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Toney Douglas, Iman Shumpert and Tyson Chandler discuss the importance of defense, their preseason matchups and more.
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Add a commentKnicks fans, you might not have to wait any longer. Shawne Williams will make a decision on where he wants to play this week. According to ESPN, former Knick Shawne Williams will be making up his mind on a team he wants to play for as early as Wednesday. Here is what was reported by ESPN:
"If the Knicks want to sign Shawne Williams, they may only have two more days -- at most -- to make their pitch.
Williams' agent Happy Walters told ESPNNewYork.com by phone Monday that he expects Williams to commit to a team by Wednesday. The free-agent forward had a breakout season in New York last year.
Walters has been in contact with the Knicks in recent days.
"They know where we stand we know where we stand," he said."
"I’m not going to lie, that’s where I want to be," said Williams, who averaged seven points and nearly four rebounds off the bench last season. "I’ve never been with a team [for] two years."
"I feel like I’m acquainted with coach [Mike] D'Antoni and the staff ... and we’ve got great fans, so that’s a place I want to play," he added. -ESPN
It would be great to bring back Shawne Williams. Williams can provide solid defense and he is one of the best 3-point shooters in the league.
Watch Shawne Williams' Career High
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(Big C) A day after the Knicks sign Tyson Chandler the Knicks turn around and bring in point guard Mike Bibby. With the Knicks losing guard Chauncey Billups they will need all the help they can get in the backcourt. And help is exactly what Mike Bibby brings to the table.
Mike Bibby is a 6'2, 195 pound point guard that averages 15 points and 5.7 assists for his career in the NBA. Now, I don’t expect him to have those numbers coming off the bench but I do expect him to be a solid backup point that can set the tempo.
The last few years have not been the best years for Mike Bibby. Even though Bibby has been a decent point guard throughout his career it’s seems like people can only focus on his poor play in the playoffs with the Heat. However, Mike Bibby feels that this criticism is unfair. He joined the Heat late in the season and only had about 3 or 4 practices to learned how to play in a new system. 
Many players that the Knicks wanted barked at the idea of signing a 1 year deal with the Knicks for $1.4 million. Mike Bibby stepped up to the plate. So one has to wonder what Mike Bibby can bring to the table. Well for starters, Bibby excels in two areas that are key to the Knicks’ offense.
The first area is the pick and roll
Mike Bibby is one of the best pick and roll players in the game. Some fans might remember Mike Bibby on the Kings with Chris Webber. Bibby and C-Webb would run the pick and roll all day and they were unstoppable. Now Bibby has a chance to mentor a young group of guards, (Toney Douglas and Iman Shumpert) to teach team how to run the pick and roll game correctly and effectively.
Outside shooting
Mike Bibby’s ability to knock down the 3 point shot makes him a deadly weapon coming off the bench. Currently Bibby has been one of the few guards that has consistently been able to shoot the 3 ball. Bibby’s ability to hit the 3 will help the Knicks spread the court as well as act as another 3 point threat.
Leadership
Bibby can be the leader that the Knicks need to be vocal and say the right things in practice, the locker room, and during games. In the past, the Knicks needed leadership. Now with Bibby, Amar’e, Chandler, and Melo the Knicks might have found it.
The Mike Bibby trade does bring up some concerns. Bibby is one of the worst perimeter defenders. He also has problems with quick point guards as well as taller guards. The good news, Bibby is ready to accept his new role, whether it be a backup point or a guy that cheers his teammates on.
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Via New York Post:
"Former Knicks point guard Chauncey Billups was claimed off amnesty waivers Monday evening by the Los Angeles Clippers.
Billups was released by the Knicks with their one-time ability to use the amnesty clause, meaning his contract will not count against the Knicks' salary cap or their luxury tax."-New York Post Read more
"League warns Billups/agent before Clippers claim he will be in breach of contract if he doesn't report or is disruptive."- David Aldridge
I know the Magic and Heat had interest in picking up Billups. We will have to wait and see what Chauncey has to say about playing for the Clippers.
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NEW YORK, December 12, 2011 – New York Knickerbockers Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations and Interim General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed free agent guard/forward Devin Green and forward/center Chris Hunter. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Green, 6-7, 212-pounds, played 27 games for the L.A. Lakers in 2005-06 for a total 136 minutes. The Hampton University alum spent the last five seasons playing overseas in Germany, Italy, Belgium, Puerto Rico, China and Bulgaria. He split last season between Shangai (China) and Lukoil Academic (Bulgaria) and averaged 18.2 points and 7.8 rebounds over 34.1 minutes for Shanghai and 13.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in 25.2 minutes for Lukoil Academic.
Hunter, 6-11, 240-pounds, originally signed with New York on Apr. 14, 2009, following a D-League All-Star season with Fort Wayne. He holds NBA career averages of 4.5 points on .502 shooting, 2.8 rebounds and 0.60 assists over 13 minutes in 60 games with Golden State during the 2009-10 season. He returned to Fort Wayne last season, where he holds career averages of 18.6 points on .546 shooting, 9.0 rebounds and 0.8 assists over 54 games (47 starts). He played collegiately for four seasons at the University of Michigan.
Chris Hunter
Devin Green
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Newly acquired guard Mike Bibby speaks to the media after signing his contract on Sunday morning. Toney Douglas also talks about the third day of camp and the new additions on the team.
Props to the Knicksnow team
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Via New York Post: -"The Knicks, Hawks and Warriors were in talks Sunday on a three-team sign-and-trade that would bring combo guard Jamal Crawford back to the club, according to an NBA source.
Although a source thought it had a better than 50-50 chance of happening, one person familiar with the Knicks thinking said they will not include guard Toney Douglas, a native of Atlanta, in a Crawford package, which would seem to lower the chances of this going down.
Crawford is one of the top free agents available but the market hasn't been strong for him. The Knicks have offered Crawford their $2.5 million mini exception which he has rejected. Crawford prefers a sign-and-trade so he can make upwards of $5 million per season.
Agent Andy Miller told the Indy Star Crawford is still considering the Pacers."- Berman:
"#Hawks GM Sund: "It's going to be difficult to sign [Crawford] in a straight signing transaction. We are looking at other alternatives." - Michael Cunningham
So it looks like Douglas will not be included in a Jamal Crawford trade. One has to wonder what the Knicks are offering. Another hurdle with the proposed Crawford trade is, the Hawks do not want to pay any taxes with any trade. Therefore, this trade has about a 30% chance of actually happening. If the Knicks want Jamal Crawford they will have to get really creative. Offering Balkman and Walker isn't going to cut it.
Jamal Crawford has been one of Mike D'Antoni's favorite players since Crawford was a Knick. Now that the Knicks also have Tyson Chandler, (Crawford's former teammate on the Bulls) and Coach Mike Woodson (former coach) there is no surprise that the Knicks are trying to bring Jamal Crawford back. The question is, what's the price to get Crawford?
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