Knicks Confident Deal Goes Through

[thegrahamcrackr]

From the post

June 27, 2005 -- The Knicks need a good insurance agent now as much as they need a good coach.
After a Friday review of the insurance documents connected to Quentin Richardson's $48 million contract, the Knicks have discovered they are not insured if he sustains a career-ending, back-related injury, The Post has learned from a Western Conference source.

That supposed minor issue involving insurance injury protection has grown into a big one. The Knicks will not take on Richardson's contract unless it's insured. Insurance picks up roughly 75 percent of a contract in the event of a career-ending injury. Richardson missed 17 games in 2003-004 and three this past season with back spasms.

The Knicks are confident the Kurt Thomas-for-Richardson trade will happen, but the lack of contract insurance stands as a potential deal-breaker. One person familiar with the situation said it could take "a week, two weeks, a month" before being resolved.

Problem is, the Suns are not required to make Richardson available for a physical until the deal is consummated. Hence, the Knicks likely have no means of getting insurance on their own.

The trade is not expected to go down before tomorrow's draft at Madison Square Garden, but it does not effect the Knicks' draft strategy. Multiple sources have told The Post the center-starved Knicks will take 6-11 Arizona pivot Channing Frye with the eighth pick if he slips past Utah at No. 6 and Toronto at No. 7. The Knicks believe he will.

However, if Frye is not there and Houston's high school swingman Gerald Green also is off the board as expected, Thomas has told two confidants he will turn to 7-foot, 270-pound, high school center Andrew Bynum, even though he cancelled on a Knick workout.



If the Richardson deal is snuffed, it would be a big blow for the Knicks. They were planning on getting a young, athletic, entering-his-prime shooting guard in Richardson, 25, and another future first-round pick. Though Kurt Thomas is a very good team defender, he's 33 and isn't a shot-blocker, and that's what the Knicks need most because of their perimeter-defense woes. The trade will look better once Knicks president Isiah Thomas adds more beef to the frontline through the draft and summer free agency.

Too, the Knicks would have five potential first-rounders the next two years. As they wait for coach Larry Brown and the Pistons to reach an accord or divorce, at least one of those picks could be given to Detroit as compensation for signing Brown, without making a dent.

The Knicks, citing confidentially laws, would not confirm Richardson's contract isn't insured against injury. However, a league source denied the Knicks are concerned with Richardson's back, believing he has had a minor injury, and can't understand why the Suns were turned down for insurance. Reportedly, the Clippers let Richardson flee as a free agent last summer because of back concerns.

Richardson became the Suns' staring shooting guard and helped Phoenix get to the Western Conference finals with the league's best record. Richardson, despite a poor postseason, proved he can be a big part of a winning team, unlike Jamal Crawford. Richardson's arrival would push Crawford to the bench, though the Knicks can play them as an explosive trio.

Richardson, married to the singer Brandy, is from Chicago, and Isiah Thomas has a warm spot for players from his hometown. Richardson has post-up skills, too, which he didn't utilize in Phoenix.

"Quentin's tough as nails and the Knicks need that," one Eastern Conference GM said.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Great....

 

[Joe Mama]

Great....

This is one time I totally agree with the

I don't think I could express with just words how disappointed I would be if the trade did not go through at this point.

Joe Mama

 

[Kolo]

Newsday is more optomistic:

BY GREG LOGAN
STAFF WRITER

June 27, 2005


If Quentin Richardson passes his physical today, thus resolving insurance concerns about his back, it's likely the Knicks' trade sending power forward Kurt Thomas to Phoenix for Richardson and a future first-round draft choice will become official.

The deal was on hold over the weekend while the Knicks waited for approval from the company that insures player contracts. Richardson hasn't had a major back injury, and it's expected the paperwork will get sorted out so the deal can go through.

With the NBA draft looming tomorrow, it's uncertain whether the Knicks will hold a news conference or wait to introduce Richardson with their rookies on Wednesday. The draft choice the Knicks get in the deal is expected to be a late first-round pick in 2007 or later because it's protected beyond the lottery.

The decision to trade Thomas, a power forward who became their starting center last season after team president Isiah Thomas traded his other centers, makes it a virtual certainty that the Knicks will take a big man with the eighth pick. Arizona center Channing Frye is believed to be their top choice, but if he goes before the eighth spot, it's likely the Knicks will choose 7-foot New Jersey high schooler Andrew Bynum even though he's not projected to go that high in most mock drafts.

Bynum was headed for Connecticut, but his potential has him rising toward lottery status. Isiah Thomas is said by Knicks insiders to be thinking "long-term," and Bynum is worth the wait. The Knicks never announced a Bynum workout, but there are indications they worked him out secretly.

The top high schooler in the draft, shooting guard Gerald Green of Houston, worked out yesterday for the Knicks. But as he has done with other teams, he worked individually rather than against other players. He's expected to be gone before the Knicks pick.

 

[Yuma]

This is one time I totally agree with the

I don't think I could express with just words how disappointed I would be if the trade did not go through at this point.

