Knicks sign Jerome James to 5-year deal

ClipJoint · Jul 14, 2005

NEW YORK -- The New York Knicks and free-agent center Jerome James agreed to a five-year deal, according to several media reports.

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Marc Fleisher, James' agent, confirmed the approximately $29 million deal Wednesday, but the contract can't be signed until the free-agent signing period begins on July 22.

"They approached us on the first day of free agency and told us they had a lot of interest," Fleisher told The New York Times for Thursday's editions. "I know there have been a lot of names, but I genuinely believe that's who they wanted most."

The signing was also reported by the Daily News, New York Post and Newsday.

James, 29, is a 7-foot-1 veteran who averaged 4.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.39 blocks per game in a career-high 80 starts for Seattle last season. He performed well in the first round of the playoffs for the SuperSonics, averaging 17.2 points and 9.4 rebounds in a series win over Sacramento.

For his career, James is averaging 4.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.20 blocks.

James will become the Knicks' only proven center. The team traded Nazr Mohammed in February and Kurt Thomas in June. James' presence will also reduce the burden on rookie center Channing Frye, the Arizona star who the Knicks drafted in the first round last month.

"It was clear once they moved Kurt Thomas and moved Nazr that they were in need of a real center, and that's what Jerome is," Fleisher told the Times. "He's looking forward to the challenge."

edub69 · Jul 14, 2005

For his career, James is averaging 4.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.20 blocks

Guess that's worth $6 million a year.:drink:

Why did the Knicks get rid of Nazr Mohammed again?

FatTony · Jul 14, 2005

edub69 said:
Guess that's worth $6 million a year.:drink:

Why did the Knicks get rid of Nazr Mohammed again?

Because it was almost an hour since Isiah had made a trade. He was getting bored.

spreadbeater · Jul 14, 2005

Here we go again. First Redd gets the max deal, at close to 18 million a year. Joke. Then Bobby Simmons gets 10 million a year. A very nice player, but the money given to him is a joke. Then what I thought would be the worst contract of the offseason, Dan Gadzuric, gets 6 million a year. Absolute joke. And now here comes Isiah Thomas to take the award for worst signing of the offseason. Jerome James gets 6 million dollars a year!!! WTF? The same Jerome James who averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds last season? What a joke. The Knicks drafted Frye to be their starting center for the next several years. So now they sign James to 6 million a year. If Frye becomes the player that the Knicks hope he will become, then the Knicks are paying 6 million a year for a backup center. What a joke. This Knicks team is a disaster and a large part of it has to do with Isiah Thomas. And to think that the Heat just signed Udonis Haslem to 6.5 million a year. What a bargain.

FatTony · Jul 14, 2005

spreadbeater said:
Here we go again. First Redd gets the max deal, at close to 18 million a year. Joke. Then Bobby Simmons gets 10 million a year. A very nice player, but the money given to him is a joke. Then what I thought would be the worst contract of the offseason, Dan Gadzuric, gets 6 million a year. Absolute joke. And now here comes Isiah Thomas to take the award for worst signing of the offseason. Jerome James gets 6 million dollars a year!!! WTF? The same Jerome James who averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds last season? What a joke. The Knicks drafted Frye to be their starting center for the next several years. So now they sign James to 6 million a year. If Frye becomes the player that the Knicks hope he will become, then the Knicks are paying 6 million a year for a backup center. What a joke. This Knicks team is a disaster and a large part of it has to do with Isiah Thomas. And to think that the Heat just signed Udonis Haslem to 6.5 million a year. What a bargain.

Now you know why Larry Bird ran away from the Pacers when he was there. Isiah is CLUELESS!!!!

OMNIVOROUS FROG · Jul 14, 2005

Jerome James career backup, walking zombie. I hope the deal included a heart transplant something he has been missing his entire career, except for two playoff series, knowing he might be out of the NBA. Word out of Seattle was waiver wire at end of season. Zeke was one of the best point guards I have ever seen play, right next to Dumars on the bad boys. One made an excellent GM, the other is one of the worst, close to Mitch Kupcake.

But if you want the king of overpaid NBA players, I think that would be CWebb, in line to make 19 mil this season with 76ers. He used to play defense.

Best Wishes...OF:howdy:

ClipJoint · Jul 14, 2005

Fat Tony said:
Now you know why Larry Bird ran away from the Pacers when he was there. Isiah is CLUELESS!!!!

It amazes me just how bad Isiah is...I can't believe he is allowed to be in anyone's organization.

LOOK AT HIS TRADES AND SIGNINGS...it is embarassing.

FatTony · Jul 14, 2005

Clip Joint said:
It amazes me just how bad Isiah is...I can't believe he is allowed to be in anyone's organization.

LOOK AT HIS TRADES AND SIGNINGS...it is embarassing.

The funny thing is, the NBA gave the Knicks an out with the new Collective Bargining Agreement by letting them out of the Allan Houston contract in regard to the Luxury tax. He quickly fills the void with Q Richardson.

I want to know who has the balls to take that GM job after he's gone. What a mess that person is going to inherit.

royalfan · Jul 14, 2005

Did anyone watch the Seattle team play in the playoffs? This is shocking that all of you think this is a dumb sign. Easily market value for a big man who was a large part of the reason why Seattle advanced and then played the World Champs very tough. Not saying Thomas is smart because he clearly isn't but to pile jump in this situation and say this is a horrible sign is ignorant. Plus, they were in dire need of a center that doesn't need a lot of touches but can rebound and play defense. Plenty of cooks on that team already.

