Curry set for latest comeback attempt
By MARC BERMAN
Last Updated: 6:17 AM, November 10, 2009
Posted: 3:10 AM, November 10, 2009
"Eddy Curry: The Comeback, Part V" is unveiled today.
The Knicks, who suffered a 95-93 loss to the Jazz at the Garden last night, are so desperate, coach Mike D'Antoni is even looking forward to center Curry making his long-awaited return to practice today.
Curry, who hasn't practiced since injuring an obscure calf muscle on the first night of training camp, has been cleared to practice and could make his debut next Wednesday in Indiana if all goes well.
Curry was banished from the team in early October with the goal of losing weight after his ballyhooed summer conditioning program didn't get him in good-enough shape.
Curry came to camp having lost 30 pounds, down to 317, but it wasn't enough.
Curry is believed to be in the 305-pound range. Part of the Knicks' desperation to make him a viable player is to increase his nonexistent trade value. If they can deal his contract, which runs through 2011, the Knicks could be in position to sign two maximum contracts in 2010 free agency.
Asked about Curry's new weight loss, D'Antoni cracked: "He looks good. I might want to date him."
Turning serious, D'Antoni said, "He looks like he's ready to roll."
Curry did not travel with the team or attend games while on his conditioning stint, during which he worked out twice a day.
"He's been working unbelievably hard," D'Antoni said. "He's going on a pace that's murderous. He feels more comfortable with us than being with you guys (the media)."
Even team president Donnie Walsh has raved about how Curry looks, but was cautious on whether this latest comeback is legitimate.
"I'm not certain," Walsh said. "That's the whole idea. We have done everything we can to get him to a point where he can do that. But until he does it, I'm not certain."
Curry, who played in three games last season because of being overweight and burdened by sore knees, will have to deal with rust and reaction time more than anything after missing all of preseason. This will be Curry's first practice since Sept. 29 -- nearly six weeks.
After Friday's game vs. Golden State, the Knicks have four straight practice days after which they hope he can be ready to play.
*
Walsh said he's open to a trade, but only if he's getting back an expiring contract. He has no interest in Memphis' Allen Iverson, who has already worn out his welcome.
Utah's Carlos Boozer (23 points, 14 rebounds) had appealed to Walsh over the summer as he is in the last year of his deal and Utah isn't prepared to re-sign him because of luxury tax concerns. But Boozer is still an All-Star caliber player and unless the Jazz fall out of the playoff race, the Jazz wouldn't want anything on the Knicks roster.
"It depends who it is," Walsh said. "If it fits in with what our philosophy is." . . . Darko Milicic was a DNP.
Read more:
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knic..._attempt_BAZsvLWo3gu6L1zslur5OM#ixzz0WTDfO57Z