The Knicks have been reportedly coveting the Blazers’ Rudy Fernandez all summer long.

Fernandez, the European sensation, is starving for the chance to be celebrated in a big market. His talents would be ideal for the Knicks’ style of play. He is a quick guard who shoots the long ball well, and at the same time, can run the floor effectively.

At the beginning of the summer, the Knicks certainly had some deep roles to fill. However, after adding Raymond Felton at point guard, and Kelenna Azubuike and Roger Mason Jr. at shooting guard, it is unclear how serious of a role could be given to Fernandez.

Fernandez, who has grown frustrated from not starting in Portland, was recently fined $25,000 by the NBA for publicly requesting a trade. He is also prepared not to report to Blazers’ training camp and will forfeit the final two years of his contract in order to return to Europe.

Although playing time is something he seeks, Fernandez is reportedly open to coming off the bench if it means playing in New York.

Nevertheless, the Knicks would be prepared to offer Fernandez a starting job, despite the existing talent on the roster.

However, both Azubuike and Mason Jr. have starting experience on their previous squads and performed well. They would certainly challenge Fernandez for the spot in training camp.

There is no doubt that Fernandez has tremendous upside, but if he is not given the proper minutes, that potential will be left untapped, just like it has in Portland.

ESPN reports that the Knicks have offered Wilson Chandler for Fernandez. Unfortunately, the only sure thing that trading Chandler for the Knicks does is to clear up minutes for Fernandez.

Trading Chandler, a proven player with proven abilities, before the season starts is a huge risk.

As much upside as Fernandez may have, that same uncertain upside is the only thing he has to offer. History has proven again and again that the skills of even the best players in Europe have a tendency not to translate over to the NBA.

Furthermore, Fernandez has only averaged 24.5 minutes during his two NBA seasons. While it is possible that his statistics will increase with more playing time, there is also the possibility that he will not be able to capitalize on the extra minutes.

Chandler, on the other hand, has consistently performed as a starter and has become one of the team’s best defenders.

Why trade him away before the season even begins? Chandler’s defense could very well become depended on by the newly formed run and gun Knicks.

While Fernandez’s playmaking ability is what makes him unique as a shooting guard, Felton is also poised to maximize his playmaking ability under the Knicks' system.

If the Knicks are looking for a shooting guard who can run the floor, they should look no further than Roger Mason Jr.

Mason Jr. played an impressive two-man game with Tony Parker, predominantly a scoring point guard, while with the Spurs.

Fernandez’s young age and untapped potential is an exciting prospect. The Knicks, however, already have a lot of what he provides.

It is one thing if the Knicks simply consider him better at doing what he does than anyone currently on the team. Anyone who improves the team is worth acquiring.

At the same time, trading Chandler may not be the right way to go about doing it.

The Blazers are mulling the Knicks’ offer as they covet a future first round pick instead. With the Knicks unable to offer a first round pick until 2014, perhaps an acquisition of Fernandez is not in the cards.

For Keith's Knicks coverage and much more, visit Knicks Journal.

Follow Knicks Journal on Twitter.

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"Don't worry about it," Knicks team president of basketball operations Donnie Walsh told a group of reporters at an eagerly-anticipated "Disbelieve In 2010-11" media event this morning. "Whatever you weren't expecting us to achieve, we've got you covered."

Recalling the team's recent history, marked by constant underachieving and implosions in team chemistry despite the varying presences of large names, Walsh promised similar behavior heading into the aforementioned free agency bonanza.

"Amar'e [Stoudemire]? YEAH!" Walsh shouted to a fired-up crowd, complete with Stoudemire himself in a Knicks uniform, before continuing.

"LeBron? YEAH! Bosh? WHY THE HELL NOT?!?" Walsh shouted, throwing off audible amounts of excitement. "The Knicks have a long-standing tradition of nurturing feuding divas, and it'd only be a stain to our legacy and to you, the fans, if we were to do any differently."

"A really bad stain, too," Walsh quickly followed up. "You know, pizza sauce and wine-bad."

Reaction from the rest of the NBA was mixed at the time of writing.

While some cellar-dwellers, such as the New Jersey Nets, were reportedly worried about a possible challenge to their status as the worst team in basketball, the Chicago Bulls reportedly took comfort in the lack of a foreseeable challenge to their status as the most statistically-average team in the entire Eastern Conference.

"Don't worry about that either, Jerry," Walsh assured Bulls team president Jerry Reinsdorf, referencing the Bulls' 41-41 record in the 2009-10 season as a claim to their "average" throne. "We're committed to breeding a new generation of children who play NBA Live '99 just to experience the last time the Knicks had a rating higher than 80 in a video game."

