Patrick Ewing Jr. takes minor road back to Knicks
By FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Wednesday, December 10th 2008, 11:55 AM
CHICAGO - Patrick Ewing Jr. is joining the Knicks' D-League affiliate in Reno and will eventually sign with the NBA club once the futures of Cuttino Mobley and/or Stephon Marbury are resolved, the Daily News has learned.
Mobley is due to arrive in New York today, and there is a strong possibility that the veteran guard will be forced to retire due to a heart condition. Mobley has been meeting with specialists since being acquired from the Clippers in the Zach Randolph trade three weeks ago.
Mobley's retirement would create a roster spot for Ewing, who became an instant fan favorite during the preseason only to be released by the Knicks before the start of the regular season.
Ewing is free to sign with any club but he would prefer to play with the team that his father led to two NBA Finals in the 1990s. Ewing has attended several Knicks games and has been a frequent visitor to the team's training center in Greenburgh.
Ewing, a 6-8 small forward, doesn't satisfy the Knicks' need for an additional guard, but Mike D'Antoni is confident that once Nate Robinson returns from a groin injury the rotation will be set. However, Knicks president Donnie Walsh will either trade for or sign a guard once both Mobley and Marbury are no longer around. Walsh has two salary-cap exceptions he could use to acquire a backup.
Robinson has missed six of the Knicks' last seven games and is not expected to play tonight against the Nets. D'Antoni is hopeful that Robinson will be available for the start of the Knicks' three-game West Coast trip Saturday in Sacramento.
CENTER STAGE: Eddy Curry revealed Tuesday that he is still several weeks away from returning from a bruised right knee. Curry is scheduled to receive another injection on Friday and is hopeful that he will be cleared to play before Jan. 1.
D'Antoni on his decision to sign with the Knicks instead of the Bulls: "I thought Chicago was further ahead with their roster. But at the time I had to feel comfortable and I just had a gut feeling that New York was the place for whatever reason. I knew it was a tougher job, bigger job, bigger stage and all that. I took the challenge."
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By FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Wednesday, December 10th 2008, 11:55 AM
CHICAGO - Patrick Ewing Jr. is joining the Knicks' D-League affiliate in Reno and will eventually sign with the NBA club once the futures of Cuttino Mobley and/or Stephon Marbury are resolved, the Daily News has learned.
Mobley is due to arrive in New York today, and there is a strong possibility that the veteran guard will be forced to retire due to a heart condition. Mobley has been meeting with specialists since being acquired from the Clippers in the Zach Randolph trade three weeks ago.
Mobley's retirement would create a roster spot for Ewing, who became an instant fan favorite during the preseason only to be released by the Knicks before the start of the regular season.
Ewing is free to sign with any club but he would prefer to play with the team that his father led to two NBA Finals in the 1990s. Ewing has attended several Knicks games and has been a frequent visitor to the team's training center in Greenburgh.
Ewing, a 6-8 small forward, doesn't satisfy the Knicks' need for an additional guard, but Mike D'Antoni is confident that once Nate Robinson returns from a groin injury the rotation will be set. However, Knicks president Donnie Walsh will either trade for or sign a guard once both Mobley and Marbury are no longer around. Walsh has two salary-cap exceptions he could use to acquire a backup.
Robinson has missed six of the Knicks' last seven games and is not expected to play tonight against the Nets. D'Antoni is hopeful that Robinson will be available for the start of the Knicks' three-game West Coast trip Saturday in Sacramento.
CENTER STAGE: Eddy Curry revealed Tuesday that he is still several weeks away from returning from a bruised right knee. Curry is scheduled to receive another injection on Friday and is hopeful that he will be cleared to play before Jan. 1.
D'Antoni on his decision to sign with the Knicks instead of the Bulls: "I thought Chicago was further ahead with their roster. But at the time I had to feel comfortable and I just had a gut feeling that New York was the place for whatever reason. I knew it was a tougher job, bigger job, bigger stage and all that. I took the challenge."
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