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Rich
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Joined: 12/30/2003
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http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/49100.htm
DEAL-BREAKER
By MARC BERMAN
The Knicks need a good insurance agent now as much as they need a good coach.
After a Friday review of the insurance documents connected to Quentin Richardson's $48 million contract, the Knicks have discovered they are not insured if he sustains a career-ending, back-related injury, The Post has learned from a Western Conference source.
That supposed minor issue involving insurance injury protection has grown into a big one. The Knicks will not take on Richardson's contract unless it's insured. Insurance picks up roughly 75 percent of a contract in the event of a career-ending injury. Richardson missed 17 games in 2003-004 and three this past season with back spasms.
The Knicks are confident the Kurt Thomas-for-Richardson trade will happen, but the lack of contract insurance stands as a potential deal-breaker. One person familiar with the situation said it could take "a week, two weeks, a month" before being resolved.
Problem is, the Suns are not required to make Richardson available for a physical until the deal is consummated. Hence, the Knicks likely have no means of getting insurance on their own.
The trade is not expected to go down before tomorrow's draft at Madison Square Garden, but it does not effect the Knicks' draft strategy. Multiple sources have told The Post the center-starved Knicks will take 6-11 Arizona pivot Channing Frye with the eighth pick if he slips past Utah at No. 6 and Toronto at No. 7. The Knicks believe he will.
However, if Frye is not there and Houston's high school swingman Gerald Green also is off the board as expected, Thomas has told two confidants he will turn to 7-foot, 270-pound, high school center Andrew Bynum, even though he cancelled on a Knick workout.
If the Richardson deal is snuffed, it would be a big blow for the Knicks. They were planning on getting a young, athletic, entering-his-prime shooting guard in Richardson, 25, and another future first-round pick. Though Kurt Thomas is a very good team defender, he's 33 and isn't a shot-blocker, and that's what the Knicks need most because of their perimeter-defense woes. The trade will look better once Knicks president Isiah Thomas adds more beef to the frontline through the draft and summer free agency.
Too, the Knicks would have five potential first-rounders the next two years. As they wait for coach Larry Brown and the Pistons to reach an accord or divorce, at least one of those picks could be given to Detroit as compensation for signing Brown, without making a dent.
The Knicks, citing confidentially laws, would not confirm Richardson's contract isn't insured against injury. However, a league source denied the Knicks are concerned with Richardson's back, believing he has had a minor injury, and can't understand why the Suns were turned down for insurance. Reportedly, the Clippers let Richardson flee as a free agent last summer because of back concerns.
Richardson became the Suns' staring shooting guard and helped Phoenix get to the Western Conference finals with the league's best record. Richardson, despite a poor postseason, proved he can be a big part of a winning team, unlike Jamal Crawford. Richardson's arrival would push Crawford to the bench, though the Knicks can play them as an explosive trio.
Richardson, married to the singer Brandy, is from Chicago, and Isiah Thomas has a warm spot for players from his hometown. Richardson has post-up skills, too, which he didn't utilize in Phoenix.
"Quentin's tough as nails and the Knicks need that," one Eastern Conference GM said.
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6/27/2005 2:41 PM