IT MIGHT ACTUALLY HURT OUR CHANCES:
Las Vegas - As much as
Al Harrington wanted to remain with the
Knicks, there was always a part of him that believed
Mike D'Antoni would never allow that to happen.
"Hell no," Harrington said Wednesday. "He definitely didn't want me back. That was the most obvious thing of all. We all knew that he didn't want me to be there."
Harrington's brief run with the Knicks officially ended when the veteran forward agreed to a five-year, $34 million contract with the
Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. For months, Harrington was holding out hope that Knicks president
Donnie Walsh, who drafted Harrington for the Pacers out of
St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, would find a way to keep him.
But in order for the Knicks to sign
Amar'e Stoudemire and
Raymond Felton, the club had to renounce Harrington's rights. It was a bitter ending for Harrington, who never felt wanted by his head coach.
Their relationship soured early last season when Harrington learned that D'Antoni was trying to trade him during the season. D'Antoni met with Harrington and denied trying to move him, but the damage was already done. There were other issues. Harrington believed he could have been better utilized in the post as opposed to being a perimeter shooter.
"Communication is the key with everything," Harrington added. "I respect people that tell you what it is. Don't tell me one thing and say something different to somebody else."
Harrington, 30, claims he doesn't understand why D'Antoni wouldn't embrace him, saying "I came off the bench and did whatever he asked me to do. I don't think he liked my game so now I'm moving on.
"When we won a game and I played well he wouldn't even mention me in his postgame comments. It is what it is. I thank him for the opportunity to play but I don't think I was a guy that he really liked."
D'Antoni, however, contends that the decision to part with Harrington as well as
David Lee was based simply on the fact that the Knicks had a chance to improve by signing Stoudemire.
"Amar'e kinda filled that position pretty good so I think we're okay," D'Antoni said. "We just changed the structure of the team. He and David Lee were financially out. I'm happy for Al, but it just didn't work out."
Harrington says he is "excited to be joining a playoff team again" and is optimistic that
Carmelo Anthony will sign an extension with the club. Anthony has a three-year, $65 million offer on the table from the Nuggets. If Anthony declines Denver's offer, he can become a free agent next summer and is already being targeted by the Knicks.
"I think he'll re-sign," Harrington said. "At least I hope he does."
Read more:
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/b...nded_any_shot_for_him_to_r.html#ixzz0tkzEoVnQ
