Knicks Rumors: James Worthy was almost traded to New York

Former New York Knicks forward Xavier McDaniel revealed an interesting trade rumor this weekend that would have brought James Worthy to New York.

Hall-of-Fame forward James Worthy was almost traded to the New York Knicks sometime around the 1991-92 season, but the Lakers apparently backed out of the deal. The rumored trade was revealed by Xavier McDaniel during an interview on Saturday with Knicks Fan TV.

Worthy was 30-years-old at the time, playing in what turned out to be his final All-Star season in the NBA. He had restructured his deal with the Lakers the previous April, and was under contract for three more seasons.

The 6-foot-9 swingman, who averaged 17.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists over his illustrious career, suffered a major knee injury toward the end of the ’92 season that sidelined him through the playoffs. He returned at a reduced capacity the following season, before transitioning to a bench role during his final NBA campaign in 1993-94.

"“There was almost a deal for James Worthy to the Knicks … I think the Lakers backed out of the deal. A reporter told me there was a deal for James Worthy.”Xavier McDaniel said via Knicks Fan TV"

The rumored trade was an early indicator to McDaniel that the New York front office wasn’t keen on keeping him long-term.

McDaniel became a fan favorite at Madison Square Garden during his one season with the team. Under coach Pat Riley, he represented the tough-as-nails attitude that became synonymous with the nineties Knicks.

Nicknamed as the “X-Man,” the forward immediately made his presence felt upon arriving in New York when he mixed it up with Anthony Mason in one of the first days of practice with his new team. He played 82 games for the Knicks in 1991-92, averaging 13.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists.

McDaniel was instrumental for Riley’s squad in the ’92 playoffs against Michael Jordan and the Bulls. New York nearly upset the defending champions, forcing them to a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The South Carolina native averaged 18.8 points and 7.2 rebounds during the Knicks’ playoff run that season.

An unrestricted free agent the following offseason, McDaniel waited the entire summer for an offer from the Knicks before ultimately signing a long-term deal with the Boston Celtics. He said before signing the deal, Boston put him in a room with one telephone, and he used it to make a call to Patrick Ewing for advice.

"“I called Patrick Ewing, and I said, ‘Patrick, if you tell me not to sign, I will not sign.’ He said these exact words, ‘If they were going to sign you, they would already do it, take care of your family.'”McDaniel said via Knicks Fan TV"

After losing McDaniel, the Knicks ended up acquiring 6-foot-10 forward Charles Smith, who let’s just say, compared to the X-Man, has a different reputation among Knicks fans for his playoff performance against the Chicago Bulls.

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