On Gallinari, Roberson, Camby, Zach, et al

Don't get too crazy about Danilo Gallinari sitting out Wednesday's second game of the summer league with a back injury that the Knicks say leaves him doubtful for the league's final three games in Las Vegas.

Part of the deal with drafting him, besides the intense workouts he's undertaken to start building up strength, involves him playing for the national team between now and training camp.

In other words, the Knicks have to do whatever they can to make sure they don't cook him, because much as they'd rather not have him play all summer, that's usually the deal with a foreign player.

The team said Wednesday he underwent a precautionary MRI that revealed "no significant findings."

Still, sitting out a week in July is a precaution well taken _ and understandable, in light of his whirlwind existence since draft night.

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John Starks played 36 NBA games before the Knicks signed him _ and that turned out rather well.

Anthony Roberson has played 36 NBA games and the Knicks are ready to sign him.

Coincidence? Probably. But it's an interesting one in which the Knicks won't invest, by NBA standards, a whole lot of money in a two-year deal not likely to be completely guaranteed.

As to whether he'll hasten the departure of Stephon Marbury, that might be a stretch, for now. Apples and oranges. This guy's a 2 who averaged 4.1 points with Memphis and Golden State.

But if you believe in the Starks karma, it's worth the gamble.

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If you're the Clippers, getting two years of Marcus Camby for less than $16 million sure seems like a better deal than getting three years and $48 million of Zach Randolph.

If you're Donnie Walsh, though, it seems like you missed an opportunity. At least that's what a lot of readers said even before the Camby deal went down late Tuesday, for a trade exception plus a second-round flip-flop, similar to what the Clips apparently offered Walsh for Z-Bo.

Short-term, maybe The Don got burned, if he indeed turned down the Clips pre-Camby. Longer term, let's see, because clearly he wants something more than mere cap relief for dumping Z-Bo and likely has one or more other scenarios up his sleeve that could bring a useful body in return for Randolph.

Which is also what a lot of readers are clamoring for in any deal: talent.

For now, the patience The Don is practicing clearly deserves the benefit of doubt, especially in contrast to the kind of seat-of-his-pants decision-making practiced by predecessor Isiah Thomas. Two and a half months remain before training camp opens and seven before next season's trade deadline. Let's see how it plays out.

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Here's one way it could play out: Larry Bird said this week while discussing the rebuilding of his team that he needs a big man who can score down low, having sent Jermaine O'Neal to Toronto.

Randolph is an Indiana native. He also comes with plenty of contract (three years, $48 million), plus the kind of personal baggage the Pacers have been trying to purge the past few seasons. Hence the Pacers' quest to unload point guard (and New York native) Jamal Tinsley.

One team's problems for another's? Tinsley's three years and more than $21 million left on his contract spills over into the 2010 Summer of LeBron, albeit for almost $10 million less than Z-Bo is due that year. Plus, the Knicks would have to take on even more salary to balance the deal _ presumably not anything more than two years worth.

But it's just a thought that might cross (if it hasn't already) the mind of the guy who drafted Tinsley in Indiana.

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A Randolph Morris update: The "unprecedented" Thomas signee worked out this week for the Hawks, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, alongside fellow Georgia high school product Kwame Brown.

Guessing that didn't remind anyone of Willis Reed vs. Wilt Chamberlain.

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One more update: Dan Grunfeld, son of former Knicks GM Ernie, whose college career and professional hopes were damaged by a severe knee injury, isn't with the team in Las Vegas because of an undisclosed injury.

Comments

[Sal from LI]

I love the Roberson signing. He played four years of college ball with David Lee at Florida.

If I was Donnie Walsh, I would have made that Randolph trade in a minute. Its funny how many NY fans are willing to get rid of Zach Randolph for nothing. If the Don really did turn down the trade, hopefully that means we will be getting more than just a conditional 2nd rounder for Randolph.

Randolph Morris, I wish him the best of luck getting a contract with an NBA team.