsea Piers. “ But it’s definitely getting better. I’ve been working out, getting rehab on the back. It’s getting stronger.’
	 
“It’s still pretty tight with certain movements. It was serious. It’s a sprained muscle and it takes a while to get its motion back.’’
	 
Stoudemire pulled his back during warm-ups before Game 2 in Boston, attempting a trick dunk. He labored through the first half, sat out the second half. He played with limited motion in the final two games. A person close to Stoudemire said he should have sat out Game 4 with the club down 0-3 considering his condition.
	 
Asked if he would’ve played in Round 2 if the Knicks survived, Stoudemire said, “I would’ve played. Probably wouldn’t have been smart.’’
	 
Stoudemire was happy to see Dallas finally win it all over Miami but a little bittersweet, wondering what would have happened if he remained with the Suns. Phoenix made it to the Western Conference Finals his final season in Phoenix, losing to the eventual champion Lakers.
	 
“I figured all the teams we battled with in Phoenix all won championships except us,’’ said Stoudemire, who signed with the Knicks last July. “If we stayed together one more year it might have happened. We played all those teams every year in the playoffs, Dallas, the Spurs, Lakers. Each of those teams won a championship. But we’re in the East Coast now in New York and now it’s our turn.’’
	 
On Donnie Walsh stepping down as president June 30, Stoudemire said he will still keep in touch with him when he is a consultant for the team.
	 
Thursday, Stoudemire will be honored as Father of the Year in advance of Father’s Day. Stoudemire, who has a place in Miami Beach, did not attend The Finals, spending time with his kids Phoenix and LA.

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Marbury doesn't blame Walsh for splitting with Knicks

June 15, 2011 , ι By MARC BERMAN

Stephon Marbury wasn't surprised Knicks president Donnie Walsh is stepping down June 30th because he didn't feel he'd have full autonomy of basketball operations thanks to owner James Dolan's omnipresence.
	 
"It's always been like that, since I was there,'' Marbury told me Tuesday as we sat together on a flight from Miami to JFK.
	 
Marbury said his buyout in Walsh's first season after coach Mike D'Antoni exiled him in November would've been done immediately if Walsh was in full control. Instead, Marbury said, Dolan dragged it out until February, with Walsh powerless, allowing the dark Marbury cloud to hang over the Knicks' heads for months.
	 
Now Dolan will look for a new president. Glen Grunwald will be interim and could keep the position during the expected lockout season.
	 
"If Isiah Thomas could be president, anybody can do it,'' Marbury quipped.
	 
Marbury was in Miami for The Finals, taking his basketball-crazy, 6-year-old son, Stephon Jr. to a couple of games. He saw Thomas, coaching FIU, in the trendy Miami restaurant, Prime 112. They did not acknowledge each other. He will never forget that plane ride to Phoenix when Thomas, five games (2-3) into the season, told him the franchise was moving on without him and Mardy Collins was their new floor leader.
	 
Heat president Pat Riley phoned Marbury twice last summer to see if he was interested in joining his Big 3 as he scoured for of a point guard. It didn't work out. The Heat never found the PG it needed, with Mike Bibby a DNP in desperation Game 6.
	 
The Heat's offseason priority is adding a PG or two. Marbury is 34, a few months younger than his buddy Knicks guard Chauncey Billups. But Marbury still is not interested in playing in the NBA for the minimum salary the Heat can offer. Marbury has it going well in China, marketing his Starbury brand, and will return for a third season.
	 
"But they do need a point guard,'' Marbury said.
	 
Marbury said LeBron James' struggles in The Finals stem from him being a quasi-PG and not being able to run on the wing on the fastbreak. Marbury said James is not getting the ball in dangerous positions because he has to handle it so much. Marbury also believes what separates Kobe Bryant from James is upbringing. Bryant was brought up in an NBA environment with former NBA player Joe Bryant as his father, setting a foundation and structure.
	 
Marbury said though James is the most skilled, physically talented player than anyone in NBA history, he had an inconsistent childhood - as James cites in his autobiography - sometimes living in other families' homes in Akron because his young mother couldn't always take care of him. As a result, Marbury believes Bryant is more mentally tough than James.
	 
As for Dallas, Marbury was excited for Jason Kidd, his once-rival.
	 
"I was very happy for Jason Kidd,'' Marbury said. "He deserves it. He can now go out as a champion.''
	 
Marbury said he predicted the expected lockout three years ago. He sees a lot of the 2011 free agents heading overseas, some to China.
	 
"I'm so glad I'm in China right now,'' Marbury said. "It's going to be a long lockout.''