Joe Mama

If the NY Knicks deal doesn't go through, I'm sure GM BC would just reload and try another trade. The Suns probably feel right now that KT is the best big man we could get, but sometimes other options open up over time. If the deal doesn't go through, it's not the end of the world. KT is a little older than I'd like, maybe we could go younger at center with a different trade?

 

[coloradosun]

As I mentioned in another thread is that the holdup in announcing the deal is that Barbosa might be included if the player the Suns want at #30 is on the board (say Nate Robinson). Just adding the hold up and the rumor of Barbosa on the move could be tied together. That would be fair value for LB since he was a #29 pick anyhow.

As far as a big man for the Knicks I read that Isiah might be after Kwane in FA. I think he might have to give some consideration to Alonzo Mourning as well.

 

[Yuma]

As I mentioned in another thread is that the holdup in announcing the deal is that Barbosa might be included if the player the Suns want at #30 is on the board (say Nate Robinson). Just adding the hold up and the rumor of Barbosa on the move could be tied together. That would be fair value for LB since he was a #29 pick anyhow.

As far as a big man for the Knicks I read that Isiah might be after Kwane in FA. I think he might have to give some consideration to Alonzo Mourning as well.

I thought it was the insurance for Q issue. I think the Suns will allow Q to be examined before the deal in order to get it done if they are really that high on KT. I'm not sure the Suns would give up Barbosa for essentially for a #30 pick. Especially since they want players that can contribute now. I'm thinking we may see Barbosa for more veteran talent, if he's moved at all. He's cheap and has some talent, so Barbs may stay.

 

[coloradosun]

I thought it was the insurance for Q issue. I think the Suns will allow Q to be examined before the deal in order to get it done if they are really that high on KT. I'm not sure the Suns would give up Barbosa for essentially for a #30 pick. Especially since they want players that can contribute now. I'm thinking we may see Barbosa for more veteran talent, if he's moved at all. He's cheap and has some talent, so Barbs may stay.

I just looked at the Knicks roster and they have no backup point guard. Barbs and Marbs had a good relationship and if they see Stephon as their future they may surround him with guys he wants.

The Suns need a point guard for the future and if they think that either Robinson or Diener can be groomed for that, why not give up Barbosa now. Both JJ's proved that they can step in and help, it was obvious that Barbs could not. I see Robinson or Diener as a hugh improvement over LB immediately and possible long term replacements for Nash.

 

[Yuma]

I just looked at the Knicks roster and they have no backup point guard. Barbs and Marbs had a good relationship and if they see Stephon as their future they may surround him with guys he wants.

The Suns need a point guard for the future and if they think that either Robinson or Diener can be groomed for that, why not give up Barbosa now. Both JJ's proved that they can step in and help, it was obvious that Barbs could not. I see Robinson or Diener as a hugh improvement over LB immediately and possible long term replacements for Nash.

I can see where it works for the Knicks, but unless Phoenix is ready to get rid of Barbs already meaning they feel he won't improve in the future, they are trading a guy who has two years of development under his belt for a rookie. You could be right, though.

 

[coloradosun]

I can see where it works for the Knicks, but unless Phoenix is ready to get rid of Barbs already meaning they feel he won't improve in the future, they are trading a guy who has two years of development under his belt for a rookie. You could be right, though.

I just think that there was a lot of frustration on D'A's behalf regarding Barbs, if the guy can't follow the coach's instruction, possibly the language barrier, you have got to get someone in that can be more disciplined.

It would be quite ironic if the Suns get #30 back because that is the pick that we sent to SA for Barbosa via NYK. There is no way you can argue that he is not worth the pick, because he is that pick.

If #30 is included in the deal I would like to see the Suns trade it to Orlando for both of their 2's and then pick up Diener and Stephan Graham.

 

[Joe Mama]

I just looked at the Knicks roster and they have no backup point guard. Barbs and Marbs had a good relationship and if they see Stephon as their future they may surround him with guys he wants.

The Suns need a point guard for the future and if they think that either Robinson or Diener can be groomed for that, why not give up Barbosa now. Both JJ's proved that they can step in and help, it was obvious that Barbs could not. I see Robinson or Diener as a hugh improvement over LB immediately and possible long term replacements for Nash.

Crawford is the backup point guard.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

I suppose if the Q deal falls through, they will have to do the Joe Smith trade.

 

[Joe Mama]

I suppose if the Q deal falls through, they will have to do the Joe Smith trade.

I know you are being sarcastic, but we all probably need to realize that if this trade somehow falls apart there is a very good chance Q is back with the team next year. I mean the Suns are dealing with the worst and most easily taken advantage of general manager in the NBA, and they still have to give a conditional first-round draft pick to unload Q. I'm honestly not even sure we could give him away at this point to a team like Atlanta or Denver that is far under the salary cap.

We need this deal to go through.

The funny thing about this article is that it says they are confident the deal will go through, but the content of the article made me feel more unsure.

Joe