Tuesday, April 13th, 2010 at 10:00 am  |  17 responses

Knicks Fans Say Goodbye to Free Agents

Last night, fans at the Garden knew that it was possibly the last time they’ll see many of the players on the current roster play in a Knick uniform. From the NY Times: “All goodbyes are not created equal. Some are more meaningful than others, and for suffering Knicks fans, none was more poignant than the one they delivered Monday night. This was the ultimate farewell, as in forever. As in, ‘Thanks for occupying the uniform — now kindly go away.’ The Knicks played their final home game of the season, which meant one final glance at J. R. Giddens and Sergio Rodriguez, a hobbled Tracy McGrady and an injured Al Harrington. Ten of the 14 Knicks players will be free agents this summer, and few, if any, will be back. Instead, the Knicks will have salary-cap space, about $32 million worth, to spend on marquee players, perhaps LeBron James, Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh. It is what the last two seasons have been about — a long, hard slog toward hope and cap room. So when 19,000 or so fans rose and applauded after the Knicks’ 114-103 victory over the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden, the feelings of appreciation were mixed with feelings of relief. The roster will soon be purged of bad contracts and bad karma and wide open for a new savior or two.”

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  • dirty frank Posted: Apr.13 at 10:08 am
    I’m rooting for the Knicks.

  • Sparty's Law Posted: Apr.13 at 10:23 am
    I can’t wait for this summer to come and go with no quality free agents signing with the Knicks. Happy thoughts.

  • mems Posted: Apr.13 at 10:27 am
    finally knicks fans can look towards the summer when they’ll finnally offer that $20 million contract to Rudy Gay. im excited for knicks fans too…….

  • niQ Posted: Apr.13 at 10:51 am
    lol Sparty. That’s what I’ve been thinking since day one. What if they don’t get anyone? ahahah

  • T-Money Posted: Apr.13 at 10:59 am
    This is destined to be a failure of monumental proportion. Rudy Gay! Carlos Boozer! The Knicks are back on track!

  • MikeC. Posted: Apr.13 at 11:04 am
    @T-Money – considering that the recent occupants of our SF and PF slots have included future Hall of Famers such as Tim Thomas and Clarence Weatherspoon, I’d take Rudy and Booz and all the 44 win seasons and first-round sweeps that go with them. And I’d celebrate like we won the championship.

  • SAB Posted: Apr.13 at 11:08 am
    Knicks Fans Say Goodbye To Any Hope Of Getting Top Free Agents. and that story’s a couple of months old by now…

  • bobby89 Posted: Apr.13 at 2:27 pm
    I personally think Walker has proven himself to be an asset.

  • Brian Posted: Apr.13 at 4:06 pm
    What’ll be amazing is when David Lee immediately goes and signs elsewhere while they wait on LeBron, then Gay, Boozer, Johnson, et al sign elsewhere while they wait for LeBron, and then LeBron stays with the Cavs.

  • Jonny C Posted: Apr.13 at 8:34 pm
    if i had to bet on it, i would say the knicks dont get any top name free agents. i’m sure they gonna get some good free agents, but no one who’s great. anyone thinking that lebron or wade or bosh will sign with this team is just dreaming.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Apr.13 at 10:18 pm
    Thanks for playing, fellas. Especially Al Harrington, you came out and played at a high level every night and proved yourself as one of the most reliable players in New York, something that cannot be said for a lot of guys. Hopefully, Donnie re-signs some of these guys worth keeping like Al because he’s shown he can play, and he would be a real asset for any good team/contender.
    Al Harrington was one of my favorite players the years he played in New York. So, thanks Al.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Apr.13 at 10:20 pm
    Either way, the Knicks are going to be a lot better in the future.
    Gallinari, Chandler, and Toney Douglas are all great talents with All-Star potential. David Lee SHOULD be re-signed, so I hope Donnie makes the right decision. Earl Barron has proved himself in the few games he played in that he can bang and assert himself in the paint.
    Things aren’t looking too dark in New York now. One day we’ll all look back on these last few years and call it a dark time for the Knicks.

  • MikeC. Posted: Apr.13 at 10:32 pm
    Co-sign Teddy on re-signing Al. If he’s willing to take a massive pay cut, I’d love to see him back next year as 6th man. I’d prefer to see Lee re-signed as the 4 of the future over Bosh. Lee will come at a lower price than Bosh, and will slide into the secondary role more smoothly than Bosh. Also, Lee’s numbers are pretty much the same as Bosh’s, and I think he’s tougher and more athletic. At this point, in their careers, I think Lee has more room to develop and Bosh is maxed out. Granted, Bosh is pretty damn good, but I’d rather see the Knicks keep Lee. He’s been the only thing worth ordering off the turd-laden menu that NY has served up over the last few years.

  • GametimeWeezy Posted: Apr.14 at 3:11 am
    Anybody who thinks the Knicks wont make a huge splash in the free agent waters is either delusional or just plain TRIPPIN!!! its New York fellaz…Madison Square Garden. If you’ve ever been there then you’d understand WHY its the Mecca. Or you think MJ was just saying that for his health. Or thats why Kobe went in and lit it up for 61 and a day later LeBron went in and dropped 52, because its not the greatest Arena in the world??? IT IS. PLEEEEZE re-sign Lee, re-sign T-Mac for cheap if, sure bring back Harrington to back up Bosh, Boozer, Lebro…and go make it do what it do Mr Donnie Walsh and revamp the roster and turn this thing around!

  • chintao Posted: Apr.14 at 5:41 am
    I think the few decent players the Knicks have, as well as David Lee, would like to experience winning for a change. Certainly, Al Harrington has expressed that sentiment. Given that, I don’t think there is any chance that Al will take a pay-cut to continue suffering in the Mecca. I feel bad for Toney Douglas and the few other fellas who won’t be able to bail on this disaster (past, present, and impending). Sorry to say, Teddy, but I do not believe that there is any way things will improve next year.

  • Lai Wai Posted: Apr.14 at 7:43 am
    As a Raptors fan I wish Bosh on you….he is a great player…….he wants to be the Alpha male but he will give you the numbers. But won’t lead you out of the widerness.

  • Justyn Posted: Apr.21 at 1:50 pm
    I’m really surprised that this article makes no mention of David Lee’s expiring contract. He was an all-star this year, granted it was by default, and he was by far the best player on our sorry squad. I’m sure that most if not all of that applause was directed at Lee.

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