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Before his high school career ended he was the first player to attend the Adidas ABCD Camp in New Jersey three times, and won the MVP his final season, an award given out to the likes of Lebron James and Kobe Bryant.

He played alongside Ohio State Freshman Greg Oden in summer ball, and competed against high school phenom and fellow West Virginian O.J. Mayo in dunk contests. 

Some scouts compared him favorably to Vince Carter, except Walker was believed to have a better handle on the ball. 

At 6'6", 220, before arriving in Manhattan, Kansas to play alongside another star talent in Michael Beasley for Coach Bob Huggins, Walker was about as much a sure thing as a high school kid basketball player could be.

Other than some minor grade issues, there was only one question about Walker: Would a knee injury he suffered during his freshman year of high school hinder his performance?

Judging by his ability to soar over defenders soon after surgery, and throw down highlight dunks during practice, the knee did not seem to bother Walker at all. 

Maybe it's because he was young, and the fear that comes with age had not set in yet?  Who knows?  Whatever the case, Walker and Beasley were destined for stardom during the short time they were both going to be at KSU.

The looming question of how well Walker's knee would hold up was answered almost immediately as he re-injured the leg during the sixth game of his college career against Texas A & M. Walker would miss the remainder of the season, and would have to wait at least one more year before getting back to the hardwood. 

When his sophomore (redshirt freshman) season finally did arrive, Walker was back, albeit a slightly heavier version of his previous self. 

Now the question of whether he would still be the high-flying, dynamic player he was before two ACL surgeries was being asked by NBA scouts, some of which would have drafted Walker straight out of high school. 

He had to wonder if he missed his chance.

The following season, Walker seemed a little timid out of the gate, while Beasley was lighting it up, staking his claim as the best player in all of college basketball. But by no means was Walker a sideshow. By the end of his second season he seemed to gain a lot of confidence, combining with Beasley to score 75 points against Baylor (31 for Walker, with 11 rebounds). 

In the 2008 NCAA Tournament Kansas State knocked out Mayo's USC team; Walker contributed 22 pts, before falling to Wisconsin in the second round (Walker 18).

It seemed Bill Walker was back on most scouts' radars, and the knee was feeling much better. 

With Beasley declaring for the NBA Draft, and Walker realizing he could probably get hurt again, he followed his teammate out the door towards the professional ranks.

It was the right decision too because during the summer of 2008, while working out for the Golden State Warriors, Walker suffered yet another knee injury. This time it was a torn meniscus, and while not catastrophic, it forced Walker to be a bystander for the remainder of the summer workouts. 

Word spread about his injury, and while Walker would certainly be able to play basketball again very soon, NBA teams were not going to spend First Round dollars on a guy who already had suffered three major knee injuries before he could legally buy a beer.

Walker had to sit and watch on draft day as names he had once been mentioned in the same breath with like Mayo, Jerryd Bayless, Eric Gordon, and Kevin Love were all selected in the top half of the 2008 Draft, with Beasley being selected No. 2 overall. 

It was not a complete loss for him though, as the Washington Wizards selected him 47th, butsubsequently traded him to the Boston Celtics for cash considerations, a team who had been paying attention to Walker.

Immediately the Celtics relegated Walker to their NBDL team in Utah, but he was recalled back to the team in January of 2009, though he was not a factor.  

The following season the Celtics sent Walker back to the NBDL to play for the Maine Red Clams during the 2009 season, where he could at least get some time on the court. 

Walker was not exactly in the Celtics plans as they were busy winning a championship, then attempting to repeat. However, Walker was never down, or negative about having to play in the "D-League," commenting at one point, "It’s the reason why they created the D-League, so that instead of having guys sitting on the bench and not staying in shape, they can go down there and play.” 

Pretty much the perfect attitude for a guy trying to make it, which is rare amongst players like Walker who were considered phenoms.

In December of 2009 the Celtics brought Walker back to the squad, where he saw no more than six minutes in any game; hardly enough time to even audition for another team.

Fortunately for Walker, his luck would start to turn, as he once again was traded, this time to the New York Knicks as part of a package deal, which saw high flying little-man Nate Robinson land in Boston. 

Maybe Walker would finally get an opportunity to showcase his skills?

Luckily for Walker he was paired with Knicks Coach Mike D'Antoni, who has basically been conducting live, in-game tryouts for all of the current Knicks players remaining on the roster, including Tracy McGrady, who was dealt to the Knicks in what appears to be a move to clear salary. 

