Andrea Bargnani Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz and Speculation on Knicks Star
In his latest attempts to shed salary, team president Phil Jackson has identified two more veterans in need of a new home: point guard Jose Calderon and forward Andrea Bargnani.
Marc Stein and Ian Begley of ESPN.com reported the Knicks are "actively" attempting to trade Calderon and Bargnani though no deal is imminent with either. Their report also indicates Amar'e Stoudemire is not expected to be moved.
Bargnani, one of the more derided players in recent Knicks history, is in the final year of a five-year, $50 million contract he signed in Toronto. The former No. 1 overall pick came to New York before last season to provide spacing from a big spot but has failed to make an impact. He was limited to 42 games in 2013-14 and has seen the floor only twice this season due to injuries.
That Jackson would want to move on from Bargnani is not a surprise. His $11.5 million contract is helping keep the Knicks over the luxury tax, and he's assuredly not part of their long-term plans. The Knicks began their rebuilding effort in earnest last week by shipping out guards J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert for flotsam, and Jackson indicated more trades are on the way.
"I just think that no one should be surprised in what we do from here on out," Jackson told reporters.
Unless Jackson attaches draft-pick compensation, it'd be a mild surprise to see anyone take on Bargnani's contract. It's been three years since he was even a semi-effective offensive player, and he's long been one of the NBA's worst defensive big men.
A more likely scenario, which the ESPN report mentions, is Bargnani being bought out. While his contract is fully guaranteed, the Knicks could choose to waive Bargnani to clear a roster spot for a young player they want to take a look at down the stretch. Either way, with multiple draft picks wasted at his expense, it appears the Bargnani era in New York is nearing a close.
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