10/28/08
By, Greg Hutchins

News of Patrick Ewing Jr.'s release has The Garden faithful up in arms and wondering aloud about Donnie Walsh's personnel decisions. Clearly, this decision was based upon waiving a player with the least amount of financial impact on the franchise. Ewing Jr. clearly outplayed Anthony Roberson in preseason, but Walsh elected to keep the backup PG citing his shooting touch as a greater necessity over Ewing Jr.'s defense, hustle and famous last name.

The one thing we have learned about Donnie Walsh is that he is maddening to figure out. From his decision to 1) reassign Isiah Thomas rather than fire him outright to 2) passing on proven commodities in the draft to select a prospect he never saw play in person with a history of battling nagging injuries to 3) allowing Stephon Marbury to return despite knowing the mercurial guard could potentially sabotage the season has frustrated many who follow the team closely.

Patrick Ewing Jr. clearly earned a spot on this roster over the likes of Roberson and Jerome James. James - who has stolen money from this organization since signing with the team in the summer of 2005 - has done nothing to warrant a place on D'Antoni's team. His $12.8M in total guaranteed salary for this season & next was apparently too much for Walsh to swallow, so "Big Snacks" will reprise his role as highest paid bench warmer in the NBA. James who didn't play one minute of action this preseason has effectively cost Ewing Jr. his job in New York, much like he cost Demetrius Nichols his shot last season.

Walsh's decision to carry 6 guards into the regular season is equally perplexing. Jamal Crawford, Chris Duhon & Nate Robison figure to play major minutes in this new offense. As long as Marbury remains on this roster, he will see game action. Having Mardy Collins & Anthony Roberson on the bench is overkill. Had Walsh elected to cut Roberson, he would have essentially admitted that signing the journeyman guard after one summer league game was a mistake.

With top pick Danilo Gallinari still sidelined with a back injury and Jared Jeffries out with a broken leg, keeping Ewing Jr. for depth up front would have been the prudent move as opposed to carrying 6 guards or 2 poorly conditioned centers. Furthermore, having Ewing Jr. on the roster would have been a welcomed sight for fans who pay excessive prices to watch below .500 play. Jersey sales alone would have made Ewing Jr. a valuable asset.

It's safe to say Walsh curbed the enthusiasm of many by releasing Ewing Jr. at a time when optimism was starting to run high. Should Ewing Jr. sign with another team and have a greater impact this season than fellow rookie Gallinari, Walsh will have some serious explaining to do.

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