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| Posted By | Discussion Topic: LJ retiring today | ||||
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| TeenWeek what's a status? | posted on 10-10-2001 @ 7:07 AM |    | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Oct. 00  | October 10, 2001 -- Larry Johnson will retire today, according to sources. The Knicks have bought out LJ's contract which has three years and $28 million left on it. The Knicks will make the announcement today that they have waived the team's co-captain. A source said LJ will receive the entire $28 million in a complicated payout schedule. Johnson, who is 32, has suffered from a disk problem in his back for six years. The Knicks had wanted to buy out LJ's contract all summer but the 10-year veteran resisted even seeing a doctor and wanted to give it a go for one more season unless he got a full buyout. The Knicks originally had offered in August to pay just half of Johnson's contract. The Knicks hope to be reimbursed 80 percent by insurance, and the club could gain an injury exception worth more than $4 million to sign a free agent. Once his chronic back did not hold up well during his physical the day before training camp, the Knicks decided to leave LJ behind when they went to Charleston, S.C., and announced he would begin the year on the injured list as he rehabbed his back. The Knicks are well-stocked at power forward with Kurt Thomas, Clarence Weatherspoon and Othella Harrington. Though LJ was a Jeff Van Gundy favorite, he was no longer in their plans. Johnson had been a Knick since 1996, obtained for Anthony Mason. Johnson's retirement leaves the Knicks with just one captain - Allan Houston. It is likely either Latrell Sprewell or Mark Jackson - or both - will be named as captains to replace LJ. While in Charleston, several players spoke of how Johnson's vocal demeanor was missed. But his game had been in decline the past two seasons. Johnson shot a career-low 41.1 percent last season, many of his runners near the basket hitting off the iron because of his failure to elevate. He also lost confidence in his 3-point shot, a weapon that had proven invaluable during many playoff games during better days. Johnson missed 14 of the final 22 regular-season games and did not play in the playoffs - a first-round defeat to Toronto. The Knicks did not want to live another season with Johnson's durability issues. Yesterday, LJ's nameplate atop his locker at the Garden was missing, replaced by newcomer Shandon Anderson. "I don't know if it's permanent," Anderson said. It is.  | ||||
| Thrillhouse Alkey gave me my bonus points back. | posted on 10-10-2001 @ 10:02 AM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Aug. 01 | why didnt the knicks do this earlier so they could use that 4 million injury exception they might get when there were actually some free agents out there? Graduate of AFDude's Academy | ||||
| Ferret | posted on 10-10-2001 @ 10:55 AM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Oct. 00 | They had one from the Glen Rice deal, and they couldnt use the exception. It sucks to see what happened to LJ. The guy was a real warrior who played through the pain as long as he could. Although it was his time to go, imagine how good he could have been if the back didnt get in the way.  | ||||
| MashedPotatohead NIGGA PLEASE! All the bitches in here are crazy! | posted on 10-10-2001 @ 4:39 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Oct. 00 | quote: I thought they received that one for Luc Longley? They only had a few days to use if before it 'expired'. quote: They couldn't - if LJ retired he would forfeit the $28-29M left on his contract - he was waiting for a buyout so that he will still get paid. I wasn't a big fan, he was already damaged goods when he came here. Taking on his contract put the Knicks in such a bind, they are currently experiencing.  This message was edited by MashedPotatohead on 10-10-01 @ 4:46 PM | ||||
| Thrillhouse Alkey gave me my bonus points back. | posted on 10-10-2001 @ 5:46 PM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Aug. 01 | yea well i don't care what anyone says, lj was fouled by antonio davis before the shot and it should not have been a 4 point play. that was one sad sad day :( Graduate of AFDude's Academy | ||||
| Francine Banger | posted on 10-10-2001 @ 7:18 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Dec. 00 | Yeah and Dale Davis should have been called for an Offensive Foul in the last minute of Game 2 when he elbowed Camby and then made the shot to tie the game. | ||||
| Thrillhouse Alkey gave me my bonus points back. | posted on 10-10-2001 @ 8:15 PM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Aug. 01 | i think i kinda remember that...but it wouldn't have been the first and certaintly not the only time dale davis did it Graduate of AFDude's Academy | ||||
| prototype | posted on 10-10-2001 @ 9:00 PM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Aug. 01 | I don't think LJ fit in with the Knicks style of play. USA Bin Laden is a dead man Free Northern Ireland | ||||
| Goat Pupil | posted on 10-10-2001 @ 9:33 PM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Apr. 01 | I think he is a great playa but you know what GrandMama has looked pretty old in recent years. | ||||
Displaying 1-9 of 9 messages in this thread. |