Mr. J
Triple Up
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Butler may become Knicks' odd man in
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Imagine this scenario nine days from now when the Knicks open the regular season in Boston.
After investing $30 million in July to sign free-agent center Jerome James, then enduring all the medical machinations it took to sign (for almost $60 million)-and-trade for Eddy Curry earlier this month, coach Larry Brown's starting center is ... Jackie Butler.
Twenty-year-old, undrafted-out-of-high school Jackie Butler.
Won't happen, of course, not with nearly $90 million, plus all the public relations, the Knicks have invested in Curry and James.
Yet, after Butler produced 12 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots in Saturday's 96-90 preseason victory in San Antonio, Brown said of his higher-profile centers, "Eddy and Jerome are not in the kind of shape they need to be in to play in the NBA right now."
If that was meant as a message, Brown enhanced it by practically gushing over the 6-foot-10 Butler, signed as a project late last season, but now at least all but assured of a spot on the final 15-man roster (12 active, plus three inactive for each game).
"Jackie can play," Brown said. "He's got the best feel for the game [of] anybody I've been around that young with that size. He can catch, he has great hands, he knows how to pass. He can make an open shot. He's [20] years old, but he's getting better."</div>
Bergen Record
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Imagine this scenario nine days from now when the Knicks open the regular season in Boston.
After investing $30 million in July to sign free-agent center Jerome James, then enduring all the medical machinations it took to sign (for almost $60 million)-and-trade for Eddy Curry earlier this month, coach Larry Brown's starting center is ... Jackie Butler.
Twenty-year-old, undrafted-out-of-high school Jackie Butler.
Won't happen, of course, not with nearly $90 million, plus all the public relations, the Knicks have invested in Curry and James.
Yet, after Butler produced 12 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots in Saturday's 96-90 preseason victory in San Antonio, Brown said of his higher-profile centers, "Eddy and Jerome are not in the kind of shape they need to be in to play in the NBA right now."
If that was meant as a message, Brown enhanced it by practically gushing over the 6-foot-10 Butler, signed as a project late last season, but now at least all but assured of a spot on the final 15-man roster (12 active, plus three inactive for each game).
"Jackie can play," Brown said. "He's got the best feel for the game [of] anybody I've been around that young with that size. He can catch, he has great hands, he knows how to pass. He can make an open shot. He's [20] years old, but he's getting better."</div>
Bergen Record
