Nate Robinson Traded to Celtics

Nate Robinson is heading to Boston, along with Marcus Landry, for Eddie House, JR Giddens and Bill Walker. No picks are involved in the deal. The deal was supposedly agreed to yesterday, but the specifics of the deal were hazy. 

Yesterday, rumors swirled that the Knicks would receive a second round pick from Boston in the deal. Then it was rumored it would be a first round pick. It’s appalling to me that the Celtics would even entertain the idea of giving up any draft pick for Robinson. 

Eddie House reunites with his former coach, Mike D’Antoni, who worked together in Phoenix during the 2005-06 season. House is a player that I can foresee the Knicks re-signing this summer if it works out financially.

Wild Day of Rumors Ends Without a Major Trade for Knicks

The Knicks’ trade rumor mill was buzzing all day but the Knicks only made a minor trade a day before the trade deadline.

The Knicks received some cap relief for this season by trading Darko Milicic to the Timberwolves for Brian Cardinal. The Knicks are expected to waive Cardinal in order to open a roster spot.

The Knicks also got word that the NBA is granting the Knicks $9.5 million of cap relief for the retired Cuttino Mobley. 

Three major rumors surrounded the Knicks all day and as of the day’s end, none of them are official.

One trade has Nate Robinson going to the Boston Celtics for assets unknown. Reports went back and forth all day about the specifics but up to 15 hours before the deadline, nothing is clear. Eddie House is probably a sure piece that would go to the Knicks. Along with House, there were rumors that the Knicks would also receive either Boston’s first round pick, second round pick, or JR Giddens. If Boston actually surrenders a pick for Nate, it would be an incredible trade for the Knicks. Eddie House is a guy that can play well in D’Antoni’s system and I could foresee the Knicks re-signing him tis summer. But House would be icing on the cake if the Knicks get a pick from Boston.

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Knicks on Verge of Trades

According to Alan Hahn of Newsday, Nate Robinson is headed to Boston. Hahn first said the Celtics would give the Knicks Eddie House and a 2nd round pick, but has since said the specifics are unknown. 

Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted that a source told him, “D’Antoni wants House, and (Boston) really wants Nate, so everyone is motivated here.”

Sports Illustrated is reporting the Knicks are finalizing a deal for Tracy McGrady. The report suggests the deal could be finished tomorrow. 

Neither trade is official.

Knicks Rumors Before Trade Deadline

Donnie Walsh is a busy, busy man. Just ask the rumor mill. Walsh and the Knicks are linked to several different trade rumors. Let’s try to break them down.

The Knicks and Bulls are both discussing possible trades for the Rockets’ Tracy Mcgrady. Read about the possible Knicks-Rockets trade. Sports Illustrated says a McGrady trade to the Knicks is about done. 

The Knicks and Bulls aren’t only competing to land Tracy McGrady, but they are rumored to be working a trade between each other. If McGrady doesn’t get traded or gets traded to the Knicks, then the Knicks and Bulls may make a trade of Tyrus Thomas for Al Harrington. Tyrus Thomas is allegedly part of the package that would be exchanged for McGrady if he gets traded to Chicago. 

Through the Sacramento Bee, Yahoo! Sports reports that the Knicks are one of three teams, along with the Nets and Grizzlies, who are interested in making a trade for the Kings’ Sergio Rodriguez. 

The Boston Herald is reporting the Knicks may send Nate Robinson to the Celtics. Knicks beat writer for Newsday, Alan Hahn, has reported the Knicks will most likely get Eddie House and a second round pick from the Celtics.

TNT’s David Aldridge Says McGrady to Knicks “50/50″ Chance

During the All-Star game, David Aldridge of TNT said there is a 50/50 chance the Knicks get Tracy Mcgrady before the February 18 trade deadline.

Without a third team, I don’t see the Knicks being able to acquire Tracy McGrady from the Rockets. Last week, the Knicks were rumored to be in discussions of a three-way trade for McGrady which included the Washington Wizards. The Wizards have since pulled off a seven-player trade with the Dallas Mavericks which puts an end to their involvments in trade talks with the Knicks and Rockets.

To get McGrady without involving a third team, the Knicks will have to give up a young player they value; Jordan Hill, Toney Douglas, Wilson Chandler or Danilo Gallinari. Of those players the only guys the Knicks would trade are Hill and Douglas, but reluctantly. To make the trade worthwhile, the Knicks will try to throw Jared Jeffries in the deal. That’s where the discussions end. I can’t see the Rocket entertaining the idea of taking on Jeffries’ contract.

The Knicks could try to work a trade of expiring contracts for McGrady. The Rockets and McGrady aren’t on good terms and the Rockets may want a player like Al Harrington to help them this season before his contracts expire. They could also deal Larry Hughes or Nate Robinson to the Rockets. The only thing is, being that the Rockets are on bad terms with McGrady, why would they do him a favor by trading him without getting a player of substantial value for him?

The best bet of a trade happening is if the Rockets accept expiring contracts or if another team gets involved and gives the Rockets someone of value. The Knicks won’t give up a player they are high on unless the Rockets take Jared Jeffries too and the possibility of them taking Jeffries is slim because they want to have cap space for free agency this summer just like the Knicks do.

