Renaldo Balkman's days with the Knicks appear to be numbered.
An NBA front office source familiar with the discussions told Newsday Sunday night that the Knicks are considering trading Balkman to the Denver Nuggets for point guard Taurean Green and small forward Bobby Jones.
The deal was proposed to the Knicks late last week, and both teams are discussing the deal internally.
As Renaldo would say, Aw man, crazy. More as details become available.
UPDATED 10:08 p.m.: Here's my take: Though he's athletic, it's become clear that Balkman doesn't fit Mike D'Antoni's system, which requires quick decision making and a lot of savvy. Green and Jones are just roster fodder, although Green is a ball-moving point guard who could compete for a spot in training camp.
As Alan Hahn has written several times, the Knicks were high on Green coming out of Florida, and would've taken him with Portland's second-round pick last year. But the pick never ended up being included in the Zach Randolph trade, and the Blazers ended up taking Green -- a player they didn't need -- and trading him to Denver.
The real significance here -- unless you're all torn up about Balkman being traded -- is the fact that the Knicks would have 17 players under contract. That's two over the limit and a clear sign that they're gearing up for one or more significant trades.
We know they'd love to move Randolph's three years and $48 million remaining, and having a ton of bodies and contracts would only facilitate what would be a complicated deal. Green joining Chris Duhon in the point guard competition certainly doesn't bode well for Stephon Marbury, but I've already been assuming he's gone anyway. This is just another move that confirms that belief.
The Knicks are involved in active trade discussions with several teams, so this could be an eventful summer. The way Donnie Walsh is amassing bodies suggests that he's positioning himself to do something big when the opportunity presents itself.
UPDATED 10:21 p.m. A person familiar with the situation said Green and Jones both expect to be waived by the Knicks, which would put a damper on parlaying this into a bigger deal. Both players have non-guaranteed contracts, which means it's simple accounting to waive them and get back to the 15-player limit. If the Knicks can shed another body, they wouldn't mind bringing Green to training camp to have a look-see. So it appears that this is simply a move designed to get rid of Balkman and save $1.32 million in cap space next season.
One more time: Aw man, crazy.
Comments (9)
Taurean Green? Your partner in crime, Me. Hanh will jump for joy if that happens. He loves Green!
Can they give Bobby Jones #28 for old times sake!
Well, my comment became irrelevent real fast, didn't it?
I like these little moves being made by Walsh.
K Berg, I hope your right.
I hope Donnie is just preparing for the big move. I'm not sure what that move may be but hopefully it's a big move.
One question....why do you think Stephon is gone?
Would it make financial sense for us to trade such a large expring contract when our main focus is shedding salary fat?
Does anybody have any possible trade scenarios involving Marbury that makes sense?
I truly can't think of one.
Please be realistic with the trade scenarios.
Thx
How about trading Marbury for Iverson?
You'd have to also include several enticing side players to get Denver to do the deal and possibly take back one bad contract (Steve Hunter's $3 million for each of 3 years).
New York has some interesting puzzle pieces. And Denver is junking the ship and rebuilding.
It might take David Lee to get Denver to do the deal but Iverson and D'Antoni would be great.
Including J. R. Smith in a sign and trade along with Iverson would be magic. Enough of Q and Crawford.
1.32 million isn't worth losing a possible good player for nuttin"
Aw Man, At least they are keeping Lee.
How about this one we send Marbury and Zach. Marbury and M.Rose to Denver and we take Melo...we not getting King James but we can make NY interesting and shed salaries.
If Walsh makes this trade he will lose a lot of fans including me. Trimming salary fat? 1.32 million? It looks like Walsh will be trying to get rid of everybody just to throw all the money at one or two bodies. Don't do this trade, wrong for so many reasons.
Re: Randolph and Marbury for Anthony...
Boy, that's a great trade for Denver. Take on huge-salaried cancer in exchange for one of the game's best young talents.
You are right Adam, but i can dream a little, If anything dont touch the roster see how the team plays this year and maybe we get a top 5 draft pick since i hear they had already trade 2009 second pick...
If Denver wants to trade Melo we make a trade they just gave Camby away..