Nichols To Be Left Out?

By Nick Shlain | October 6th, 2007


Here is part of Marc Berman’s peice in the NY post:

Quote:
Isiah Thomas tries to sort out his roster glut, the Knicks president/coach strongly implied guard Fred Jones is beating out Syracuse rookie Demetris Nichols for a spot on the team.

The 6-foot-8 Nichols, a second-round pick, ticked off Knicks’ brass when he did not abide by their request and spend one season in Europe with the club retaining his rights. That was the plan when they obtained his rights on draft night. But Nichols had a big summer league in Vegas and felt Europe was beneath him.

“Fred Jones has looked really good,” Thomas said. “We want the best player. We’re not looking at 2-3 years down the road. There was an opportunity we could’ve kept (Nichols’) rights if he went overseas but it’s a different story now. That ship has sailed.”

These are just words and nothing is official, but it doesn’t look like Nichols is making the team.

But the thing is - Fred Jones doesn't contribute something the team lacks. He doesn't play point guard; he's a 6-2 shooting guard, who isn't exactly a good shooter. Isiah is attached to him because he drafted and liked him from the Pacer days. But Nichols, at 6-8, can play some small forward and he's got 3-point range. Jones shot 26% from three and 38% overall last season.

With all the guards on the team, Jones isn't gonna contribute this year, either.