The New York Knicks are coming into the 2013-14 season with championship aspirations after making it into the playoffs as a division winner last season and winning a series over the Boston Celtics and that is one reason why both JR Smith and Beno Udrih have said that the team will make it to the finals this year.
The Knicks are still finalizing their roster and figuring out who to bring to training camp and now they know one player that won't be able to participate, as Jeremy Tyler had surgery on his foot and will miss two months or more as he recovers. According to ESPN.com, the Knicks had signed Tyler to a non-guaranteed contract and now he will be out for eight to 10 weeks while recovering from surgery on his right foot and now the team likely will release him.
Tyler was looking like a solid player that the Knicks wanted to get on the roster after training camp if he showed enough, but now that is out of the question, as he will miss camp and the preseason. The team liked what Tyler did during summer league play while averaging 12.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in five games while playing about 20 minutes per contest and he was the 14th player for the Knicks under contract. The team also brought in CJ Leslie on a non-guaranteed deal and after the Tyler injury, ESPN.com reported that Toure' Murry will be coming to training camp in his place.
The Miami Heat has reportedly wanted Murry in camp as well, but he opted for the Knicks over the NBA champs likely because he would have a better chance of making the team. The Heat have less players under contract heading into camp than the Knicks, but Murry opted to stay with the team he played for during the summer league in Las Vegas. The team liked his defense during the summer and he could slide in after Tyler was injured and could possibly join behind Beno Udrih at the crowded position.
Udrih made some comments in the New York Post and the former Magic player said that he feels his new team can go to the NBA finals this season, echoing something that JR Smith said earlier in the week. Udrih gives the team more depth at the point and after adding Metta World Peace, Smith, Pablo Prigioni. Kenyon Martin and Andrea Bargnani, the makeup of the roster is an improvement over last season, but with Derrick Rose coming back and the Pacers looking tough as well, challenging the Heat will be...a challenge.
