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Knicks will miss Ewing
New York Knicks fans have been wondering the past two seasons if their team would be better without Patrick Ewing. They're about to find out -- but they're not going to like the result. The Knicks traded their 38-year-old franchise center to the Seattle SuperSonics in a four-team blockbuster deal that netted them All-Star Glen Rice, Luc Longley, Travis Knight, Vernon Maxwell and two other players, in return. Ewing gives the Sonics a quality big man to defend Western Conference foe Shaquille O'Neal. Still a good defensive player, Ewing also gets the benefit of the doubt from referees. This deal definitely improves the Sonics if Ewing can stay healthy. Meanwhile, the addition of Rice makes New York's corps of perimeter players as crowded as a Times Square subway platform during rush hour. Coach Jeff Van Gundy will be hard-pressed to find playing time for Allan Houston, and Latrell Sprewell. No matter what happens, New York general manager Scott Layden can breathe a sigh of relief in one regard. By dealing Ewing now, he avoids a potentially ugly breakup next season, when the future Hall of Famer was expected to seek a two-year extension to his current four-year, $60 million deal that expires at season's end. With Ewing gone, the Knicks can wash their hands of that sticky dilemma. But if they meet up with Alonzo Mourning and Co. in the playoffs again next spring, they might be wishing Patrick were still around. Marty Burns covers pro basketball for CNNSI.com. Look for his columns
throughout the offseason. Click here to send Marty a comment.
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