http://www.newsday.com/sports/printedition/ny-spknix244482825oct24,0,3570184.story?coll=ny-sports-print

BY GREG LOGAN
STAFF WRITER

October 24, 2005


The Knicks just spent $60 million and took a risk on center Eddy Curry's
heart condition after previously signing Jerome James for $30 million
primarily because it's hard to find 7-1, 285-pound guys to take up space in
the middle of the floor.

So which center is Knicks coach Larry Brown raving about? The one with a
minimum-salary, non-guaranteed contract, naturally. That would be 20-year-old
Jackie Butler, who went undrafted out of high school a year ago and played in
the CBA before Knicks president Isiah Thomas picked him up in February.

Earlier in training camp, Brown said he considered Butler the Knicks' fourth
first-round draft pick this season, and he didn't back off that assessment
after Butler had 12 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots in the
Knicks' 96-90 preseason win over NBA champion San Antonio Saturday night at
SBC Center.

As for Curry and James, Brown hinted they should lose weight or risk seeing
the hungry Butler eat into their playing time.

Discussing the depth at center, Brown said, "I just think our big guys, in
particular Eddy and Jerome, are not in the kind of shape they need to be in
to play in the NBA right now. But we still have time, and they will get in
shape and they will help us."

Or else. Curry got a late start because the controversy over his heart
condition delayed completion of his trade until the fourth day of camp.
James strained a hamstring the second day and missed two weeks before
joining the lineup Friday in Dallas. He was scoreless against the Mavericks,
and after James committed three fouls in nine minutes against the Spurs,
Brown had seen enough.

In crunch time, he went with Butler and top draft pick Channing Frye at
power forward. Frye led the Knicks with 19 points, including 10 during
the Knicks' fourth-quarter comeback, and added eight rebounds and two
blocks. The Spurs' starters weren't on the floor, but Brown said their
second team of Argentine Fabricio Oberto and veterans Michael Finley,
Robert Horry, Nick Van Exel and Brent Barry "is a playoff team in our league."

Brown praised Frye's shooting and the way he posted up and played defense,
but that's no surprise for the eighth pick of the draft. It's the 6-10 Butler
who makes Brown giddy.

"Jackie can play," Brown said emphatically. "He's got the best feel of the
game of anybody I've been around that young with that size. He needs to get
his weight down and continue to work, but you can't teach the things he can
do. I'm surprised he blocked [Manu] Ginobili on dribble penetration. He got
a couple of rebounds in a crowd. He makes great interior decisions. It's
nice to see."

At one point in the second quarter, Butler turned and shot over Tim Duncan
as if he'd been scoring against two-time MVPs all his life. "I always say I
can play with these people out here, play with Duncan and all of them, KG
[Kevin Garnett]," Butler said. "I've just got to get out there and do it."

Butler has dropped to 275 and plans to lose another 10 pounds or so. He spent
all summer working on his jump shot, and it shows. Frye also has displayed a
great work ethic in camp and the aptitude to learn quickly from his mistakes.

With only two preseason games remaining, Brown said he has to begin to settle
on a rotation. Surprisingly, the young kids have earned serious consideration.

"I really think what I've taken away from this camp," Brown said, "is that
we've got good young players."