Calling it "definitely frustrating," center
Eddy Curry spoke out yesterday and said he hopes the Knicks would cut ties with him after the season if his playing status doesn't improve the rest of this season. It was the strongest, most bitter remark Curry has made about a potential Knicks divorce and raised an interesting scenario: Could the Knicks actually open more 2010 cap space if they have a buyout agreement with Curry after the season?
Curry can opt-out of his contract after the year, but said he will not do so. He's due another $11 million in his final season.
"I would never do that," Curry said of opting out. "At that point, I would hope both sides do what was right. At that point, if you decided to go that long and not play me, he [
Mike D'Antoni] probably made up his mind I'm not a fit for his team. I would hope we could work something out."
Curry was a DNP for the fourth straight game yesterday, coinciding with
Jonathan Bender's comeback.
If there is a buyout, the Knicks would save money on the cap depending on the amount he received. However, with Curry's market value way down, it's doubtful he would agree to a much-reduced rate because he may not be able to re-sign and make up the difference. Curry probably would be worth the $1.9 million veteran's minimum.
Curry made a point to say he's spoken with
Donnie Walsh but not D'Antoni. In fact, Curry refused to use D'Antoni's name.
"It's frustrating, because I worked so hard to get back and to be ready to go and now it's just like go every game trying to figure out if I'm going to play or not, sitting over there waiting to see what's going to happen," Curry said. "It's tough to deal with, especially at this stage of my career, at this age. I ain't that old, but I've been here for a while."