McGrady, known around the league as a one time, high-flying small forward himself, has also been plagued with knee and back injuries throughout his career. Coincidentally, since the two trades transpired, Walker outscored McGrady against his former Celtics team seven points to six.

In the few games Walker has played for the Knicks he has reached a career high in points (21), minutes played (35), and just about every other statistic available. He has been a team spark plug, having performed an array of highlight reel dunks previously seen only during his days in High School and at Kansas St. 

It seems Walker is making the most of his opportunity to show the Knicks, or any other team watching, he still has a lot to offer. 

Because his knee injuries happened at such a young age, it's quite possible Walker's body has healed completely, and has moved past any future problems, but one never knows. 

Walker seems to play fearlessly, like a player who has never been injured, which is a fantastic sign for himself. So many players cannot overcome the mental aspect of a major injury, which forever hinders their ability to shine.

Maybe because Walker has been proving himself for so long, and overcoming injuries since his freshman year of high school, he is immune to it all.

Ironically, it might because of this very style that he'll land back on the surgeon's table, but it also keeps teams interested in him.

Whatever the case may be, in just a few games with the Knicks, Walker is getting fans out of their seats, wanting to see more of what he can do. And maybe, just maybe, Walker is coming back into his own, alongside all of the other great young NBA players he used to more than hold his own against, but often out-shining.

I know the Knicks, their fans, and certainly Walker are hoping this is the case. 

All I know, is as a fan of both college and pro basketball, Bill Walker, it's nice getting to know ye...again.

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Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller.

If you utter either of these players' names in Manhattan, you better have some brass knuckles in your pocket.

To this day most Knicks fans still swear that Michael Jordan did not score 55 points in his first game at Madison Square Garden since retiring, and others still deny that Reggie Miller really scored eight points in 8.9 seconds back in game one of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

So with images of disappointment still stuck in every New Yorker's memory, I will start a debate that no other Knick fan has had the heart to ever even bring up. My question is one that dates back to events years ago. My question is...

Who killed Knick teams more in the 1990s and kept us from championship glory, Reggie Miller or Michael Jordan?

The Case for Michael Jordan...

Michael Jordan might be the greatest player that ever played in the NBA. One of the things that really made "Air Jordan" great was his ability to shine brightest on the biggest stages, and there was no better way for MJ to show off his ability then during games at "The World's Most Famous Arena," Madison Square Garden. Jordan had some of the most impressive games of his career against the Knicks. If not for Jordan, there very well might be a few more banners hanging at Madison Square Garden.

Who could ever forget the "double nickel" game on March 28, 1995 when Jordan dropped 55 on the Knicks in his fifth game back from a 17-month retirement. This game turned out to be the highest-rated regular season game in NBA history and was one of the key games of Jordan's career, allowing him to regain confidence that he would use to win three more championships in his career.

If you need more proof of MJ destroying championship opportunities for the Knicks, just take a look at the clear impact he had on the outcome of each and every game. There is an interesting fact about Michael Jordan facing the Knicks in playoff series: Never once did the Knicks beat the Bulls in a playoff series with Jordan on the Bulls roster. However, during the 1993-94 season (when Michael Jordan had retired) the Knicks beat the Bulls and advanced to the NBA finals that season.

So how could you possibly argue that if not for Jordan, the Knicks may have been to a few more NBA Championships, and most likely would have won at least one.

The Case for Reggie Miller...

Reggie Miller vs. the Knicks. Watching some of those games was like watching a Disney movie because some of the things that Reggie Miller did really didn't seem quite possible. Miller's performances against the Knicks were so spectacular that they got their own ESPN special. Now that's impressive.

What Reggie Miller really did great was get in the heads of Knicks fans and players. His "choke" gesture is an image that New Yorkers can still picture so perfect in their heads that you would think they had photographic memories. Then you have his rivalry with Spike Lee and the headbutt he received courtesy of John Starks, which just give us more reason to hate him.

However, above all that there is one moment that I think all Knicks fans would agree was the most memorable: The 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals. With 18.7 seconds left and the Knicks leading 106-99, it looks like, barring a miracle, the Knicks were going home with the win. Then, all Reggie Miller did was score eight points in 8.9 seconds to single-handedly beat the Knicks with arguably the greatest late game performance in NBA history.

The Verdict...

Both Reggie Miller and Michael Jordan turned in their finest performances every time they played the Knicks.

But which one more responsible for the Knicks not winning a single championship throughout the 90s?

In my opinion it's Reggie Miller.

The guy got in the head of just about every New Yorker, including the 12 on the Knicks roster. He absolutely demolished the Knicks almost by himself on more than one occasion. He had some great moments against the Knicks, and the 1995 game is just the icing on the cake.