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Hofstra's Jenkins confident after Knicks workout

June 09, 2011 , ι By MARC BERMAN

Hofstra’s Charles Jenkins went toe to toe with Georgia Tech’s Iman Shumpert on Thursday at the Knicks practice facility in a battle of two big, physical point guards who come from completely disparate college programs.
	 
The Knicks, who are eager to add a point guard to the roster in an NBA Draft weak on centers, may have to decide on June 23 which one is better, the prospect from the ACC or the kid out of Queens and the modest Colonial Athletic Conference.
	 
“It went pretty good,’’ said Jenkins, who clearly seemed in an upbeat mood. “It’s good to get in front of some coaches and show I can play. I’m always doubted because of the conference I play in. Me playing against top guys, it’s good . I go to a school that flew under the radar. To go out and compete against top guys, I definitely want to show I can.”
	 
VIDEO: JENKINS ON DRAFT
	 
Jenkins, out of Springfield Gardens, is projected as a late first-round/early second-round pick. The Knicks select No. 17.
	 
Jenkins is a rugged 6-3½, 215 pounds with a well-defined muscles on his arms. He compared himself to Detroit guard Rodney Stuckey, one of the bigger point guards in the NBA.
	 
Jenkins is one of three players who’ve won the Haggerty Award three straight years as the best metropolitan player. Scouts call him a throwback point guard, though he had to score at Hofstra, where he averaged 22.6 ppg his senior season.
	 
Jenkins would be the first New York City point guard drafted in the NBA since Sebastian Telfair. It’s been a significant drought.
	 
“Being the hometown kid, it definitely would be a dream come true, and just having the opportunity to be here is special,’’ Jenkins said.
	 
With Chauncey Billups turning 35 and his health being an issue, and Toney Douglas considered more of a two-guard, the Knicks have focused on point guards -- and shooting guards -- in the Draft. Jenkins and Shumpert, who is 6-6, are similar in their size and strength. Shumpert is the better defender, Jenkins is the better playmaker.
	 
“You got a lot of good scorers (on the Knicks),’’ Jenkins said. “For me it would be a great opportunity for me to show my ability to pass and make plays.’’
	 
Jenkins talked Thursday about the well-publicized shooting death of his brother in 2001 and his NBA goal is partly to financially support his 11-year-old niece.
	 
“Every time I step on the court I have always thought of her,’’ Jenkins said. “The thought of her not eating is definitely motivation in my mind.’’
	 
Jenkins acknowledged Shumpert, who's considered in a slightly higher draft range than Jenkins, gave him a good battle in Thursday’s scrimmage that was closed to the media.
	 
“My advantage is my size,’’ Jenkins said. “I never have a problem getting shots off. It made it tougher for me to shoot. I did a great job of not only shooting the ball but getting teammates involved. ‘’

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Knicks put Houston in charge of new D-League team

June 08, 2011 , ι By MARC BERMAN

Allan Houston is about to be named general manager of the Knicks. That is, general manager of the Knicks’ new D-League team it will operate in Erie, Pa.The D-League appointment takes Houston, who's... Read on

Allan Houston is about to be named general manager of the Knicks. That is, general manager of the Knicks’ new D-League team it will operate in Erie, Pa.
	 
The D-League appointment takes Houston, who's been the Knicks assistant GM, out of the running for the club’s presidency that will be vacated by Donnie Walsh on July 1. Glen Grunwald has been named interim president starting July 1, and the Knicks could name an interim GM, with personnel directors Mark Warkentien or John Gabriel possibilities. Houston has been serving as the team's assistant GM.
	 
Running the Erie Bayhawks will give Houston an inside track of one day becoming Knicks president, as he’s well-liked by owner James Dolan. Houston was named Knicks' Player of the Decade for 2000 during ceremonies last season.
	 
“The opportunity to have this new agreement with the Erie BayHawks and the NBA D-League is very exciting for the New York Knicks,” Houston said in a statement. “The impact of the NBA D-League continues to grow, and we look forward to this partnership.”
	 
The move to manage a D-League team is a Knicks first and a philosophical departure. The Knicks have never sent a player to the D-League, believed to be the only NBA club not to do so. Sources have said the Knicks didn’t trust its assigned D-League affiliate (this year it was Springfield, Mass.) because the coaching staff and medical staff did not work for them.
	 
The Knicks will keep the Bayhawks coaching staff intact for the time being. Jay Larranaga is the head coach.
	 