If the Knicks desperately want McGrady, they’ll send a package of either Jordan Hill or Toney Douglas plus Al Harrington and possibly another expiring contract to Houston.

Nate Robinson Wins Slam Dunk Contest For Record Third Time

Knicks guard Nate Robinson edged out Raptors rookie DeMar DeRozan to win the 2009-2010 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Robinson received 51% of the votes. Robinson has won the contest for the third time, back-to-back-to-back, which is a record.

A lack of creativity will be what’s remembered about this year’s dunk contest, but how much more can be done? Someone is going to have to think way outside of the box to create a dunk that we haven’t seen before.

Knicks David Lee Named to All-Star Team

New York Knicks center David Lee will join the Eastern Conference NBA All-Star team replacing Allen Iverson. Prior to being named to the team today, some thought Lee was snubbed of an All-Star spot. He has arguably had a better season than some of the players named to the Eastern Conference’s team.

Lee is the first Knicks player to be named to the All-Star team since 2001 when Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston represented the Knicks in the game.

Lee joins fellow Knicks Nate Robinson and Danilo Gallinari in Dallas for the weekend. Robinson will take part in the Slam Dunk contest while Gallo will be in the three-point shootout.

D’Antoni Will Start Nate Robinson over Chris Duhon at Point Guard

The Knicks are making a “trade” or sorts, but it’s taking place right inside their roster. Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni will start Nate Robinson at point guard over Chris Duhon. Duhon has struggled mightily this season and Nate’s spark when on the floor can’t be missed. D’Antoni informed reporters of the switch during the post-game media session after their 107-85 win over the Wizards Wednesday night. 

About starting Robinson over Duhon D’Antoni said, “I don’t have a reason not to. I like what we saw. Hopefully it will stay that way.”

Robinson played the entire second half for the Knicks at point guard. He had 23 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds in the game. 

The decision is a no-brainer. Robinson adds spunk to the Knicks and Duhon doesn’t add much of anything, at least lately. Duhon’s not getting the job done and D’Antoni has seen his point guard’s struggles become the teams’ struggles. 

On a side note, castoff Larry Hughes saw time on the hardwood in the Knicks win Wednesday night. He scored 11 points. He saw the floor two times in all of January.

Ray Allen Trade Rumors, Knicks

The Boston Celtics are toying with the idea of trading guard Ray Allen before the February 18 trade deadline according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. 

Wojnarowski says;

“The Celtics have initiated trade proposals on Allen, multiple league sources say, and Boston is searching for a younger, less expensive guard and an expiring contract. This way they can find a replacement for the 34-year-old Allen without losing him and his $20 million expiring contract for nothing in free agency this summer.”

Later in the article Wojnarowski said Allen is “intrigued” with playing for the Heat or Knicks.

Knicks rookie Toney Douglas is younger and less expensive and the Knicks have several expiring contracts they can send to Boston for Allen. Nate Robinson could be dealt as the expiring contract. Boston flirted with the idea of trading for Robinson a few weeks ago. The Knicks have other expiring contracts that could be dealt too if the Celtics don’t want Robinson anymore.

I keep saying that the Knicks should try to acquire a really good player now who will be a free agent after this season in order to make them look better for superstar free agents this summer. If the Knicks could trade for someone and sign them to an extension – even better, because there is no guarantee they sign this summer’s top free agents.

Ray Allen may be aging but he is a pure shooter that would play well in D’Antoni’s system. Unlike trying to trade for Amare Stoudemire, the Knicks have what the Celtics are looking for if the Celtics think Toney Douglas is going to be a good player.

Tracy McGrady Trade Rumors, Knicks

UPDATE: According to Yahoo! sports, the Knicks are discussing a possible three-team trade that would send Tracy McGrady to the Knicks. 

Weeks ago it didn’t seem as though the Knicks were going to pursue a trade for Tracy McGrady of the Rockets. One reporter even called a possible trade for T-Mac “Dead”. Now it seems as though the Knicks are rekindling the idea. 

On January 26th, Marc Berman of the New York Post wrote:

“Houston’s Tracy McGrady should be traded at the deadline and perhaps Chicago’s Tyrus Thomas, too. Both are squarely on Walsh’s radar. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey only has interest in a Knicks’ package if either rookie Jordan Hill or Chandler are part of it.”

One source thinks the Rockets would except a package around rookie Toney Douglas too. 

Hill, yes. Douglas, yes. Chandler, no. Wilson Chandler is a guy that could be a core part of the Knicks for years. We haven’t seen enough of Jordan Hill yet, but what we have seen hasn’t been impressive. Douglas has had some bright spots, but has been inconsistent. 

McGrady is set to become a free agent after this season. If the Rockets are willing to accept a package of Jordan Hill, Jared Jeffries or Eddy Curry, plus an expiring contract, the Knicks should jump on it and run like they just stole something because it will be tough to persuade them into taking Jeffries or Curry  - tough and extremely unlikely. 

The most likely trade scenario is one of the players the Rockets allegedly want (Hill, Douglas or Chandler) plus expiring contracts.