Nate Robinson appears headed to Celtics as trade deadline looms
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2010, 1:13 AM
BY STEVE ADAMEK
THE RECORD
STAFF WRITER
NEW YORK - A jar of Vaseline and little else sat in Nate Robinson’s dressing stall Wednesday night at the Garden, a clear sign of the littlest Knick’s imminent departure.
A few stalls away, Al Harrington (in a Steve Urkel-like outfit) arrived fashionably late, like someone expecting to be elsewhere soon.
Meanwhile, conspicuous by his absence in the visitors’ locker room: John Salmons, once a potential component in the Bulls’ quest for Tracy McGrady, but back at the team hotel during Wednesday’s 115-109 loss to the Bulls. He’s now apparently destined for Milwaukee in a deal involving former Knick Kurt Thomas.
Today’s 3 p.m. NBA trade deadline should reveal the exact meaning of all that, although Robinson has clearly played his last game as a Knick - while the Darko Milicic Error in New York has ended.
Everything else, including the Knicks’ quest for McGrady, remained fluid and Knicks’ president Donnie Walsh declared himself “optimistic about some of it, not all of it” and “hopeful,” while disclosing little else about his talks.
Yet, the Bulls signaled Wednesday they may abandon their pursuit of McGrady by unloading Salmons and playing Brad Miller and Tyrus Thomas, originally considered components in T-Mac talks that could go down to the wire today.
And apparently, only dickering over draft-pick protection separates the Knicks and Rockets from completing a deal.
As for Robinson, the flu-like symptoms the Knicks say sidelined him for a second straight game Wednesday could be some form of “green flu” because he’s headed to Boston, according to a league source.
The deal isn’t quite done because of issues involving Robinson’s contract, which Walsh has said will likely require a third team to complete.
But at Celtics’ practice Wednesday in Los Angeles, Eddie House, the incendiary shooter Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni once had in Phoenix, told reporters he’s New York-bound, as swingman J.R. Giddens is also expected to be.
Still, for a second straight season the Celtics (who host the Knicks on Tuesday) will roll the dice by grabbing a controversial discarded Knicks guard, after signing Stephon Marbury a year ago.
As for McGrady, the player components of a deal with the Knicks appear in place: the seven-time All-Star, plus two salary cap-filler players (Brian Cook, Joey Dorsey) for Jared Jeffries, rookie Jordan Hill and Larry Hughes, all of whom dressed Wednesday.
The sticking points are 2011 and ‘12 first-round picks.
The Knicks (as Isiah Thomas didn’t do when he traded for Eddy Curry) want them protected to a certain level in 2011 (when the Rockets want the higher of the teams’ picks) and 2012 (when the Rockets want the Knicks’ first-rounder).
Tyrus Thomas, meanwhile, could land in New York for Harrington via another deal in which the Knicks want to add a draft pick (which they’re also seeking in the Robinson deal) to re-stock a cupboard a McGrady deal could leave barren.
As for Milicic, who hasn’t played since Nov. 13, the Knicks sent him to Minnesota for veteran Brian Cardinal, who’s likely to be waived.
Thus, if the Knicks do all of the above, they’ll subtract one-third of their roster (five players), but more importantly, enough from their salary cap this summer to potentially sign two big-ticket free agents.
“We have our plan,” D’antoni said of what would be cap-driven moves, “and we’re sticking with that.”
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2010, 1:13 AM
BY STEVE ADAMEK
THE RECORD
STAFF WRITER
NEW YORK - A jar of Vaseline and little else sat in Nate Robinson’s dressing stall Wednesday night at the Garden, a clear sign of the littlest Knick’s imminent departure.
A few stalls away, Al Harrington (in a Steve Urkel-like outfit) arrived fashionably late, like someone expecting to be elsewhere soon.
Meanwhile, conspicuous by his absence in the visitors’ locker room: John Salmons, once a potential component in the Bulls’ quest for Tracy McGrady, but back at the team hotel during Wednesday’s 115-109 loss to the Bulls. He’s now apparently destined for Milwaukee in a deal involving former Knick Kurt Thomas.
Today’s 3 p.m. NBA trade deadline should reveal the exact meaning of all that, although Robinson has clearly played his last game as a Knick - while the Darko Milicic Error in New York has ended.
Everything else, including the Knicks’ quest for McGrady, remained fluid and Knicks’ president Donnie Walsh declared himself “optimistic about some of it, not all of it” and “hopeful,” while disclosing little else about his talks.
Yet, the Bulls signaled Wednesday they may abandon their pursuit of McGrady by unloading Salmons and playing Brad Miller and Tyrus Thomas, originally considered components in T-Mac talks that could go down to the wire today.
And apparently, only dickering over draft-pick protection separates the Knicks and Rockets from completing a deal.
As for Robinson, the flu-like symptoms the Knicks say sidelined him for a second straight game Wednesday could be some form of “green flu” because he’s headed to Boston, according to a league source.
The deal isn’t quite done because of issues involving Robinson’s contract, which Walsh has said will likely require a third team to complete.
But at Celtics’ practice Wednesday in Los Angeles, Eddie House, the incendiary shooter Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni once had in Phoenix, told reporters he’s New York-bound, as swingman J.R. Giddens is also expected to be.
Still, for a second straight season the Celtics (who host the Knicks on Tuesday) will roll the dice by grabbing a controversial discarded Knicks guard, after signing Stephon Marbury a year ago.
As for McGrady, the player components of a deal with the Knicks appear in place: the seven-time All-Star, plus two salary cap-filler players (Brian Cook, Joey Dorsey) for Jared Jeffries, rookie Jordan Hill and Larry Hughes, all of whom dressed Wednesday.
The sticking points are 2011 and ‘12 first-round picks.
The Knicks (as Isiah Thomas didn’t do when he traded for Eddy Curry) want them protected to a certain level in 2011 (when the Rockets want the higher of the teams’ picks) and 2012 (when the Rockets want the Knicks’ first-rounder).
Tyrus Thomas, meanwhile, could land in New York for Harrington via another deal in which the Knicks want to add a draft pick (which they’re also seeking in the Robinson deal) to re-stock a cupboard a McGrady deal could leave barren.
As for Milicic, who hasn’t played since Nov. 13, the Knicks sent him to Minnesota for veteran Brian Cardinal, who’s likely to be waived.
Thus, if the Knicks do all of the above, they’ll subtract one-third of their roster (five players), but more importantly, enough from their salary cap this summer to potentially sign two big-ticket free agents.
“We have our plan,” D’antoni said of what would be cap-driven moves, “and we’re sticking with that.”
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