NICHOLS COULD HEAD TO EUROPE
By MARC BERMAN

July 12, 2007 -- LAS VEGAS - Through two summer-league outings, second-round pick Demetris Nichols has shown he has a Knicks future beyond Las Vegas. But next season, it might come in Europe.
The Post has learned the Knicks are considering stashing Nichols in Europe for one season because of their roster surplus.

Because Nichols was a second-round pick, the Knicks do not have to sign him to a guaranteed contract and would still retain his rights.

But team president Isiah Thomas is still trying to make some moves to cut the roster from 17 to the maximum 15 to allow Nichols, selected 53rd by Portland, to play for the Knicks this season.

Knicks senior VP Glen Grunwald said Nichols still has chance to make the squad.

"Obviously you can only have 15 during the season," Grunwald told The Post. "We'll find a way to either keep him on the team or retain him as an asset for the future."

Thomas has been so impressed by the 6-foot, 8-inch shooting guard from Syracuse he truly wants to make a 3-for-1 trade to pare down to 15.

Though Thomas still has his dream of stealing Ron Artest from Sacramento for pittance, he has lowered his expectations. More likely, Dan Dickau, Fred Jones or Nate Robinson will be traded in a minor deal.

"It's safe to say we're active," Thomas said. "By the time the season starts, we have to have 15 players. We have to be active. We're not necessarily looking to do major things. We think we've done enough major things. We want to do small things that may help here."

The Knicks (2-0) resume their summer-league schedule tonight vs. the Kings and Ron's brother, Daniel, who ripped the Knicks earlier this week for saying they wouldn't trade David Lee for Ron Artest. That could be a deal-breaker in a soap opera that could drag into the season.

Nichols is as ****y as he is skilled with the jump shot, and is a foot taller than Robinson.

"I have a great opportunity to make the New York Knicks," Nichols said. "I'm going to prove a lot of people wrong, guys who didn't pick me. I can't wait for the opportunity."

Nichols, acquired in a draft-night trade, averaged 14 points in the two wins.

"He can really shoot the ball," Thomas said. "He's got a chance to be a good player in our league. He has the skill of shooting the ball. He's a good defender and he's competitive. He's definitely in the plans, but not, like, tomorrow."


*
It was no surprise that flaky Ron Artest backtracked on his declaration in The Post that he really wants to finish his career in Sacramento. In fact, Thomas predicted the flip-flop when he said of the bizarre claim, "A lot of good players have been changing their minds lately," referring to the Lakers' Kobe Bryant.

Artest, one day after saying he probably won't opt out next season, told the Sacramento Bee, "I mean I like it, but who knows? I'm not going to put myself in a position where I say, yeah, I want to stay here all the time. I trust my agent."

Artest said he is flattered by the buzz in New York.

"All the people in New York want it, it's been eight years (since I left St. John's) and it's always like, 'When's Ron coming back?' That makes me feel good," Artest told The Post.

Kings GM Geoff Petrie told Artest he won't be traded, but Artest softened that statement.

"Geoff is an honest dude. He lets you know there's a chance that things could happen, that I could be traded," Artest said.


*
The free-agency signing period began yesterday, but Thomas said he doesn't plan on using the $5.5 million mid-level exception. Thomas said he has interest in guard Steve Blake and has contacted his agent, but chances of signing him appear bleak.

Our rookies are so studly playing in summer league so far that I SAY UGH hasn't signed them yet and is thinking strongly about sending one of them over seas or trading both their draft rights to a team that may want to use them.


GOTTA LOVE IT!

Posted by nyk4ever:

If Nichols doesn't make this roster I'm going to be pretty pissed...

Buyout Jerome James, cut Fred Jones.

I don't think we need Jerome- we didn't need him last year.

Fred Jones doesn't do anything Nichols can't do.

Chill,

Don't worry, Isiah has to say he has choices so anyone interested in our players thinks Eye Say Her is not desporate to dump them. ITs about "apparent" value.

Here in lies the problem with isiah his inability to use his brain, outside of the drafts contributes to better players not getting minutes, and guys he signs to long term deals taking up roster spots while not producing half the numbers for twice the dollars

Posted by Anji:

I see no problems with sending this guy to Europe. He'll develop fast over there getting 30 minutes a night then playing once every four games here.

The problem is that he should make our active roster since he is exactly what this team needs(an outside threat).

if nichols goes to europe (which i highly doubt), then maybe we should've just drafted splitter.

Posted by VDesai:

This is why you don't fill up your roster with crappy Jerome James and Jared Jeffries.

I agree 100% Vdes, I made this point the other day. I forget who it was but they were saying that the MLE signings haven't come back to hurt us that bad, they only cost Dolan. Well that's not true, we've cut guys like Matt Carroll becuase of not having roster spots open and they were being taken up by guys like Jerome James, Vin Baker and Jared Jeffries. I desperately do not want to see Nichols a casualty because of this.

We should have just drafted splitter in the first place as he is staying overseas, and we have no room for chandler on the roster with crawford, mardy, q, balkman and jefferies.

Posted by franco12:

Posted by sbensol74:

Why would we let nichols go play in Europe when we can stick him in the D League and call him up if we need him?

Why is Isiah so anti- D league? I'm sure Nichols would much rather stay in America than go over seas for a year.

If Nichols is in the D League, he is on the roster- sending him to Europe keeps him off our roster- thus we've only to clear one contract, not two.

Also, he'll play against better competition in Europe.

If I'm Nichols I'm not signing in Europe for a year. If its Europe then Nichols has to get a long term deal for security reasons. Fuck the knicks. If it were me? Sign me and if you can't and you have my rights so I can't sign elsewhere? Fuck it. I would play for a Europe team for 4 years and make my money. If I get hurt at least I would have money coming to me.

Isiah is not gonna let that happen. I think he will do something. He could trade Nate for a future 1st rounder and just waive Jerome. We'll see.