The Knicks have made a habit over the years of bringing in guys with nothing left in the tank, guys who could have/should have been Knicks earlier in their careers when their particular skill set would have made a difference.
Think of players like Kiki Vanderwegh and Terry Cummings, or the former sharpshooter Rolando Blackman and former all-world guard Anfernee Hardaway. Tracy McGrady, who apparently will join the team for the remainder of the season, seems to be the latest addition to the club.
T-Mac was a star earlier in his career, whose brightness has been dulled by injuries.
So why bring him in and why cut loose rookie power forward Jordan Hill? Money. McGrady adds another expiring contract to a team loaded with expiring contracts meaning the Knicks could be more than $35 million under the salary cap when the off-season starts — an off-season in which Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson and others will be available.
That’s a lot of cash to go after some significant star power — and it leaves open a good possibility that the team could find a way to retain all-star David Lee if everything breaks right. As things stand, the team is committed to only a few players next year — most notably the young wings (Wilson Chandler and Danillo Gallinari) and guard Andrew Toney. (Eddy Curry also is on the books, I believe, a sad reminder of the pre-Donnie Walsh era.)
The team better snag a couple of names, because the fans have been waiting for too long just for this club to be competitive.
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Hank Kalet 