ClipJoint · Jul 14, 2005

royalfan said:
Did anyone watch the Seattle team play in the playoffs? This is shocking that all of you think this is a dumb sign. Easily market value for a big man who was a large part of the reason why Seattle advanced and then played the World Champs very tough. Not saying Thomas is smart because he clearly isn't but to pile jump in this situation and say this is a horrible sign is ignorant. Plus, they were in dire need of a center that doesn't need a lot of touches but can rebound and play defense. Plenty of cooks on that team already.

I think most people are judging James off his 90 games last season before he had one good series.

edub69 · Jul 14, 2005

I think those playoff series performances were an aberration. James, if you watch him play on a regular basis, has zero intensity whatsoever. I think he is the classic case of playing for a contract. He is not a good defensive player, and he doesn't really hit the offensive glass either. Like someone else said, the fact that he and Haslem are making the same money is amazing. It's possible that he just finally woke up in the playoffs, but I don't think so. Time will tell.

royalfan · Jul 14, 2005

Clip Joint said:
I think most people are judging James off his 90 games last season before he had one good series.

Obviously, but I am saying that is wrong to do. A guy that just stepped up fivefold in the playoff intensity games, just got the shot of confidence necessary IMO. Again people just looking at stats way too much, there are other very important things like taking up space in the lane etc.

ClipJoint · Jul 14, 2005

royalfan said:
Obviously, but I am saying that is wrong to do. A guy that just stepped up fivefold in the playoff intensity games, just got the shot of confidence necessary IMO. Again people just looking at stats way too much, there are other very important things like taking up space in the lane etc.

I don't think it has anything to do with stats...did you watch this guy play last year? He is a zombie and does not even take up space. He is useless.

Keep in mind that the ONLY good series he had was against an undersized Sacramento team. He went back to being a piece of trash against San Antonio where he averaged 8 points and 4 rebounds.

royalfan · Jul 14, 2005

Clip Joint said:
I don't think it has anything to do with stats...did you watch this guy play last year? He is a zombie and does not even take up space. He is useless.

Keep in mind that the ONLY good series he had was against an undersized Sacramento team. He went back to being a piece of trash against San Antonio where he averaged 8 points and 4 rebounds.

Did you watch the SA series? He was a pretty big presence in that series. And you prove my point exactly. There are a bunch of NBA teams that are undersized, and for a touch over 5 million a year, New York prevented themselves from being one of them. You guys talk as though the guy is getting a max contract or some such nonsense. And yes, I watched plently of Seattle games last year, I promise many more than you did and no he wasn't impressive, but it was mostly because he wasn't used often and was told that his foul situation didn't much matter as they liked playing the small lineup with essentially Radmonovich playing instead of him and Fortson or Evans playing center. Am I saying this deal is a steal of the century no, but is it assanine to pile jump on Isiah for signing the dude to a 5 million a year contract, absolutely it is. Remember size and length win in the NBA.

edub69 · Jul 14, 2005

I think the 5-year part of the contract is the problem, not the money. All the salaries are bloated these days. For a guy whose intensity has been a problem, a sense of security is not what he needs.

ClipJoint · Jul 14, 2005

royalfan said:
Did you watch the SA series? He was a pretty big presence in that series. And you prove my point exactly. There are a bunch of NBA teams that are undersized, and for a touch over 5 million a year, New York prevented themselves from being one of them. You guys talk as though the guy is getting a max contract or some such nonsense. And yes, I watched plently of Seattle games last year, I promise many more than you did and no he wasn't impressive, but it was mostly because he wasn't used often and was told that his foul situation didn't much matter as they liked playing the small lineup with essentially Radmonovich playing instead of him and Fortson or Evans playing center. Am I saying this deal is a steal of the century no, but is it assanine to pile jump on Isiah for signing the dude to a 5 million a year contract, absolutely it is. Remember size and length win in the NBA.

A big presence in the San Antonio series? We must have watched 2 different series.

I flew up and watched several Seattle games live last season as well as following them closely on tv. I am close friends with their strength and conditioning coach. No one in the organization liked James. No one could figure out how to get him to play hard. He is soft.

So you are saying because he is tall and played hard for 5-10 games out of his 90-100, he deserves a $5 million a year contract for 5 years? Not a bad deal considering over those 5 years, you may get half a season worth of effort combined.

You must have thought George Muresan was underpaid.

royalfan · Jul 14, 2005

edub69 said:
I think the 5-year part of the contract is the problem, not the money. All the salaries are bloated these days. For a guy whose intensity has been a problem, a sense of security is not what he needs.

I can see that point, it is logical.

royalfan · Jul 14, 2005

Clip Joint said:
A big presence in the San Antonio series? We must have watched 2 different series.

I flew up and watched several Seattle games live last season as well as following them closely on tv. I am close friends with their strength and conditioning coach. No one in the organization liked James. No one could figure out how to get him to play hard. He is soft.

So you are saying because he is tall and played hard for 5-10 games out of his 90-100, he deserves a $5 million a year contract for 5 years? Not a bad deal considering over those 5 years, you may get half a season worth of effort combined.

You must have thought George Muresan was underpaid.

Being well connected to the organization you should know he wasn't used often enough on offense. Guys like that play harder sometimes when they get involved, but you already know that I am sure being well connected to the organaization.

OMNIVOROUS FROG · Jul 14, 2005

I have little doubt they signed a stiff to a long term deal. Two playoff series he woke up. Entire career sleepwalker. My bet is back to sleepwalking through games.

Best Wishes...oF:howdy:

royalfan · Jul 14, 2005

Clue me in on what the Knicks should have done to fill the gaping hole at center? Also, keep in mind decisions cannot be made solely on the basis of the past, one must be able to think outside the box.