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Last-minute moves Wheeling, dealing Raptors send Jackson to Knicks
Updated: Friday February 23, 2001 8:24 PM
NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Knicks reacquired a point guard from their past Thursday, getting Mark Jackson from the Toronto Raptors along with Muggsy Bogues for Chris Childs and a No. 1 draft pick. The Raptors also acquired Jerome Williams and Eric Montross from the Pistons for Corliss Williamson, Tyrone Corbin, Kornel David and a future-first round pick. Both trades were completed just before the 6 p.m. NBA trading deadline. The 35-year-old Jackson, in his 14th season, spent his first five years with the Knicks and won the rookie of the year award in 1987-88. Toronto signed him to a free-agent deal last summer. On Tuesday, Jackson moved passed Isiah Thomas into fourth place on the NBA career assists list. Childs has spent the past 4 1/2 seasons as the Knicks' backup point guard, behind Charlie Ward. He now will get a chance to be the starting playmaker for one of the Knicks' newest Eastern Conference rivals.
"He played his heart out for us, and we have to thank him for that," Knicks general manager Scott Layden said. "He was with the club a long time and has been through a lot of big wins and great playoff games." Jackson has been a big part of many Knicks rivalries, both for and against them. He spent six seasons with the Indiana Pacers -- helping eliminate New York in last season's Eastern Conference finals -- and was best friends with Knicks nemesis Reggie Miller. "It's really coming full circle for him," Layden said. "We're excited about bringing him back home." Bogues, a 14-year veteran, was added to the trade to make it work under salary-cap rules. Toronto will receive Seattle's No. 1 draft pick, which the Knicks acquired in the Patrick Ewing trade. The Raptors also had been trying to find a taker for Williamson, who has been a disappointment since arriving from Sacramento in a trade for Doug Christie. He is averaging only 9.3 points, his lowest since his rookie season. By adding Williams, the Raptors are getting another rebounder to add to a front line that already includes starters Antonio Davis and Charles Oakley and backup Keon Clark. Toronto rookie Morris Peterson, whose improved play made Williamson expendable, will welcome Williams' energy and enthusiasm. "I think he'll be a great addition to our team,"' the Toronto rookie said. "He's a really, really good player, who works hard." Williams, who will be a free agent after this season, averaged 7.3 points and 8.4 rebounds in 33 games this season for the Pistons. Montross averaged 2.5 points and 3.4 rebounds over 42 games. The Pistons have a place for Williamson at small forward, either in the starting lineup to replace Michael Curry, or off the bench. Williamson, in his sixth season, averaged 9.3 points and 3.6 rebounds in 42 games. David added 2.5 points and 1.9 rebounds in just 17 games. Corbin played in 15 games and averaged 1.5 points and 1.3 rebounds. "We need to take steps for the long term," Toronto general manager Glen Grunwald said. "Hopefully, this puts us in a good position in the future." The trade was the second of this month for the Knicks, who acquired Othella Harrington from Vancouver for Erick Strickland and another of the No. 1 picks they received in the Ewing deal.
"It appeared to me that nothing was going to happen, but that's
the ebb and flow of this time of year," Layden said. "This did
not heat up until the early or late afternoon."
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