The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that forward Chris Wilcox has been acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for forward Malik Rose and cash considerations and guard Larry Hughes has been acquired from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for center Jerome James, guard Anthony Roberson and forward Tim Thomas.

 

“With these trades, we have added two talented players and strengthened our backcourt and frontline, while also not losing sight of our long term goals,” Walsh said. “Chris and Larry are versatile players that will have good opportunities to thrive in our system.”

 

Wilcox, 6-10, 235-pounds, was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the eighth overall selection in the 2002 NBA Draft out of the University of Maryland. The Raleigh, NC-native has career averages of 9.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.40 blocks in 423 career games (211 starts) over seven NBA seasons with Oklahoma City/Seattle and Los Angeles Clippers. Wilcox averaged 13.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 62 games (55 starts) with Seattle during the 2007-08 season. He is averaging 8.4 points and 5.3 rebounds over 19.4 minutes in 37 games (six starts) during 2008-09 campaign.

 

Hughes, 6-5, 184-pounds, was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the eighth overall selection in the 1998 NBA Draft out of Saint Louis University. The St. Louis, MO-native has career averages of 14.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.50 steals in 648 career games (479 starts) over 11 NBA seasons with Chicago, Cleveland, Washington, Golden State and Philadelphia. Hughes, who was acquired by Chicago in a six-player deal on Feb. 21, 2008, averaged 12.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 68 games with Chicago and Cleveland during the 2007-08 season. He is averaging 12.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.20 steals over 26.4 minutes in 30 games (six starts) during 2008-09 campaign.

 

“Chris is a gifted athletic big man that brings toughness and solidifies our interior defense,” Head Coach Mike D’Antoni said. “Larry fits nicely in our backcourt. He is extremely athletic and a tough defender with a solid overall game.”

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Rose, 6-7, 255-pounds, was acquired by the Knicks, along with a first-round pick on Feb. 24, 2005 from the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Nazr Mohammed and Jamison Brewer. Rose averaged 4.0 points and 3.0 rebounds over 13.9 minutes in 230 games (44 starts) over five seasons with New York. The Drexel product, who won two NBA championships in San Antonio, has career averages of 6.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in 793 games over 13 seasons with New York, San Antonio and Charlotte. He is averaging 1.7 points and 1.7 rebounds over 8.9 minutes in 18 games this season.

 

James, 7-1, 285-pounds, signed with the Knicks as a free agent on Aug. 2, 2005 after spending four seasons with the Seattle Supersonics. He averaged 2.5 points and 1.8 rebounds in 90 career games with New York. The Florida A&M product, who is in his 10th NBA season, has career averages of 4.3 points and 3.1 rebounds in 358 games with New York, Seattle and Sacramento. He is averaging 3.0 points and 1.5 rebounds in two games during the 2008-09 campaign. On Jan. 18, James ruptured his right Achilles and is expected to be out for the remainder of the season.

 

Roberson, 6-2, 195-pounds, signed as a free agent with the Knicks on Jul. 24, 2008. The Saginaw, MI-native averaged 4.7 points and 11.0 minutes in 23 games this season.

 

Thomas, 6-10, 240-pounds, was acquired by the Knicks, with Cuttino Mobley, from the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 21 in exchange for Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins. Thomas averaged 9.6 points and 3.1 rebounds over 21.5 minutes in 36 games (one start) in his second stint with New York. The Villanova product, who also played for the Knicks from 2003-05 before being traded to Chicago on Oct. 4, 2005, has career averages of 11.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 788 games over 11 seasons with New York, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix, Chicago, Milwaukee and Philadelphia.

 

 

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The New York Knicks, Liberty and the Garden of Dreams Foundation will celebrate Black History Month by recognizing the contributions of Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, the first African-American Knicks player, and Coach Joe Lapchick, who fought to integrate the NBA. The event, at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, will feature two programming sessions with past and present players of the New York Knicks and Liberty, along with a special performance by the Knicks City Dancers and appearances by “Maddie”, the Liberty mascot, and the Knicks Groove Truck. Participants in both sessions will view a short clip from MSG Network’s “Lapchick and Sweetwater Breaking Barriers” and discuss their reactions to the piece. The first session will include Knicks alumni John Starks and Cal Ramsey and Liberty alumni Kym Hampton. Ramseywill join Knicks players Jared Jeffries, Tim Thomas and Malik Rose, Liberty player Tiffany Jackson and 50 children from SCO Family of Services, a Garden of Dreams partner organization, for the second session. Participants of Intrepid’s Kids Week will have the opportunity to attend both sessions.

 

 

Who:              Knicks Players Jared Jeffries, Tim Thomas and Malik Rose                      

                       Knicks Alumni and Community Relations Representatives John Starks and Cal Ramsey

                       Liberty Player Tiffany Jackson

                       Liberty Great Kym Hampton

                       Knicks City Dancers

                       Liberty Mascot “Maddie”

                       Knicks Groove Truck                         

                     

What:             The New York Knicks, New York Liberty and the Garden of Dreams Foundation will host an educational Black History Month program to recognize the lasting impact of Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton and Coach Joe Lapchick.

