SACRAMENTO – The Kings signed the athletic 6-11 shotblocking Keon Clark. The Knicks signed Michael Doleac. Even in the free-agent market, the Kings creamed the Knicks.
Clark, filling in for injured Chris Webber (questionable for tonight), is regarded as summer’s best free-agent signing. The Knicks made a run at Clark but were scared off by a marijuana citation he received in August. Plus, his agent warned GM Scott Layden on Day 1 of free agency Clark’s preference was a warm-weather city. The Brooklyn-born Layden is turned off by players who don’t consider Manhattan the center of the universe. But still Layden could have topped Sacramento’s one-year, $4.5M offer.
“A lot of teams didn’t know the extent of [the citation] and backed off ,” said Don Chaney. “He’s played exceptionally well, scoring, rebounding, blocking shots. Sometimes guys like that step up and make it happen. I have no regrets in the moves we made and moves we didn’t make.”
The Knicks, who would finish the Western swing 2-4 if they lose tonight in Sacramento, have been exposed as an inferior rebounding team in three straight losses and allowed 32 offensive boards in Golden State.
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Patrick Ewing missed Friday night’s Nets-Wizards game to visit his ailing father in the hospital, where he was undergoing tests. The Knicks aren’t concerned his father’s health could postpone Friday’s retirement ceremony.