Isiah had shot at signing Diop


DeSagana Diop could be the big one that got away from Isiah Thomas this summer.
Rather than offer Diop, a 22-year-old center, a contract, the Knicks opted instead to sign Jerome James to a five-year, $30 million deal. The 30-year-old James has fallen out of Larry Brown's rotation and has appeared in just 16games. Diop has played in all 36 of Dallas' games.

"He played good in the playoffs," Diop said of James. "Who was I last summer? They never saw me play, really. I never really got my chance to play. I guess they made the decision they thought they needed to make."

Diop, who signed a three-year, $6 million contract with Dallas to be Erick Dampier's backup, says he would have signed with the Knicks had they made an offer.

"It's New York," he said. "Who doesn't want to play here. I wanted to come here but they just didn't make the offer."

The Knicks brought Diop to New York for a workout and were impressed with his skills and with how much weight he'd lost (50 pounds) since he was a lottery pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers back 2002. Last night, Diop was held scoreless in 18 minutes, grabbing three rebounds, while James had one rebound in just six minutes.


IMO, IT droped the ball on this one, instead of signing JJ, he should've signed Diop for alot less and as more upside than JJ, along with being more disciplined as well.

We were looking for a starting center at the time. Diop is not, and may never be that. JJ, as bad is he has been was that on a playoff team last year.

Last night, Diop was held scoreless in 18 minutes, grabbing three rebounds, while James had one rebound in just six minutes.

James produced 1 rebound in 4 minutes.

So far, it's a wash.

NOw think for a sec. Would Diop be this much fun? Diop the legend? Diop the all-consuming hunger? Not likely. It worked out for the best.

2 guys I whined and cried about were Steven Hunter and Diop. Diop was garbage up until this year but I was looking at short term stop gap that would fit with what we were doing.

Diop's still a stiff, but a 22 year old $6 million dollar stiff beats a 30 year old $30 million dollar stiff anyday.