Isiah Thomas, not idling amid the turmoil swirling around him, made a trade typical of his tenure as Knicks president on Friday by taking on an expensive player slightly past his prime, but acquiring a first-round draft pick in the process.
Before the Knicks' 104-90 loss to the Raptors on Friday night in Toronto, Thomas shipped the veteran power forward Antonio Davis to the Raptors for small forward Jalen Rose and a draft pick. The pick had belonged to Denver, but was sent to the Nets and then on to the Raptors as part of the trade that sent Vince Carter to New Jersey in December 2004.
The Raptors also agreed to give the Knicks US$3 million, the maximum amount of cash allowed under NBA rules.
"I'm not saying this is a move to get to the playoffs or anything like that," Thomas said on a conference call from New York. "Jalen is a person who fits exactly what we need. A very versatile player, he can handle the ball in the backcourt, he can score from the small forward position and he can take some of the scoring load off some of our younger players who have been asked to score at difficult times during the game."
Thomas added, "It helps our present, and it also helps our future that we have two first-round picks."
The Knicks previously obtained San Antonio's first-round pick as part of the Malik Rose deal last year. The Knicks gave their own pick to Chicago in October in the Eddy Curry trade, of which Davis was a reluctant piece.
The trade of Davis takes him back to the city where he spent a little more than four seasons and caps a turbulent three weeks. He was suspended for five games for rushing into the stands in Chicago when he saw his wife, Kendra, involved in an altercation. On Thursday, Kendra Davis was charged with misdemeanor assault in a traffic incident that occurred in October.
Thomas said those incidents had nothing to do with the trade.
In his first public comments since addressing the sexual harassment lawsuit filed against him and Madison Square Garden by the former Knicks executive Anucha Browne Sanders, Thomas bristled when asked if he considered taking a leave of absence or stepping down.
"Any of you who have covered me know the answer to both of those questions is absolutely no," Thomas said.
He spent more time explaining that he is balancing his efforts to rebuild the Knicks even though he has now added a player who increases the highest payroll in the league (US$120 million). Rose, who makes US$15.7 million in this, his 12th season, will earn US$16.9 million next season.
When the Raptors traded Carter, Rose, 33, realized he could not be part of Toronto's rebuilding. The Knicks are different.
"It's a rebuilding situation, but more geared, especially being in New York, to win and compete and be a playoff team," Rose said, "the sooner the better."
Rose warned that his trade does not mean "it's going to be overnight success and we're going to be the Spurs or the Pistons. You go one day, one practice at a time. I'm going to do my best to influence the young players on the team."
Rose, known for his offense, is not a player who emphasizes defense. Bemoaning his players' defensive effort has become coach Larry Brown's theme. "I'm trying to go out and get the players he wants me to go out and get," Thomas said of Brown. "This is a player he wanted."
Acquiring the draft pick was the primary objective, however. The Knicks and the Raptors had discussed various versions of a deal, some of which included Mike James and Trevor Ariza, for months. But Toronto, under General Manager Rob Babcock, would not relinquish a first-round pick. Babcock was fired last week and replaced on an interim basis by Wayne Embry.
The Knicks had also been shopping Davis, hoping to acquire Theo Ratliff, the shot blocker from Portland, but chose this deal.
The 37-year-old Davis' US$13.8 million contract expires at the end of this year, giving Toronto flexibility. The trade gives the Knicks versatility and a reliable starter at small forward, where they had cycled through six players this season. It also gives them another option at point guard.
Rose, who sat on the bench watching his new team struggle Friday, was excited to be reunited with Thomas and Brown. Rose has known Thomas since growing up in Detroit, and both Thomas and Brown coached him with the Pacers.
In Brown's last season in Indiana, 1996-1997, he and Rose clashed over his role.
"Jalen was young and wanted to play point guard and I wanted to make him a small forward and a point forward," Brown said before Friday's game. "I'm confident he knows what I want and he's at a point in his career where he's been a small forward. I think it's a no-brainer in terms of the contribution he could make to the club."
Rose's scoring average plummeted along with his minutes this season in Toronto as Coach Sam Mitchell used younger players until last month. Rose was eager for a trade, even though he averaged 17.1 points and 30 minutes a game in January.
"After you've played 12 years, it's good to feel wanted," Rose said.
He joins a team saddled with injuries and inexperience. With the trade, the Knicks have lost their well-liked team leader, two days after he appealed to Brown on behalf of the players to simplify his defense.
