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Randolph Morris signs a 2 year deal with the Knicks

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by geeimsobored, Mar 23, 2007.

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  1. geeimsobored

    geeimsobored Member

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    http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2809958

    Knicks sign Kentucky center Morris to 2-year deal
    ESPN.com news services


    The New York Knicks signed Kentucky center Randolph Morris, who played his junior season as an NBA free agent, to a contract Friday.


    Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
    Randolph Morris' two-year deal with the Knicks is reportedly worth $1.6 million.
    The Knicks did not announce terms of the signing, but an NBA source told ESPN Insider Chad Ford that it is a two-year deal worth $1.6 million.

    Morris joins the Knicks in their fight for an Eastern Conference playoff berth. New York plays in Cleveland on Friday, but there is no immediate word on when Morris would join the team.

    "We said all along that in terms of building this team we would have to find unconventional ways to try and find talent and get out and beat the bushes," said Isiah Thomas, the Knicks' coach and director of basketball operations. "This is a very unique situation and I don't know if there has been something similar to this. The rules allowed it, and here we are."

    Thomas said the 6-foot-11, 260-pound Morris will soon join and practice with the Knicks.

    "It's another guy we can add to our young core,'' Thomas said. "We're very happy to have him. It's another big and it's almost like another pick in this year's draft -- just a little early."

    Thomas said several other teams were "chasing" Morris.

    Randolph declared himself eligible for the 2005 NBA draft after his freshman season at Kentucky, but he did not sign with an agent. After going undrafted, he returned for his sophomore and junior seasons under Tubby Smith. Morris sat out the first 14 games of his sophomore season because of an NCAA penalty related to contact with an agent.

    Due to a provision in the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, Morris is prohibited from re-entering the draft and had free agent status throughout the 2006-07 season at Kentucky.

    According to the NBA rookie contract scale, Morris' $1.6 million deal equates to first-round money; his salary is on par with what the 26th pick received in last year's draft and what the 30th pick will sign for in 2007.

    According to Kentucky, Morris met with athletic director Mitch Barnhart on Thursday night and was asked to wait until Smith's replacement was hired before deciding whether to stay in school. A Kentucky spokesperson told ESPN.com that Morris told Barnhart he would do that.

    On Friday, Morris apparently changed his mind. Morris told Barnhart on Friday afternoon that he had signed with the Knicks, Kentucky spokesperson Scott Stricklin confirmed for ESPN.com.

    Kentucky is now trying to figure out how the departure of Morris, who averaged 16.1 points and 7.8 rebounds a game this season for the Wildcats, before spring semester's end will affect the school's academic progress report.

    Under the new APR, schools are subject to scholarship penalties if student-athletes leave early and not in good academic standing. Withdrawing from school before the end of a semester can seriously impede a team's GPA and academic standing. To that end, Texas and Ohio State are taking steps to ensure freshmen Kevin Durant and Greg Oden will finish the spring semester.
     
    #1 geeimsobored, Mar 23, 2007
  2. Hayesfan

    Hayesfan Member

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    #2 Hayesfan, Mar 23, 2007
  3. Ziggy

    Ziggy QUEEN ANON

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    How the hell is this legal? I read it. I just dont get it.
     
    #3 Ziggy, Mar 23, 2007
  4. Hayesfan

    Hayesfan Member

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    Randolph left his name in the draft for 2004. He didn't hire an agent to handle negotiations for him, so he was not considered professional and the NCAA allowed him to return to college after a 14 game probation during his Sophmore year.

    But, because once your name has been entered as draft eligible you are not allowed to enter it again.

    Thus, leaving Morris as an NBA free agent from after the draft in 2004 to today.
     
    #4 Hayesfan, Mar 23, 2007
  5. SuperYanthrax

    SuperYanthrax Member

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    He entered the draft before and was not drafted. Though some technicality, I think involving the fact that Morris never hired an agent, Tubby Smith restored his eligibility and got him to come back to play for KU. However, since he entered the draft once, he was ever since an undrafted FA and could have been signed at any time (I think some guy at Yahoo wrote a column about this earlier in the season.) I guess once Tubby left he felt no obligation to stay and because he has played well recently and has shown some potential, Isiah called, and he agreed.
     
    #5 SuperYanthrax, Mar 23, 2007
  6. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    Dang, is he any good? Could the Rockets have used him?

    I mean we have Sura rotting on our team.....

    Kudos to the Knicks......if he is any good.

    DD
     
    #6 DaDakota, Mar 24, 2007
  7. redgoose

    redgoose Member

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    All the scouts and so called experts seem to all agree that this kid has no real heart or desire to play hard. Especially over the course of an 82 game season.

    Seems like a good deal for a young player with his build. If he can't shoot or has no real low post, just groom him to be a Ben Wallace or Rodman and just rebound and block shots. But then again, that takes alot of desire...most of which rebounding is.

    What intrigues me though, is why more college players don't enter the draft, not hire an agent, and see where they land. Do you really need an agent to do much more than fill out the contract paperwork after the draft?

    Then come back the next year and negotiate a free agent salary and play for whom you want. Am i missing something here? :confused:
     
    #7 redgoose, Mar 24, 2007
  8. HI Mana

    HI Mana Member

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    If a player is drafted in either the first or second round, he is ineligible to return to college. In addition, the college would probably have little desire to let a player like that, who doesn't want to even be at the program, back on the team. It's going to cost Kentucky this year, as having Randolph Morris not graduate and essentially drop out of school might affect the number of scholarships they have to offer, based on how well the rest of their players are doing. DraftExpress has a really good blog about this particular exception here.

    Expect this loophole to be closed by next year; it's terrible for both colleges and the NBA.
     
    #8 HI Mana, Mar 24, 2007
  9. redgoose

    redgoose Member

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    Good explanation and article. I agree, they will probably close down this loophole right after the draft to prevent more of this.

    The sad thing is, coaching is so so competitive, coaches almost have to let the Randolph's of the world come back to school, not only to win, but to help the coach himself keep his job by advancing in the tournament. Then in effect, lowering the team's GPA and graduation rate. :(
     
    #9 redgoose, Mar 27, 2007
  10. jl3forprez

    jl3forprez Member

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    this is a very strange case so does this mean he could technically play in the nba this year or what
     
    #10 jl3forprez, Mar 27, 2007
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