The Lakers, last night’s Knicks opponent, had internal discussions about acquiring Latrell Sprewell. The Sixers had external discussions with the Knicks about Sprewell, dangling Keith Van Horn. Knicks GM Scott Layden, long a Van Horn groupie, probably will want more than the 6-10 forward, though Van Horn answers the objectives of getting longer and younger.
And with all the trade stuff swirling around, Sprewell went out and pumped in a record nine 3-pointers without a miss in Tuesday’s blowout of the Clippers. Last night, Sprewell faced the Lakers in what could have been his second-to-last game at the Garden. The Feb. 20 trading deadline will come during the Knicks’ six-game, 11-day Western trip.
Allan Houston believes Sprewell has been on his best behavior – prompt and refusing to snipe at management – because he’s had an ephiphany. Houston says Sprewell knows the training camp mess was a mistake and he truly wants to remain a Knick and show management he belongs for the long run.
“He’s learned from not only this whole thing [in training camp] but he’s learned even before he came to New York,” Houston said. “We all learn from the mistakes we make. His only thing is he wants to play in New York. He just wants to be here and wants to be a part of this team getting back to a championship level.
“And I think he was upset because he did miss – for whatever reason – he was disappointed he missed that time. You could tell when he got back, he was just happy to be back and has wanted to come in and do whatever it took to make up for it.”
Sprewell was battered with nearly $500,000 worth of fines in October – the first one for not reporting his right-hand injury in a prompt manner. Then he bolted to Milwaukee instead of showing up for Day 1 of rehab. He put the finishing touches on his wild preseason by blasting Layden and Garden prez Steve Mills, questioning their record in improving the club.
Three months later, he’s being portrayed as an angel. Knick brass told him to stop being fashionably late on Garden game nights and he has abided that order. Apparently he’s found a way to combat the traffic on the West Side Highway.
“When you do things and people call you on it, fine you on it, you at the time may not think it’s a big deal but it affects other guys,” Knick coach Don Chaney said. “I don’t think he was aware of the importance to the team about being on time. He knows it now. They rely on him, put trust in him; they lean on him. He has a sense of responsibility to the team and teammates. That helps his leadership. He’s become a real leader. He’s been a much better player this year than he’s ever been. A lot of that has to do with all the things that’s happened.”
The Knicks never before addressed with Sprewell his habitual 20-minute latenesses. The $200 fine came directly out of his paycheck without a word. “That was a mistake on our part,” Chaney said. “A player must know when he’s getting fined for being late. They make so much money, so [if] somebody takes a penny from me, I wouldn’t notice it. In his opinion, it wasn’t a bad deal because he felt he was ready to play.”
Sprewell has refrained from taking pokes at management or resurrecting his lobbying for size. Asked after the Clippers’ game if he wanted to see the Knicks make a move, he said: “Honestly, other than hoping [Antonio McDyess] was here, getting somebody in a trade, I’m not worried about that stuff. I’d love to play with him and see what we could do.”