ducks
07-02-2006, 10:43 AM
Harrington won't accept the Knicks' money
July 1, 2006 -- Hawks small forward Al Harrington spoke in December about his love for the Knicks and playing for Isiah Thomas, considering him family. But Harrington still wants to get paid.
The free agent from Elizabeth, N.J., can begin negotiating with other NBA teams today, but Thomas will have to negotiate with the Hawks first.
Harrington's manager, Reginald Marble, told The Post that Harrington won't accept the $5 million mid-level exception, all the Knicks can offer because they're $70 million over the league's salary cap.
The other avenue to acquire Harrington is a sign-and-trade with Atlanta. Unless Atlanta is interested in Steve Francis, that's a long shot.
It is why Thomas made his blockbuster remarks at Thursday's press conference, saying he's ready go to war with what he has come training camp, a dig at Larry Brown.
The free-agent market is mediocre and Thomas has low expectations about using the mid-level exception.
Washington small forward Jared Jeffries is another candidate, but Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld is expected to match the mid-level offer.
Thomas has two of his own free agents to re-sign, center Jackie Butler and Qyntel Woods, a Brown pickup. Thomas wants to re-sign them cheaply and gave no assurances.
Butler is a bigger priority; Thomas saved him from the CBA two years ago. The Knicks would have to use one of their exceptions to re-sign Woods. The Knicks already have 16 guaranteed contracts, one over the limit.
Butler's agent, Keith Glass, son of Brown's agent, said he thinks Butler will get a bigger deal elsewhere that Thomas won't match.
"We'll continue to be in opportunistic mode," said Thomas, who ruled out chasing point guards Mike James and Speedy Claxton. "If we can better our team, we will. I don't sit here in the mode from two years ago and say I gotta do something."
Thomas puts his coaching hat on tomorrow when the Knicks' summer league team holds its first practice in Las Vegas (play begins July 7). Thomas feels his greatest mission now is coaching, bettering the current cast, not adding to it.
"The guys we have, we'll make them better," Thomas said. "We got a job to do."
Thomas will run the practices, Mark Aguirre the bench. The roster has the Knicks' two first-round picks, Renaldo Balkman and Mardy Collins, and last year's rookies, David Lee, Nate Robinson and Channing Frye, who may play half the games. Thomas said Frye, returning from a partial knee tear, may be limited.
Thomas considered coaching in Sin City to shake off the rust. He coached the Pacers' summer-league team his first season in Indiana.
"I've tasted it," Thomas said. "I know how it is. I hadn't tasted it [in Indiana]. That was my first year of coaching. I wanted to get the feel and the mechanics of the game. I have a pretty good feel for it."
http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks...marc_berman.htm
July 1, 2006 -- Hawks small forward Al Harrington spoke in December about his love for the Knicks and playing for Isiah Thomas, considering him family. But Harrington still wants to get paid.
The free agent from Elizabeth, N.J., can begin negotiating with other NBA teams today, but Thomas will have to negotiate with the Hawks first.
Harrington's manager, Reginald Marble, told The Post that Harrington won't accept the $5 million mid-level exception, all the Knicks can offer because they're $70 million over the league's salary cap.
The other avenue to acquire Harrington is a sign-and-trade with Atlanta. Unless Atlanta is interested in Steve Francis, that's a long shot.
It is why Thomas made his blockbuster remarks at Thursday's press conference, saying he's ready go to war with what he has come training camp, a dig at Larry Brown.
The free-agent market is mediocre and Thomas has low expectations about using the mid-level exception.
Washington small forward Jared Jeffries is another candidate, but Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld is expected to match the mid-level offer.
Thomas has two of his own free agents to re-sign, center Jackie Butler and Qyntel Woods, a Brown pickup. Thomas wants to re-sign them cheaply and gave no assurances.
Butler is a bigger priority; Thomas saved him from the CBA two years ago. The Knicks would have to use one of their exceptions to re-sign Woods. The Knicks already have 16 guaranteed contracts, one over the limit.
Butler's agent, Keith Glass, son of Brown's agent, said he thinks Butler will get a bigger deal elsewhere that Thomas won't match.
"We'll continue to be in opportunistic mode," said Thomas, who ruled out chasing point guards Mike James and Speedy Claxton. "If we can better our team, we will. I don't sit here in the mode from two years ago and say I gotta do something."
Thomas puts his coaching hat on tomorrow when the Knicks' summer league team holds its first practice in Las Vegas (play begins July 7). Thomas feels his greatest mission now is coaching, bettering the current cast, not adding to it.
"The guys we have, we'll make them better," Thomas said. "We got a job to do."
Thomas will run the practices, Mark Aguirre the bench. The roster has the Knicks' two first-round picks, Renaldo Balkman and Mardy Collins, and last year's rookies, David Lee, Nate Robinson and Channing Frye, who may play half the games. Thomas said Frye, returning from a partial knee tear, may be limited.
Thomas considered coaching in Sin City to shake off the rust. He coached the Pacers' summer-league team his first season in Indiana.
"I've tasted it," Thomas said. "I know how it is. I hadn't tasted it [in Indiana]. That was my first year of coaching. I wanted to get the feel and the mechanics of the game. I have a pretty good feel for it."
http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks...marc_berman.htm