11 Player signings the New York Knicks never should’ve made
By Sam LaFrance
2. New York Knicks gamble on Eddy Curry, lose $45M
Right before the 2005-06 NBA season, the New York Knicks took a big gamble on Chicago Bulls big man Eddy Curry. In the previous season, Curry had to sit out the final 13 games for the Bulls as he battled an irregular heartbeat.
Fast forward six months and the Knicks had landed the Chicago native via sign-and-trade. Curry was sent to New York in exchange for Jermaine Jackson, Mike Sweetney, Tim Thomas, a 2006 first-round draft pick, a 2007 first-round draft pick, a 2007 second-round draft pick, and a 2009 second-round draft pick. By the way, those two first-rounders turned into LaMarcus Aldridge and Joakim Noah.
As part of the deal, Curry inked a six-year, $60 million contract to play in New York.
The first few seasons of his tenure were actually fine. In the 2006-07 campaign, Curry averaged 19.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in 81 appearances. He played a strong 35.2 minutes each night and was looking to be a great fit at center.
Right before training camp began in 2007, Curry was hospitalized with an “undisclosed illness.” That season his minutes took a dip, falling all the way down to 25.9 per game.
The 26-year-old continued to battle injuries, as well as his weight. He eventually grew to 350 pounds, which significantly hindered his ability to take the court. Curry appeared in just 10 total games from 2008 to 2011 before finally being traded away to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who waived him a week after.