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Nalod
Posts: 72133
Alba Posts: 155
Joined: 12/24/2003
Member: #508
USA
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Then why did we not keep Butler?
Or Does Isiah have his rotation and Butler was not to be in it, and by letting him go he gets his minutes and money?
Or do we just bash Isiah for screwing up?
BROWN AND KNICKS ON COLLISION COURSE
By MARC BERMAN
September 29, 2006 -- Knicks brass doesn't believe Larry Brown gave it his all to win games last season.
But it's clear Brown is hell-bent on winning today, treating his meeting with the Knicks as Armageddon. Brown and his pack of high-priced Washington, D.C., attorneys will try to squeeze the Knicks for another $53.5 million during today's Manhattan hearing with NBA commissioner David Stern presiding.
Brown, Knicks president Isiah Thomas and owner James Dolan are expected to be in the same conference room to battle for the last time and end a disgusting 14-month chapter of Knicks history that saw Team Titanic post a 23-59 record. An NBA source said Stern could take two weeks to rule, meaning the Brown issue likely will linger after training camp begins Monday.
The Knicks withheld the $41 million remaining on Brown's pact "for cause." According to a 10Q form filed by the Garden with the Securities and Exchange commission, Brown is seeking $53.5M, or $12.5M more than his remaining pact, for "liquidated damages" and attorney's fees."
The Post has learned the document also states the Knicks' payout would be "offset" by a salary of another job taken across the next four years.
"It is the company's view no portion of this amount is owed to Mr. Brown," the document states.
Brown has hired one of the country's most powerful law firms, Williams & Connolly, to fight alleged Knicks charges the former coach violated his contract by holding unauthorized trade discussions, broke media policy by speaking to reporters outside the training complex and suggested five players be bought out. The Knicks took that unreasonable demand as Brown's way of wanting to be fired. And finally, Brown criticized players in the media, particularly Stephon Marbury, after told by Dolan to stop.
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With Maurice Taylor likely to be bought out to create a big-man roster spot, The Post has learned the Knicks will sign as bargain-basement free agents, 6-10 center Paul Miller and 6-9 power forward Elton Brown.
Miller impressed on their summer league team and Brown, who played at Virginia, is a rugged power forward. Both are working out at the Knicks' complex. All Knicks except Taylor took their physicals today.
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Thomas has hired former Indiana teammate Glen Grunwald to assist him in the front office. Grunwald, the former Raptors GM who worked with Thomas in Toronto, was given a fancy title: senior VP of basketball operations. Thomas, however, remains the No. 1 decision-maker.
That Dolan allowed Thomas to bring in one of his cronies seems to strengthen his lame-duck status. The duties were held last season by Brendan Suhr, but he's heading to the bench as Thomas' unofficial top assistant.
marc.berman@nypost.com
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[Edited by - Nalod on 09-29-2006 09:20 AM]
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9/29/2006 10:01 AM