The Knicks could have blown it by not sending
	 7-foot center Jerome Jordan to the D-Leaguethis past season. The Knicks own his draft rights and Walsh requested he play a year in Europe with a Serbian team, Hemofarm. But Jordan averaged 15 minutes a game, typical of rookie players in Europe.
	 
Deputy commissioner Adam Silver said he would try to work with the D-League independent of any NBA lockout.

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Jimmer thinks he'd be a good fit with Knicks

June 02, 2011 , ι By HOWARD KUSSOY

This past season, BYU’s Jimmer Fredette owned the spotlight as college basketball’s most captivating player. This afternoon, he battled with five of his peers to prove he’s more than just a shooting sensation.
	 
Fredette competed in a pre-draft workout at the Knicks practice facility in Westchester, along with Providence guard Marshon Brooks, Washington State guard Klay Thompson, Michigan guard Darius Morris, Pittsburgh center Gary McGhee and James Madison forward Denzel Bowles, with Fredette matching up with Morris.
	 
“I did a lot of shooting in the beginning, then did some one-on-one stuff and the rest was three-on-three,” said Fredette, who noted he shot 20-of-25 on college 3’s and 19-of-25 on NBA 3’s. “I thought I did pretty well overall. I think coach [Mike D’Antoni] likes me and the front office people and I definitely like the system as well. Run-and-gun system, get up and down and shoot the ball, I think I’d fit in very well.”
	 
A Knicks fan growing up in Glens Falls, N.Y., Fredette said the places he thought he'd fit in best were New York and Utah. But he may not remain on the board for the Knicks at No. 17 in the June 23 draft, with the Jazz (No. 12) and Pacers (No. 15) serving as likely candidates to take this year’s Naismith and Wooden Award winner. Fredette worked out with Indiana on Tuesday and has three more scheduled with Utah, Sacramento (No. 7) and Phoenix (No. 13).
	 
A 6-foot-2 guard, Fredette led the nation in scoring with 28.5 points this season, and had worked out for the Knicks prior to last year’s draft. Without a first round pick, the Knicks couldn’t guarantee Fredette that they’d be able to select him, prompting him to return for his superb senior season.
	 
“They said they really liked me, they couldn’t guarantee me anything, but they said that there was a good chance,” Fredette said. “It would’ve been a lot tougher if someone was to give me a guarantee saying they would pick me, especially if they were in the first round. That would’ve been tough to pass up. I’m very fortunate and glad I didn’t. I had an unbelievable run my senior year and it put me in a better position this year.”
	 
It’s likely too good a position for the Knicks.
	 
	 
*
	 
On Friday, the Knicks will work out Kansas guard Josh Selby, Tennessee guard Tobias Harris, who grew up on Long Island, and UCLA forward Tyler Honeycutt.

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Heat's Ilgauskas won't fill Knicks hole at center

May 31, 2011 , ι By MARC BERMAN

MIAMI – Heat 7-3 center Zydrunas Ilgauskas has owned an apartment in SoHo for several years and has spent the last many offseasons there.“I get The Post in my deli,’’ Ilgauskas said during Sunday’s... Read on

MIAMI – Heat 7-3 center Zydrunas Ilgauskas has owned an apartment in SoHo for several years and has spent the last many offseasons there.
	 
“I get The Post in my deli,’’ Ilgauskas said during Sunday’s media Finals availability at AmericanAirlines Arena.
	 
Ilgauskas, however, does not want to make his New York his full-time home with the Knicks. Ilgauskas has a player option for next season and told The Post he’ll either retire or stay in South Florida, despite the Knicks’ desperate need for a big center.
	 
“I’ve uprooted my family enough,’’ said Ilgauskas, who has two young kids, ages 7 and 6.
	 
Sources say Ilgauskas has lost his passion for the NBA life. In the Chicago conference finals, the Lithuania native did not play. Against Boston, in the second round, Ilgauskas played in four games, starting three of them, for a total of 36 minutes. He started all five games vs. Philadelphia in the first round. With the size of Dallas, maybe Ilgauskas gets another shot but said he’s not worried. A ring will still mean the same.
	 
Ilgauskas realizes the Knicks need a center. But he also added, in a shot at coach Mike D’Antoni, “I also think they need a new defensive system. It’s what wins in the playoffs.”

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About the Author

MARC BERMAN Marc Berman has been covering the Knicks since 1998, after serving as Islanders beat writer for a year when he joined the Post. He’s also covered U.S. Open tennis, and authored "Living Without Ew: The Crash of the Post-Ewing Knicks." The APSE award winner and SUNY-Albany graduate covered Phil Jackson, Bill Musselman and George Karl as Albany Patroons beat writer.

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