OK, maybe that's not quite such a cause for rejoicing, so pardon the hyperbole. But Earl Barron has been the most productive low-post 7-footer we've seen in these parts in a good three years, and he'll be in the pivot for New York's final two games -- at home Monday against Washington and at Toronto on Tuesday -- after the Knicks decided to re-sign him for the remainder of the season following the expiration of his 10-day contract Sunday.

Given that Barron had a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds in the Knicks' 111-98 loss to the Miami Heat (after putting up 17 points and 18 rebounds vs. Boston on Tuesday), it should be noted that the Knicks couldn't talk Barron into taking a non-guaranteed deal for next season as several other NBA teams have done with D-League call-ups, most recently the Chicago Bulls with Rob Kurz. There would be no risk to the Knicks' cap space this summer if Barron signed a non-guaranteed deal for 2010-11, because he could be waived in July and his contract cleared off the cap if the Knicks needed the room. But Barron's camp believes there could be a market for a player who had produced solid numbers (averaging 12.6 points and 11.4 rebounds) in his five games for New York.

"He's a guy I'd say we’d be comfortable with. The only reason we’re not doing it now is we don’t know what the sutation is going to be, what the cap is, what our situation will be as to how much (cap room) we have left and who we’re going after," Knicks president Donnie Walsh said.

Said Barron: "I'm taking advantage of the minutes (averaging 32 per game), making the best of the seven games. That's not a lot to some people, but that's quite a bit of games to be able to start and showcase your ability."

...........

Danilo Gallinari didn't have quite as much luck serving as the Knicks' primary defender on Wade, who scored 32 points as Miami cruised to the victory to stay tied with Milwaukee for fifth place in the East (although the Bucks own the tiebreaker from winning the season series over the Heat 3-1).

"He didn't ask me this time," coach Mike D'Antoni said of Gallinari, who lately has been asking for the defensive assignment against the opposing team's best player. "He was real quiet on this one."

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/knicks/post/_/id/26/knicks-to-re-sign-barron-for-final-2-games-but-not-beyond

Does Walsh think Earl Barron is Stupid? I think Barron takes the minimum from whoever will give him the most guaranteed years.

LOL at Gallo not wanting any part Wade yesterday. I dont blame him.

Marv wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:If I was Earl I be asking for 3 years 10mm$ at the min

those are jackie butler numbers

Yeah and J Butler isnt as good as Barron.

Non Guarantee is really nothing.

AnubisADL wrote:Let's not act like Earl Barron is greedy here guys. He just wants a guaranteed deal.

offer him a 1 year guarantee at $1M.

Pharzeone wrote:Damn it took Lee and Chandler like 3 years just to make $3 million and Briggs wants to give Barron that right off the back for five games. I wonder if he produces like this on another team. Jackie wasn't able to do that with a better Spurs team.

If you were Earl's agent--exactly what would you ask for? I think 3 years 10mm is very fair. 3mma year with all of that cap room out there? The guy comes in the NBA and produces--is it magically going to stop? He's had success before and he seems to have gotten better. I actually said 3 years 4.5mm--but if you were his agent--would you start there--I think 3mm is more like it--the guy is 28 years old--time to go for it.

BRIGGS wrote:

Pharzeone wrote:Damn it took Lee and Chandler like 3 years just to make $3 million and Briggs wants to give Barron that right off the back for five games. I wonder if he produces like this on another team. Jackie wasn't able to do that with a better Spurs team.

If you were Earl's agent--exactly what would you ask for? I think 3 years 10mm is very fair. 3mma year with all of that cap room out there? The guy comes in the NBA and produces--is it magically going to stop? He's had success before and he seems to have gotten better. I actually said 3 years 4.5mm--but if you were his agent--would you start there--I think 3mm is more like it--the guy is 28 years old--time to go for it.

Briggs - you are overreacting once again.

Barron's stats have been heading south with each new game. He finishes around the rim like my late great grandma. Teams are barely awake playing the Knicks at this point -- they don't play any defense against us until they need to win the game. Barron is playing ok but we've been down this road before with late season spurts (Mardy Collins, Jackie B; etc.)

Let's not go crazy on signing anybody just yet -- guys like Earl Barron or 10 others like him will be available come late next summer.

LivingLegend wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

Pharzeone wrote:Damn it took Lee and Chandler like 3 years just to make $3 million and Briggs wants to give Barron that right off the back for five games. I wonder if he produces like this on another team. Jackie wasn't able to do that with a better Spurs team.

If you were Earl's agent--exactly what would you ask for? I think 3 years 10mm is very fair. 3mma year with all of that cap room out there? The guy comes in the NBA and produces--is it magically going to stop? He's had success before and he seems to have gotten better. I actually said 3 years 4.5mm--but if you were his agent--would you start there--I think 3mm is more like it--the guy is 28 years old--time to go for it.

Briggs - you are overreacting once again.

Barron's stats have been heading south with each new game. He finishes around the rim like my late great grandma. Teams are barely awake playing the Knicks at this point -- they don't play any defense against us until they need to win the game. Barron is playing ok but we've been down this road before with late season spurts (Mardy Collins, Jackie B; etc.)

Let's not go crazy on signing anybody just yet -- guys like Earl Barron or 10 others like him will be available come late next summer.

I wouldnt go over the top. I don't view Earl Barron as a starter but I do view him as a guy who can be in a 9/10 man rotation who can also step in and start if needed. We would also need a guy who can bring some shot blocking. I said I would like to get two guys for example

Josh Boone or Ian Mahimini 3 years 4.5mm[NJ would easily match for Boone]
Earl Barron 3 years 4.5mm

My argument is what would you ask for if you were Earl agent--you dont start at 1mm--you start at a little over 3m--