Weissenberg
Grid or Riot
A source told ESPNNewYork.com on Tuesday that the Knicks are exploring trade options involving Toney Douglas. ESPN NBA analyst Chris Broussard confirmed it with the website this morning.
The trade deadline is on March 15.
Douglas, a 6-2 combo guard, was the Knicks' starting point guard at the beginning of the season after the team amnestied Chauncey Billups, but he's become a bench warmer since Jeremy Lin burst on to the scene. Since Feb. 8, Douglas has only played in one game for six minutes.
Douglas was not able to execute D'Antoni's pick-and-roll offense consistently, and after seven games the head coach benched him in favor of Iman Shumpert. From that point on, not only did Douglas' role decrease, but also his shooting. After leading the NBA in most 3-pointers made after the 2011 All-Star break (68), he's only connected on 24 in 540 minutes this season (23.5 percent), while averaging 7.6 points per game.
Some insiders around the league suggested Douglas tweaked his surgically-repaired right shoulder, which led to his poor play. But most recognized that Douglas was not suited for D'Antoni's system. They still believe he's a talented player -- the Knicks did, after all, pick up his fourth-year team option on Jan. 25 -- but he just needs a bigger opportunity to flourish off the ball coming off the bench.
No specific names have surfaced as to who the Knicks may target for Douglas, but chances are they could go after another big-man defender and rebounder. Currently, starting center Tyson Chandler is playing through an injured left wrist and his backup, Jared Jeffries, is still out with a sore right knee, which he had drained the other day. The Knicks could also look into acquiring another stretch four to help the struggling Knicks space the floor even more and pick up their 3-point shooting -- an area where they still need to improve. They were only 3-for-11 from downtown in their 104-99 loss to Bulls Monday night.
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/knicks
The trade deadline is on March 15.
Douglas, a 6-2 combo guard, was the Knicks' starting point guard at the beginning of the season after the team amnestied Chauncey Billups, but he's become a bench warmer since Jeremy Lin burst on to the scene. Since Feb. 8, Douglas has only played in one game for six minutes.
Douglas was not able to execute D'Antoni's pick-and-roll offense consistently, and after seven games the head coach benched him in favor of Iman Shumpert. From that point on, not only did Douglas' role decrease, but also his shooting. After leading the NBA in most 3-pointers made after the 2011 All-Star break (68), he's only connected on 24 in 540 minutes this season (23.5 percent), while averaging 7.6 points per game.
Some insiders around the league suggested Douglas tweaked his surgically-repaired right shoulder, which led to his poor play. But most recognized that Douglas was not suited for D'Antoni's system. They still believe he's a talented player -- the Knicks did, after all, pick up his fourth-year team option on Jan. 25 -- but he just needs a bigger opportunity to flourish off the ball coming off the bench.
No specific names have surfaced as to who the Knicks may target for Douglas, but chances are they could go after another big-man defender and rebounder. Currently, starting center Tyson Chandler is playing through an injured left wrist and his backup, Jared Jeffries, is still out with a sore right knee, which he had drained the other day. The Knicks could also look into acquiring another stretch four to help the struggling Knicks space the floor even more and pick up their 3-point shooting -- an area where they still need to improve. They were only 3-for-11 from downtown in their 104-99 loss to Bulls Monday night.
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/knicks