So assuming GS buys him out.
Murphy is 6'11, just 30 year's old, was a pretty good player up until this year, and soon-to-be unrestricted free agent who's Bird Rights no one will own in the off season.
What this means is one can reasonable speculate ring chasing is not his #1 priority. Playing for his NEXT contract will be.
This means playing time and production will be what he's looking for. He wants a showcase.
Given he's from NJ, and has been living here since the start of the season, and the Donnie Walsh connection this gives the Knicks some leg up.
D'Antoni will let him do what he does best (shoot 3's from the corner on offense) and grab rebounds on the defensive end.
The contenders:
Miami needs any warm bodies they can get, but the really need classic inside bangers, which Murphy is not.
Orlando desperately needs a big man, but a BACK-UP big man. Not a lot of PT there, less in the playoffs.
Celtics. Stacked with big men.
I think the KNicks could potentially offer him something he won't get anywhere else - perhaps being inserted immediately into the starting line-up and at least 25 minutes a game.
Contributing on a winning team as a STARTER and showing the rebounding the 3-ball are still there would greatly enhance his quest for a next new contract.
The question is, who's the real Troy Murphy, the guy of the previous few years, who was just the wrong player for Avery Johnson, or a guy who very suddenly lost it?
2/24/2011 11:51 AM