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[Ball Don't Lie] Knicks Set to Waive #1 Pick - Andrea Bargnani

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by yobod, Jan 13, 2015.

  1. yobod

    yobod Member

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    7'0ft and shoots 35% from 3 -- Should we be interested?

    <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/eYDXFnNOa-s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

    Report: The Knicks could soon waive former No. 1 pick Andrea Bargnani

    It's been a season to forget for the New York Knicks, one that's seen playoff hopes dashed against the jagged rocks of reality as a payroll-rich but talent-poor roster has struggled with a new offense and the same old defensive problems en route to the worst record in the NBA. With the Knicks barreling toward the worst mark in franchise history — leaving The Grey Lady looking for greener pastures, Madison Square Garden fans looking for brown paper bags and the ultimate white flag, the shutdown of injured star Carmelo Anthony, looking like merely a matter of time — team president of basketball operations Phil Jackson has set about dismantling his woeful squad.

    Jackson began the teardown by shipping out wings J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert in a three-team deal that returned three players on unguaranteed contracts (all of whom were promptly waived) before cutting ties with center Samuel Dalembert. Those moves saved about $20 million in salary and luxury-tax payments for this season, while increasing the Knicks' expected cache of cap space for this coming summer to somewhere in the neighborhood of $27 million. With some five weeks remaining before the Feb. 19 trade deadline, Jackson suggested to reporters he might not be done dealing.

    "I just think that no one should be surprised at what we do from here on out," Jackson said, according to Al Iannazzone of Newsday. "We know that movement is going to happen and we might want to participate in it."

    What remains to be seen, however, is just how the movement happens. Marc Stein and Ian Begley of ESPN.com report that the Knicks are shopping point guard Jose Calderon, the primary return in this summer's trade of Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton to the Dallas Mavericks, and big man Andrea Bargnani, whom the Knicks imported two summers ago in an ill-fated swap with the Toronto Raptors. But while New York's reportedly willing to keep the Spanish point guard — who has struggled since returning from an early-season calf injury, averaging just 9.2 points and 4.2 assists per game on atypically rough 40 percent shooting from the field — should the two years and $15.1 million on his contract prove too rich a price tag for prospective suitors, the Knicks might choose a different path to parting ways with Bargnani if they can't find any takers, according to Stein and Begley:

    Sources say Bargnani is a candidate to be waived next month if New York can't find a deal for the former No. 1 overall pick and his $11.5 million expiring contract.

    Bargnani has played just 22 minutes this season due to hamstring and calf injuries and has produced little as a Knick since New York acquired him from Toronto before the 2013-14 season, making his involvement in a trade unlikely unless his expiring contract helps facilitate a deal financially.

    Newsday's Iannazzone, too, writes that Bargnani "could be waived," which would bring to an end an ignominious stint in Manhattan for the 7-foot Italian, whom the Raptors selected with the first overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft with hopes that he'd be a transformational shooting and scoring talent, a la Dirk Nowitzki with the Dallas Mavericks. That, it's fair to say, did not work out, prompting Masai Ujiri to make jettisoning the remaining two years and nearly $22.3 million of the five-year, $50 million extension that Bargnani received from predecessor Bryan Colangelo his top priority upon taking the reins in Canada.

    Knicks fans were sour on Bargnani from nearly the second he arrived, which seemed a bit cruel; Bargnani did seem to try his level best to resurrect his career after landing in New York. That level best just wasn't all that good, however, and the combination of his on-court failings — the airballed dunks, the inexplicable 3 against Milwaukee and borderline unbelievable defense, plus the fact that the Knicks were 4.5 points per 100 possessions worse with Bargnani on the floor than off it prior to his season-ending elbow injury — and the off-court damage done by New York giving up three draft picks (a 2016 first-rounder, plus second-round selections in 2014 and 2017) to get him have made Bargnani awful difficult to get behind for Knicks fans. I'm not sure he quite deserves "boo his baby picture" treatment, but it's understandable that Knicks fans, and the team's current decision-making structure, might prefer to cut their losses and move on from the well-meaning but lumbering jump-shooter.

    Bargnani's $11.5 million contract is fully guaranteed, so waiving him wouldn't save Knicks owner James Dolan any scratch this season, and it expires at the end of this season, so kicking him to the curb (shouts to Woody) doesn't help Jackson carve out any more cap space for next season. But, as Seth Rosenthal notes at Knicks blog Posting and Toasting, bidding Bargnani adieu would open up a roster spot that Jackson might prefer to use to have a look-see at call-ups from the D-League's Westchester Knicks, like recent addition Langston Galloway, or to bring in players on 10-day deals as he looks for some bargain-basement talent worth keeping around for the future as the Knicks circle the drain toward the 2015 draft lottery.

