Balkman Also Off The Table In Artest Trade Talk
July 9, 2007 - 1:04 pm
New York Post -

The New York Post spoke with Ron Artest's brother Daniel who revealed that Ron wants to play for the Knicks. "He's been quiet about it, but he wants to come home," said Daniel who lives with Ron in Sacramento.

Isiah Thomas has made it clear that he will not trade David Lee in a deal to bring Ron Artest home to New York.

Apparently, Renaldo Balkman is off limits too.

Jared Jeffries and Malik Rose are available, as well as Nate Robinson, Mardy Collins, Randolph Morris and this year's draft picks, Wilson Chandler and Demetris Nichols.

The Knicks also have the expiring contracts of Dan Dickau and Fred Jones to dangle. Trading the two together for Artest could not happen until later this summer under salary cap rules.

The Knicks are pursuing Artest on the premise that a frontcourt featuring Eddy Curry, Zach Randolph, Artest, Lee and Balkman could compete for the NBA championship.

"If we can stay together and go at it for three, four years, add a piece here and there, I'm confident it's a group that can play for [the title]," Thomas said of his current unit.

Jared Jeffries and Malik Rose are available, as well as Nate Robinson, Mardy Collins, Randolph Morris and this year's draft picks, Wilson Chandler and Demetris Nichols.

a package of those players may yield a late #1, and a couple of #2's.

"If we can stay together and go at it for three, four years, add a piece here and there, I'm confident it's a group that can play for [the title]," Thomas said of his current unit.


sounds like the extension was for 4 years.

[Edited by - djsunyc on 07-09-2007 1:08 PM]