New York Knicks: Witness??

Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer published an interesting article Thursday. He was covering Stephen Curry of Davidson at the NBA Draft combine in Chicago, and he seemed a little perplexed by Curry's statement that he hoped to be a New York Knick on draft day.

The statement is a little unusual, because most guys give the same "cookie cutter" quotes about how they are just blessed to be in this position, happy for the opportunity, blah blah blah. Curry says he wants to be drafted by the Knicks. One reason it's not so strange is that the Knicks' 8th pick is the first position where Curry seems to be an option, so he isn't really risking "hurting the feelilngs" of any other teams by making this proclamation.

The strangest aspect of the statement is that Curry grew up in Charlotte (while his father, Dell, played for the Hornets), went to college at Davidson (which is basically in Charlotte), and seems to have zero interest in being a Bobcat. Now, don't get me wrong...the management of the Charlotte Bobcats have not done anything to convince me that they have a clue about building a basketball team. Other than the paychecks, there aren't a lot of factors to make anyone want to play for the Bobcats. Sean May doesn't even want to play for them enough to get up from the dinner table (or stay out of the clubs, depending on who you believe).

Anyway, I think there may be one not-so-subtle reason that Stephen Curry wants to be a New York Knick. I also think there may be one not-so-subtle reason that the New York Knicks want Stephen Curry. That reason:



This is a picture of LeBron James during Davdison's game against North Carolina State in Charlotte last season. James and Curry have become friends. Curry worked at James' basketball camp in Cleveland last summer.

LeBron is also going to be a free agent at the end of the 2009-10 NBA season, and the Knicks have been long-rumored as one of his top choices should he decide to leave Cleveland. A scoring point guard, like Curry, on the roster would make the Knicks a very attractive option for James. Add in the fact that they are already friends, and the Knicks become more attractive.

If the Knicks get Curry, and then get James, you will never convince me that it was just "coincidence". But, those two in Mike D'Antoni's offense would be fun to watch.

The Captain??

According to Joe Ovies of Sports Radio 850thebuzz, Rod Brind'Amour is not guaranteed a spot on the ice during the 2009-10 season.

Brind'Amour is under contract for two more seasons, and both seasons he will cost in the neighborhood of 3 million dollars.

The Hurricanes operate at their own salary cap, which is normally about 5 or 6 million lower than the NHL salary cap. Since that is the case, I don't think they can afford to pay a 4th-line center 3 million dollars a season.

It has nothing to do with the captain. I like him as a player, and I'd like to see him stay in Raleigh until he retires. But, unless the team is going to spend more money than it traditionally spends, I just don't think Brind'Amour is a wise investment.

Of course, since he's under contract, the Hurricanes would most likely have to trade him to get out from under his salary obligation.

Another interesting development will be the Erik Cole contract situation. Cole is an unrestricted free agent who made 4 million dollars last season. I'm not sure he is worth that kind of money to anyone anymore, but I'd really be shocked to see the Hurricanes offer him a big-money contract. He hasn't been the same player since the "Orpik incident" during the 2006 Stanley Cup season. He made his cameo appearance in the Cup Finals, and then signed a big free agent deal that offseason.

Jim Rutherford, the Canes' GM, has a lot of difficult decisions to make this offseason. Personally, I'd like to see the Canes add a scoring forward and a big-time defenseman. But, it isn't my money I'm spending.

Hurricanes vs. Penguins

Tonight is the start of the Eastern Conference Finals in the National Hockey League.

The Carolina Hurricanes are in Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins.

I was going to do a detailed breakdown of the series. Matchups, coaching, speed, size, scoring....the whole enchilada.

Then, I remembered something:

In an evenly-matched series, everything comes down to goaltending. I believe that Cam Ward is significantly better than Marc-Andre Fleury, and I think that is why the Hurricanes will win the series.

I'm not going to predict a specific number of games. I just think it will end with the Hurricanes going back to the Stanley Cup Finals for the 3rd time.

***Post-series edit: well, as Pack Blogger says in his comment, I couldn't have been any more wrong about this series. Marc-Andre Fleury was great, Cam Ward was average, but the real difference was that Fleury's team made things much easier on him, while Ward's teammates didn't do him any favors at all. Malkin is un-freaking-believable.