The Knicks did not solidify their coaching position yesterday, but they did land their behemoth starting center, agreeing to terms with Seattle’s 7-1, 275-pounder Jerome James, according to sources.
His agent, Marc Fleisher, said James will sign a five-year, $29 million deal for the full mid-level exception ($5M annually).
There is a tiny chance the Sonics and Knicks can work out a sign-and-trade that would give James a bigger payday, but that seems very remote, a league source said. Fleisher alerted the Sonics to James’ decision yesterday and the clubs may talk.
Knicks president Isiah Thomas and director of player personnel Brendan Suhr had dinner with James Tuesday night in Manhattan to seal the deal.
Outside the restaurant, a source said, a jubilant James started introducing himself to some patrons, saying, “Hi. I’m Jerome James, the Knicks new starting center.”
James’ signing can’t become official until the new collective bargaining agreement is drafted. That is tentatively scheduled for July 22, but still could be pushed back, a source said.
The Knicks do not have strong motivation to do a sign-and-trade with Seattle and give up an asset. There’s no reason to keep the mid-level available because they don’t feel power forwards Stromile Swift or Antoine Walker would accept it.
Thomas is working on sign-and-trades with Memphis and Boston, respectively, with Michael Sweetney considered his most attractive pawn. Thomas still wants to upgrade the power forward position with more length.
But Thomas’ main goal entering free agency was to sign a big shot-blocking defensive center and James was high on his list.
During the summer league, Thomas said he was interested in a center with “girth” and that’s surely James. His weight was a big issue early in his career, but he gives the Knicks the defensive paint presence they lack.
Thomas’ motivation must have grown after watching first-round pick, 6-11 center Channing Frye, struggle defensively during summer league play in Las Vegas, burdened by foul trouble in almost every game.
“We took a look around the league and saw the Knicks had no true center after trading Nazr [Mohammed] and Kurt Thomas,” Fleisher said. “With [Shaquille O’Neal] in the East, he likes the challenge of going back there.”
Scott Layden’s Knicks pursued James heavily three years ago, but he re-signed with Seattle. He was the Sonics starting center, averaging just 16.6 minutes, collecting 4.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.39 blocks per game. He improved in the playoffs, averaging 12.5 points in 26.8 minutes.
“Seattle played small ball,” Fleisher said. “All he did was set picks for guards.”
The Knicks want to run, too, and that’s not James’ style. However, he’ll take up space in the middle and block shots. The Knicks ranked last in blocked shots last season.
“The thing with James,” one player personnel director said, “he plays hard in his contract year, [that’s] when you see the little intangibles.”