<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Maurice Taylor's days with the Knicks appear to be numbered. According to a league source, the Knicks and Taylor's representatives are trying to negotiate a buyout that would make the veteran forward a free agent. Taylor is entering the final season of a multiyear contract and is due $9.8 million. Knicks president/coach Isiah Thomas conceivably could wait until the February trading deadline to try to deal Taylor's expiring contract, which is what the club did last season with Penny Hardaway. But Thomas also wants to rid his roster of veteran players whose minutes will be dramatically reduced. Taylor figures to be low on the depth chart behind forwards Channing Frye, David Lee and Malik Rose. Also, newcomer Jared Jeffries can play both forward positions. The 6-8 Taylor averaged a career-low 18.1 minutes in 67 games last season. He is averaging 9.8 points and 3.2 rebounds in eight NBA seasons. Interestingly, former coach Larry Brown last season tried to persuade management to cut players because he felt it would improve team chemistry. Taylor and backup center Jerome James were two players Brown wanted off the team. Brown also talked about wanting to release Jalen Rose and rookie guard Nate Robinson as well. Jalen Rose also is entering the last year of his contract and is a prime candidate to be traded by the deadline. There also is a possibility that the Knicks would look to buy out Rose's contract if Quentin Richardson cannot be traded. Over the summer, the Knicks came close to trading Richardson to Portland for Darius Miles, a player with a history of having a negative impact on team chemistry as well as the won-lost record. With Taylor still on the roster, the Knicks have 15 players under contract. That includes the team's two first-round picks, Renaldo Balkman and Mardy Collins, but does not include Qyntel Woods, who is a free agent. The Knicks open training camp Oct. 2 in Charleston, S.C. </div> http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketba...7p-383202c.html Good riddance then. This will force us not to trade his expiring contract for someone overpriced making at least 10 million. At least he knows he will not be getting any minutes this season not rebounding or playing any defense.
Maurice Taylor is a huge underachiever (much like most of the Knicks roster, perhaps). I mean, how can you be 260 lbs, able to jump out of the gym and grab like 5 rebounds a game and settle for jumpers all game long?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Platehpus:</div><div class="quote_post">Good move, Frye needs all the minutes he can get this year.</div> Exactly. Yeah it is good he realizes he won't be needed in New York.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting deception:</div><div class="quote_post">mark my words-if j.rose is bought out he would end up in detroit</div> I think Jalen's first choice would be to reunite with Webber in Philly or join the Lakers. Mo Taylor has been a wasted talent ever since he came to the league. At one point the Spurs were interested in him as a possible replacement for Horry, and I'm sure Phoenix will give him a strong look. Maybe he can replicate the impact Tim Thomas had for them in the post-season.
I don't think Mo Taylor can hit 3s like Tim Thomas did. Maybe Jumaine Jones would fill that role? But I'm sure Mo Taylor could look good with the suns.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">I think Jalen's first choice would be to reunite with Webber in Philly or join the Lakers. Mo Taylor has been a wasted talent ever since he came to the league. At one point the Spurs were interested in him as a possible replacement for Horry, and I'm sure Phoenix will give him a strong look. Maybe he can replicate the impact Tim Thomas had for them in the post-season.</div> Wow, if we could get Jalen for a good price I'd love to have him in Philli. It would be good for both him and Webber. A starting line-up of Iverson, Iguodala, Rose, Webber, Dalambert looks good on paper. Also with Webber there, Rose probably wouldn't cause and major issues.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iggy:</div><div class="quote_post">Wow, if we could get Jalen for a good price I'd love to have him in Philli. It would be good for both him and Webber. A starting line-up of Iverson, Iguodala, Rose, Webber, Dalambert looks good on paper. Also with Webber there, Rose probably wouldn't cause and major issues.</div> Sure as hell would be better than picking up Henderson and McFarlin. Dude can still ball, just doesn't fit in New York. Plus he can play SF, SG, and PG. Basically a MUCH better version of Salmons, and he doesn't hog the ball.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Mo Taylor, hoping to have his contract bought out before training camp opens Monday, told The Post the Knicks' mismatched roster was cause for their 23-59 demise, not the head coach. And Taylor isn't sure Isiah Thomas did enough in the summer to lift the club into the playoffs. "First and foremost, we're a bad team," said Taylor, who arrived into New York yesterday from his home in Houston. "Let's get that out of the way first. It's not all of a sudden we weren't winning. How did Don Chaney do? How did Lenny Wilkens do? How did Herb Williams do? It's not like we were just bad lately. So I don't look at it as Larry failing miserably. "The most surprising part is they fired him with so many years left on his contract," Taylor said. "And he's also a Hall of Fame coach."</div> http://www.nypost.com/seven/09282006/sport...marc_berman.htm He does have a point, but that's not the type of thing you say if you're looking to remain on a team. Just a question: why would we buy him out when he's on the last year of his contract? Doesn't really make much sense.
MrJ, usually when a player requests a buyout, he's willing to accept less money (generally half), in order to become a free agent. A team would agree to the buyout so they can pay less and also make room for an additional roster spot. The holdup for the Knicks is the fact Mo Taylor's contract is expiring and has some value for trade possibilities. I think their first option would be trying to broker a trade for a draft pick, young talent, or another expiring contract, along with cash.
^ to add to that, if say Mo Taylor had 3 years left, and the Knicks bought him out this year, his contract would still count towards their CAP until his contract ends.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach Isiah Thomas announced today that forward Maurice Taylor has been waived. Taylor, 6-9, 265-pounds, averaged 6.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 18.1 minutes in 67 games for the Knicks last season.</div> This was just released, so there's no link. I wish we could have gotten some young talent or draft picks with the 10 million expiring contract but this will FORCE us to rebuild. We shouldn't trade Rose either. He was bought out; not waived.