Stephon Marbury, who did not play Friday because of his sprained left shoulder, was disappointed to lose Davis' stabilizing presence, but was excited to welcome Rose.
"A guy like Jalen, his demeanor has a carry-over for other people," Marbury said. "He just knows how to play the game."
Bobcats 112, Lakers 102
At Charlotte, North Carolina, Jumaine Jones scored a career-high 31 points to help Charlotte snap its franchise-record, 13-game losing streak with a shocker over Los Angeles.
Jones, traded from the Lakers to Charlotte in late October, made all six of his shots in the first quarter to help the Bobcats open a 40-25 lead they never relinquished. He shot 13-of-20, made five 3-pointers, and had nine rebounds.
Kobe Bryant finished with 35 points, but didn't make a basket in the fourth quarter. He also had seven turnovers for the Lakers, who played without the injured Lamar Odom.
Primoz Brezec finished with 22 points for Charlotte, which had not won a game since a double-overtime victory over Houston on Jan. 10.
Pistons 87, 76ers 80
At Philadelphia, Richard Hamilton scored 30 points, Rasheed Wallace added 20 and Detroit held on to beat feisty, short-handed Philadelphia.
The 76ers played without Allen Iverson, who missed his fourth straight game with injured ankles.
With a fourth-quarter lineup that included seldom-used Shavlik Randolph and 19-year-old rookie Louis Williams, the Sixers never let the game get away against the team with the NBA's best record.
Chris Webber scored 17 points, Andre Iguodala had 13 points, and Samuel Dalembert finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Sixers, who missed a chance to move into a tie for first place with New Jersey in the Atlantic Division.
Tayshaun Prince finished with 16 points and Chauncey Billups had 14 assists to help the Pistons win the first of a three-game road trip.
Hawks 96, Magic 94
At Atlanta, Joe Johnson sank a jumper over DeShawn Stevenson with less than a second remaining to lift Atlanta over Orlando.
Johnson had 23 points and 11 assists as Atlanta won its third straight game for the first time since 2004.
Steve Francis led Orlando with 30 points and eight assists. Dwight Howard added 24 points and 16 rebounds. Tony Battie had nine points and 13 rebounds.
Al Harrington had 18 points and 12 rebounds for Atlanta. The Hawks last won three straight games in April 2004.
Rockets 100, Sonics 77
At Houston, Tracy McGrady scored 36 points and Yao Ming added 24 points and 14 rebounds to lead Houston.
McGrady also grabbed nine rebounds as the Rockets improved to 6-15 at home and won back-to-back games at the Toyota Center for the first time this season.
Ray Allen scored 23 points and Rashard Lewis added 21 for Seattle, which committed 20 turnovers and was outrebounded 50-40.
The Rockets improved to 11-6 when Yao and McGrady both play.
Jazz 89, Kings 79
At Salt Lake City, Sacramento did not make a field goal in the fourth quarter, allowing Utah to rally.
Andrei Kirilenko scored 14 of his 24 points in the period, when the Kings went 0-for-20 from the field and were outscored 34-12.
Ron Artest, who left the game early with what appeared to be a hip pointer, led Sacramento with 20 points. Mike Bibby, who had scored 40 points four times in the last 10 games, scored 15 points and shot just 4-of-16.
Clippers 98, Celtics 81
At Boston, Elton Brand and Sam Cassell keyed a late run that broke open a close game, leading Los Angeles over Boston.
Brand had six of his 30 points and Cassell had three 3-pointers in a 19-3 run in the fourth quarter that carried the Clippers to their seventh win in eight games. The Celtics lost their fourth consecutive game.
Brand scored at least 30 points for the fourth time in five games and added 11 rebounds and four blocks. Cassell finished with 23 points.
Los Angeles improved to 11-10 on the road, surpassing its total of 10 road wins in each of the last two seasons. It also went 10 games over .500 (27-17) for the first time since 1991-1992.
The Celtics were led by Wally Szczerbiak with 18 points. He tied his career high of 10 assists. Paul Pierce also scored 18.
Trail Blazers 89, Timberwolves 85
At Portland, Zach Randolph had 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Portland held off Minnesota.
Randolph has 18 double-doubles this season for the improving Blazers, who have won seven of their last 11 games.
Kevin Garnett had 27 points and 15 rebounds for Minnesota, which has lost three of five since a seven-player deal with Boston that brought Ricky Davis, Marcus Banks, Mark Blount and Justin Reed to the team.
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