Marcus Camby Is Returning To New York

The Houston Rockets and the New York Knicks have come to terms on a sign-and-trade that will send Marcus Camby to New York. The terms of the deal are as follows:

Houston receives:

• Toney Douglas
• Josh Harrellson
• Jerome Jordan
• Knicks’ 2014 Second Round pick
• Knicks’ 2015 Second Round pick
• Cash considerations to cover Douglas’ salary.

New York receives:

• Marcus Camby

Camby will sign a three-year, $13.2 million deal with the third-year partially guaranteed. According to Marc Spears, the first two years will guarantee Camby $10 million. The monetary value of the deal is irrelevant, since the Knicks will be capped out anyways. The only financial implications this will have is on Dolan’s wallet. Camby will prove to be a very valuable backup for Tyson Chandler, and will help on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor.

Updated financials after the jump…

Yes, it might appear like the Knicks gave up a lot for Marcus Camby, but in reality, they didn’t give up a role player. Douglas and Jordan wouldn’t have seen playing time this season unless several players got injured, and were likely to be included in a sign-and-trade anyways. I would’ve preferred to keep Harrellson, but with Novak inking a four-year deal today, his minutes would have decreased as well. Now, the Knicks have a very serviceable big man in Camby that will allow for Tyson Chandler to get some legitimate rest, night in and night out.

After this trade, the Knicks still have one non-gaurenteed contract they can trade. Dan Gadzuric and his $1,352,181 contract can be sent out in a deal, which would allow the Knicks to take back $2,128,271 in first-year salary. They will also have around $1 million to sweeten the deal, if they only give the Rockets enough money to cover Douglas’ contract.

Also, the Knicks likely included two second-round picks so they could preserve Gadzuric for another sign-and-trade.

As well as $1 million, the Knick can part with the rights to Ahmad Nivins, Georgios Printezis and Kostas Papanikolaou, but since none of them are under contract, they wouldn’t help the Knicks take back more salary.

Unless Jason Kidd will accept a deal that pays him the $2,128,271 in the first year, the mini-MLE will be his, and the Knicks will be left to recruit a shooting guard by dangling Dan Gadzuric’s contract in a sign-and-trade. Of course, the Knicks will also have veteran’s minimum contracts available to hand out.

I’m happy to have Camby back in New York, and despite giving up a lot of players, the Knicks gained one player that will contribute, for three players that would struggle to find playing time. Like it or not, Grunwald is making moves to improve this team.

Good deal in my books.