Reggie Miller is the ultimate Knick killer!

So what do you think? Please leave comments saying who you think is the ultimate Knick killer of the 90s. I look forward to hearing from you.

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Whoa, calm down NY fans, there are things we can do to prepare for the worst. Right now, were actually in a good spot. With almost all our players free agents next season, we can create a team. Let's assume were bring back players. Here are the players we are looking to bring back

David Lee, Bill Walker, Toney Douglas, Sergio Rodriguez, Wilson Chandler, and Danillo Gallinari.

The Knicks now have two bench players (Douglas and Walker) with four starters (Gallinari, Chandler, Rodriguez, and Lee) we can actually salvage this team.

1. Defense—We NEED defense. I'm gonna sound crazy for this: Bring in Charles Oakley and Dennis Rodman as defensive coaches/assistants. These two guys could help provide the toughness these players need. The Knicks are too finesse. Someone needs to push defense towards these guys.

2. Two big men—The Knicks actually need two big men. They need a center who can be a defensive monster and grab rebounds and a scrappy player who can come off the bench for the rotation. The one player I would love for NY in the draft? Jarvis Varnado. Varnado is a strong defender and has a Ben Wallace style of play when crashing the boards.

3. Defensive player—When D'Antoni was in Phoenix, he had Raja Bell as "the defender," someone who can be the main defender who can come in and just defend.

If Bill Walker can become that guy, D'Antoni can start him and have him be that lead shooting guard but if not, there are some example who might be free agents in 2010: Antoine Wright, Damien Wilkins, Rodney Carney, Ronnie Brewer, and even...Raja Bell.

4. Superstar?—Maybe keeping David Lee could help add a superstar. As of right now, the most likely free agent to me New York can add is Dwayne Wade. Wade is the perfect fit. Maybe he stays in Miami, but if he leaves the Knicks should go add him first.

My New York Knicks nine-man rotation

Sergio Rodriguez, Dwayne Wade, Wilson Chandler, Danillo Gallinari, and Marcus Camby

Bill Walker, Toney Douglas, Rasual Butler, and Jarvis Varnado.

Tell me what you think

Also, Check Out My Website- www.dribbledrive5.webs.com! were looking for writers!

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If you were a kid in Chicago in the '80s, Michael Jordan made you a basketball and an NBA fan for life.

If you were a kid in Boston during the '80s, Larry Bird moments are more memorable than Christmas mornings.

And right now, if you are a kid growing up in Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant is branding lifelong memories of game-winners and dunks.

But, if you were kid growing up in Indiana in the '90s, Reggie Miller is your Zeus, Mohammed, and Jesus rolled into one. When he touched the ball behind the three-point line, you screamed “Boooooooom Baby” before it even left his hands. At the end of games, you didn’t need to worry because Reg-gie had it. He was Mr. Clutch, and it was Miller Time, or Winning Time.

Recently, I had the opportunity to screen the new ESPN 30 on 30 documentary “Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks” about Reggie Miller and the Pacers rivalry against the New York Knicks in the mid-90s. I will admit that I am 100 percent biased. I grew up in Indiana during this time and I was the biggest Reggie Miller and Pacer fan there was (after all, my Dad was the assistant coach and vice president). This movie gave me goose bumps from the opening credits until the ending, and it was a fantastic documentary.

In order to give the film an objective critique, I will go ahead and take off my bias cap, though I know it will be tough. However, I can’t be any worse at it than the Sports Guy with the Celtics. Regardless if you are a Pacer or Miller fan or not, I still believe the film was great, in large part due to the fact that it engages in the NBA when it was fun. A time in the NBA when there were real rivalries, when teams actually hated each other, and hard fouls and fights were the norm.

It was a time when playoffs seemed to really mean something to these players, and you could tell they left everything on the floor. “Winning Time” captures the essence of a great NBA playoff rivalry—which we have not seen for some time—and they are only classic games in our memories.

Furthermore, the documentary does a fantastic job of giving the behind-the-scenes look at what the players at the time were thinking and acting like. You see clips of Reggie Miller in interviews trash talking the Knicks’ players between games.

Sidebar : When does this happen now? Wouldn’t that be fun to see LeBron and Wade going back in forth in the papers? Wouldn’t that make the playoff games more exciting? Why does everything have to be so PC, and why can’t we get “playoff fouls”...in the playoffs? Doesn’t that take away from the game and minimize what the playoffs are about? The NBA is always questioning why they are losing support; Let them play basketball and add some competitiveness and showmanship to the games—take the one lesson that boxing gave us. Do you think Ali would be nearly the iconic figure he was if he was quiet like Dwyane Wade in a post-game interview?