 

When:           TOMORROW – February 18, 2009

                       Session One: 1:15 – 2:15 PM

                       Knicks City Dancers performance: 2:30 – 3:30 PM

                       Session Two 3:30 – 4:30 PM

 

Where:          Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

                       Pier 86, 12th Ave. and 46th Street

 

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Knicks and Garden of Dreams are Joined By Warner Bros. Recording Artist Robert Randolph To Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and The Presidential Inauguration

The New York Knicks and the Garden of Dreams Foundation will celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by hosting “A Celebration of Change”, commemorating the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama as well as the message of Dr. King. This afternoon’s special event will be held at Planet Hollywood in Times Square with special guest, Warner Bros. recording artist Robert Randolph. Thirty foster children from Harlem Dowling, a Garden of Dreams partner, will attend the event alongside Knicks players Chris Duhon, Jared Jeffries and Malik Rose and alumni Cal Ramsey to view a short video of speeches by Dr. King and President-elect Obama. Following the video, the children, players and special guests will break into groups and discuss their personal reactions to the speeches, and create and present their very own “Pledge to Change” group projects. As an additional treat, Randolph will entertain the group with a special video and present them with copies of his latest CD, “Colorblind”.

 

Who:                Knicks players Chris Duhon, Jared Jeffries and Malik Rose                      

                        Knicks alumni and Community Relations Representative Cal Ramsey

                        Warner Bros. recording artist Robert Randolph

                       

What:               The New York Knicks, the Garden of Dreams Foundation and guest will host “A Celebration of Change”, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama.

 

When:              TODAY – January 20, 2009

                        4:00 – 6:00 PM

 

Where:             Planet Hollywood Times Square

                        Broadway between 45th and 46th streets

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MSG Family Is Joined By Warner Bros. Recording Artist Robert Randolph To Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and The Presidential Inauguration

The New York Knicks and Liberty, MSG Network and the Garden of Dreams Foundation will celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by hosting “A Celebration of Change”, commemorating the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama as well as the message of Dr. King. This special event will be held at Planet Hollywood in Times Square with special guest, Warner Bros. recording artist Robert Randolph. Thirty foster children from Harlem Dowling, a Garden of Dreams partner, will attend the event alongside Knicks players Chris Duhon, Jerome James, Jared Jeffries and Malik Rose and several members and friends of the MSG Family to view a short video of speeches by Dr. King and President-elect Obama. Following the video, the children, players and special guests will break into groups and discuss their personal reactions to the speeches, and create and present their very own “Pledge to Change” group projects. As an additional treat, Randolph will entertain the group with a special video and present them with copies of his latest CD, “Colorblind”.

 

Who:                Knicks players Chris Duhon, Jerome James, Jared Jeffries and Malik Rose

                        Liberty player Tiffany Jackson

                        Knicks alumni and Community Relations Representative Cal Ramsey

                        MSG Network announcer Gus Johnson

                        Warner Bros. recording artist Robert Randolph

                       

What:               The New York Knicks and Liberty, MSG Network, the Garden of Dreams Foundation and guests will host “A Celebration of Change”, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama.

 

When:              Tuesday, January 20, 2009

                        4:00 – 6:00 PM

 

Where:             Planet Hollywood Times Square

                        Broadway between 45th and 46th streets

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For the second consecutive year, Knicks forward Jared Jeffries and his teammates will provide Garden of Dreams Foundation families with food for the holidays. The giving begins this Monday morning at the Children’s Aid Society with Jeffries, Knicks great Allan Houston and President of MSG Sports Scott O’Neil delivering food to the Children’s Aid’s Pelham Fritz Transitional Apartments. Following the delivery, they will donate baby items to Harlem families in need. Later in the afternoon, Jeffries will bring six of his teammates and the Knicks City Dancers back to the Children’s Aid Society where they will distribute food to 300 neighborhood families. The day will also include information for families about food subsidies, workshops on health and wellness, non-perishable food collection and activities for children.

 

To encourage the act of receiving and giving back, City Harvest will be collecting non-perishable food at the Children’s Aid Society between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Donations will also be accepted at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday when the Knicks host the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m. For more information, log on to gardenofdreamsfoundation.org or tune in to 1050 ESPN New York, the official radio home of the Knicks, who will be broadcasting live from Monday’s event.

 

Who:                Knicks players Jared Jeffries, Nate Robinson, Quentin Richardson, Wilson Chandler, Malik Rose, Anthony Roberson, and Eddy Curry

                        Knicks great Allan Houston

                        Scott O’Neil, President of MSG Sports

                        Steve Mills, President of Business Operations for MSG Sports

                        Knicks City Dancers and Knicks Groove Truck

                        Entertainment hosted by DJ Hill

                       

What:               Jared Jeffries and his teammates provide 300 families with Thanksgiving meals and food subsidies for the holidays

 

When:              Monday, November 24, 2008

                        8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Players to begin food distribution at 4:15 p.m.)

 

Where:             The Children’s Aid Society’s Dunlevy Milbank Center

                        14-32 W 118^th St. between Lenox and Fifth Avenues in Harlem

                        Phelham Fritz Transitional Apartments located on same block

                               

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