    After years of poor play and his recent injury troubles, it's difficult to envision there being any real market for Bargnani's services at this stage, whether in trade or as a waiver-wire pickup. If the Knicks cut bait, it's entirely possible we've already seen the last of Andrea Bargnani in the NBA. It wouldn't be the most dignified end for a former No. 1 overall pick, but given the steady decline of the Italian's career over these last few years, it might sadly be the most fitting.

    Oh, well. If and when the divorce comes through, at least we'll always have that magical night with KG in Brooklyn, Andrea. Nobody can ever take that away from us.

    http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-b...mer-no--1-pick-andrea-bargnani-202737798.html
     
  2. Coach Chris

    Coach Chris Member

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    Phil has no idea what he is doing.
     
  3. HouStu_Rocket

    HouStu_Rocket Member

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    Eh. He wouldn't be in the rotation and we would be cutting someone who already has an established relationship with the team. I.e Dorsey. Would just stir up team chemistry without adding anything
     
  4. vstexas09

    vstexas09 Contributing Member

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    the mavs are gonna make a call..don't believe me just watch
     
  5. da_juice

    da_juice Member

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    Good. Bargs is trash
     
  6. finsraider

    finsraider Member

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    They've already got Charlie V as their "off the bench shooting PF/C in limited minutes".
     
  7. REEKO_HTOWN

    REEKO_HTOWN I'm Rich Biiiiaaatch!

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    He shut Howard down sadly.
     
  8. bratna8

    bratna8 Member

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    I'd waive Dorsey for this guy.
     
  9. CDrex

    CDrex Contributing Member

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    No. Not a comparable situation to Josh Smith. Smith is a frustrating, polarizing player but he has demonstrated clear value for the majority of his career. Every individual season of Smith's Atlanta career, he posted a better PER than Bargnani's career average.

    Do not want. Especially since he sucked even when shooting 40% on threes, but now he's posted consecutive seasons of .296, .309, and .278.
     
  10. Mr. Clutch

    Mr. Clutch Contributing Member

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    I hope Dallas picks him up
     
  11. da_juice

    da_juice Member

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    Unfortunately that doesn't seem to be too difficult lately. I've watched a lot of Bargnani over the years because he's always intrigued me; and the guy is awful now. Before he used to at least be a solid scorer. Now he's close to useless.
     
  12. D-rock

    D-rock Member

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    Legit 7 footer who can provide quality back minutes at both 4 and 5? Bargnani would easily be the best shooting big on the team, and a true stretch 4 to complement Howard/Harden.

    More length and shooting range is a GOOD thing and would actually improve team offensively and defensively. Like Josh Smith, Bargnani still gets paid his salary, and if he is willing to take vet min on top of that - then Dorsey and a 2nd is shipped to Sixers in a NY minute to facillitate this signing.

    Dwight/D-Mo/Bargnani
    D-Mo/Smith/Bargnani
    Ariza/Brewer/Pap
    Harden/Brewer
    Bev/Terry

    Would be an insane 10 man rotation, which McHale professed to prefer. 11 if McHale insists on giving Shved minutes. This would keep Harden, and especially Howard, time to heal up and stay fresh for play offs.
     
  13. jscmedia

    jscmedia Contributing Member

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    i luv bargnani's. with spicy mustard of course.
     
  14. CometsWin

    CometsWin Breaker Breaker One Nine

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    Do. Not. Want.
     
  15. RedRedemption

    RedRedemption Contributing Member

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    Bargnani sucks.
     
  16. T for 3

    T for 3 Member

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    11.5 mil? GTFO
     
  17. EightDoobies

    EightDoobies Member

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    Remember that one game where he shut Dwight down. Was horrible site to see.


    Don't want though.
     
  18. i3artow i3aller

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    Sprite - Obey Your Thirst
    [​IMG]
     
    1 person likes this.
  19. TheRealAllpro

    TheRealAllpro Morey only fan

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    I don't understand all the hate like most players it depends. He is a former 20 ppg player who fits the mold of the player who Morey likes ( Morey loves every available player... he is such a flirt) It depends what he wants money and playing time... and his health.
     
  20. mr. 13 in 33

    mr. 13 in 33 Member

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    [​IMG]
     
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