This film gives...scratch that—reminds us of what the NBA playoffs used to be. It showed us what these games meant to each hometown, particularly Indiana. The one fault of the film is that I believe it should have incorporated the fans' perspective more.

The documentary does a great job giving us the players’ view, the front office’s view with Donnie Walsh, etc., and the sports writers’ view with Peter Vecsey, for example, but never do we get to see what these games meant to the thousands of families and kids who watched religiously, and for whom it was life or death at that time.

For example, interview my family and I about what these games meant. During these iconic games in the Garden, I can talk about how my brothers and I had to watch the game in completely separate rooms from my step-mom because she cheered so crazily and obnoxiously loud on every possession. But, we would meet halfway during crucial timeouts to discuss the last few minutes of the game, only to go back to our respective seating positions when the timeout ended.

However, there was one fourth quarter that we all watched in the same room and that was the Reggie vs. Spike quarter, where Miller drained 25 points and the Pacers toppled the Knicks.

Or, I can talk about how when Spike Lee showed up to Market Square Arena, I passed him in the hallway and at the age of about 13 or 14, stood approximately 12 inches from his face and gave him the finger. There were about 20 other people with me doing the same thing.

Or, I can talk about how when I moved to Virginia and met my first Knick fan, who in return hated Miller and the Pacers. I was in shock. Who could actually like those guys? Who doesn’t like the Pacers???

Or, I can talk about when Patrick Ewing blew the layup that finally sent the Pacers past the Knicks in the playoffs and I still can hear Mark Boyle yell, “Ding-dong the witch is dead”, as Dale Davis snatched the rebound. Not only do I have goose bumps right now typing this, but I remember sprinting around our house and almost coming to tears while hugging my family. Ok, I am sure I came to tears, but was trying to act manly.

My family and I are not the only ones with stories about these times. There are probably thousands in New York and Indiana who could go on for hours about what they were doing at the time of these games or what these games meant. Let's get their perspective.

“Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks” by Dan Klores airs March 14 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN. I strongly encourage you to watch the film and would love any and all feedback. Here is the trailer. Enjoy!

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Week 19 (March 1-7)

Teams playing four games: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Golden State, Houston, Indiana, L.A. Clippers, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, New York, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Sacramento
Teams playing three games: Chicago, Miami, Milwaukee, New Jersey, New Orleans, Portland, San Antonio, Toronto, Utah, Washington
Teams playing two games: Minnesota

Jerry Stackhouse (Bucks)- Stackhouse has stepped up his play recently. The Bucks were one of the league’s hottest team that won 6 straight games before yesterday’s loss to the Hawks. Stack has scored double-figures and played at least 24 minutes in four straight games. He scored a season high 20 points yesterday and also is a good source for threes and free throw percentage.

Bill Walker (Knicks)- Walker has appeared in three games for the Knicks and played 25 minutes in last Saturday’s game. Wilson Chandler is expected to miss tonight’s game (personal reasons) and Tracy McGrady is dealing with a sore knee which means Walker could sustain minutes in the rotation.

Ronny Turiaf (Warriors)- Starting center Andris Biedrins left the last game with a groin injury and did not return. In the least two games Turiaf has 23 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks.

Darko Milicic (Timberwolves)- The former Knick has three games of at least three blocks for his new team. Starting center Al Jefferson is suspended (DWI) for the next two games which means Darko could get more run.

Honorable mention: Nicolas Batum (Trailblazers)

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The Knicks traded Randolph in November 2008 to the Clippers for Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley. The Knicks were not looking for any premium players back, just for another team to take his long and expensive contract. Donnie Walsh has worked very hard to get the Knicks under the cap but he could have waited and dealt Zebo or even Jamal Crawford this year for more talent or draft picks.

Randolph is blossoming for his new team (Memphis Grizzlies), averaging 20.6 points, 11.9 rebounds (second highest of his career) and is shooting 49.5 percent from the field (also the second highest of his career). His shooting percentage has gone up because his three-point attempts have gone down. He has attempted only 30 threes this season (59 games) compared to the 104 in 80 career games with the Knicks.

More importantly, he leads the NBA in offensive rebounds per game (4.4) and the 28 year old was named to his first All-Star game this season. His team is 30-29 and 3.5 games from the eighth seed.

Zebo lit up the Knicks over the weekend scoring 31 points with 25 rebounds (10 offensive). He has become a less selfish player, and one can even say has been a good influence on center Marc Gasol.

And while he has had troubles in the past and his reputation has been challenged, this season has been a rebirth. The Knicks will really miss his size and toughness in the paint.

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